University Honors Global Scholars Program (UHGSP)
The University Honors Global Scholars Program (UHGSP) invites talented and motivated students from each of the colleges to pursue academic excellence through a transformative global experience. Administered by the Honors Global Scholars Council and the Director of University Honors Global Scholars, the program offers an enriched, interdisciplinary curriculum, meaningful connections with faculty and peers, leadership development, guidance for pursuing competitive scholarships and fellowships, and opportunities for immersive national and international travel, research, and cultural exploration.
Admission to the UHGSP is by invitation only and offered primarily at the time of acceptance to Troy University. Selection is based on a thorough evaluation of the university application. Students must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA to graduate as a University Honors Global Scholar.
The Honors Global Scholar Council consists of a faculty representative from each of Troy University’s colleges that represent the academic pathways to the program. To align with the National Collegiate Honors Council’s guidelines, which state that for institutions offering college department-level honors pathways, centralized oversight is essential to prevent redundancies, parallel programs, and confusion about the definition of an honors experience, all college-level Global Scholars pathways will operate under the guidance of the University Honors Global Scholars Program (UHGSP). This structure ensures alignment with UHGSP’s mission, learning outcomes, and 5 distinctive pedagogies, fostering a cohesive and high-quality honors experience across Troy University. The curriculum is structured to allow each student, where appropriate, to connect with the program through a variety of options, both curricular and co-curricular. Curricular requirements for the UHGSP will be met through a variety of modalities including standalone honors global seminars and colloquia, departmental honors courses that have global engagement, and classes that conclude with a thesis or capstone experience.
For more information and guidance, please contact the Director of University Honors Global Scholars, Dr. Priya Menon via email at honors.globalscholars@troy.edu.
University Honors Global Scholars Program Requirements
1. Honors Global Scholars Coursework Requirements
All students in the program are required to complete 12 credits of UHGS courses, which include: HON 1101 , HON 2201 , HON 3380 and HON 4498 . Students inducted into the program will take HON 1101 in the Spring of their Freshman year. This class replaces TROY 1101, which all Freshman students must take in the Fall semester. Students will take HON 2201 in their Sophomore year in preparation for HON 3380 to be taken in the Junior year. Students will complete their CORE requirement by taking HON 4498 in their Senior year.
2. Experiential Learning Requirements
The UHGSP sets itself apart from the traditional university experience learning through immersive travel and extracurricular engagement. These essential components encourage students to cultivate vital skills in areas such as Global Proficiency, Leadership, Community Engagement and Service, and Professional Development. By emphasizing these experiences, the program equips honors global scholars with the tools they need to thrive in the job market and excel in their future careers.
a. Immersive Travel:
The Program will provide cohort-based travel experiences locally and internationally. All students must take HON 3380. All UHGS students are encouraged to complete at least ONE additional travel opportunity besides HON 3380.
b. Extracurricular Engagement:
All students, regardless of when they are admitted, must complete at least one activity in each of the following categories:
i. Global Proficiency
- Additional Study Abroad
- Internship with a global company
- Presentation/experience demonstrating a clear understanding of global challenges and cultural diversity (approved by advisor)
- Earn a minor in a World Language/Intercultural competency
- Participation in Model UN
- Other relevant experiences that may qualify (approved by advisor)
ii. Leadership Development
- Serve on an Honors Board/Committee on campus or as a student mentor in the field of study
- Selected as an officer in a university organization
- Selected for a state, regional, or national leadership position
- Other Relevant experiences that may qualify (approved by advisor)
iii. Professional Development
- Journal of 3+ years of mentor advice and guidance
- Complete an approved course in etiquette or social interaction
- Earn a minor in Leadership
- Submit an application for a merit award
- Job shadowing with a relevant Professional (approved by advisor)
- Other relevant experiences that may qualify (approved by advisor)
iv. Community Engagement and Services
- Minor in Civic and Community Engagement
- 60+ Volunteer hours pre-approved by Director
- Participation in major campus service-learning project with research and follow-up briefing (e.g., Poverty and Hunger Outreach Initiative, Sustainability Initiatives, Health Futures Outreach Initiatives, Community Action and Outreach Initiatives)
- Other relevant experiences that may qualify (approved by advisor)
Honors General Studies Courses
- ART 1134 - Honors Visual Arts
- BUS 1121 - Honors the Global Challenge
- COM 2243 - Honors Fundamentals of Speech or Fundamentals of Speech
- ECO 2253 - Honors Principles of Macroeconomics
- ECO 2254 - Honors Principles of Microeconomics
- ENG 1103 - Honors English Composition I
- ENG 1104 - Honors English Composition II
- ENG 2207 - Honors World Literature before 1660
- ENG 2208 - Honors World Literature after 1660
- HIS 1103 - Honors History of Western Civilization I
- HIS 1104 - Honors History of Western Civilization II
- HIS 1113 - Honors U.S. History to 1877
- HIS 1114 - Honors U.S. History since 1877
- HIS 1124 - Honors World History I to 1500
- HIS 1125 - Honors World History II from 1500
- KHP 2240 - Personal Community Health
- POL 2240 (3) Honors American National Government
Honors credit in mathematics will be granted for MTH 1125 (Calculus) and higher.
Minor In Civic and Community Engagement (18 Hours)
- IDS 1101 - Global Challenges
- IDS 2201 - Applications in Public Service
- IDS 4495 - Capstone Experience in Public Service and Civic Engagement
After completion of IDS 2210, student must select an additional 9 hours from advisor-approved electives in content areas of focus.
Once declaring the minor, students must submit a course plan for approval to the advisor in the Office of Civic Engagement in Eldridge Hall 122
English as A Second Language Program
Troy University’s English as a Second Language program offers intensive English language instruction for non-native speakers. This program addresses the needs of students who plan to pursue further university study in the United States or who wish to sharpen their language skills for personal or professional reasons. In addition to improving listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities, ESL classes also increase students’ understanding of American culture and university life. Up to six credits of level VI and/or VI+ courses can be used to fulfill the free elective course requirement towards an undergraduate degree, pending evidence of proficiency. For further information contact the Director of the ESL Program on the Troy Campus.
The ESL program is available on the Troy Campus. For more information, see the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.
For information about the terms of instruction, contact the Center for International Programs at (334) 670-3335. English as a Second Language (ESL) courses are described in the course descriptions chapter of this catalog.
Troy University offers students who have finished ESL classes at mid-term, but cannot register for academic classes due to unavailability or scheduling issues, an option to take VI-Plus classes. Academic students who need more English practice may also take the VI-Plus classes. You must have completed all six levels in ESL (I-VI) or have passed the TOEFL or IELTS to qualify for VIPlus classes.
These classes are grade bearing and are calculated in the student’s grade point average (GPA). These classes follow the University’s policy of assignment of an FA (Failure to attend) designation for enrolling, but not attending, the classes. Student grades for these classes are included on the Troy University academic transcript as non-credit courses. Students may request a review of these classes via a University Course Substitution form available through the ESL Director’s office. Following the University’s review process, it may be possible to use a total of six academic hours from the Level VI and Level VI-Plus courses as academic credits. These hours will be transcribed as general unrestrictive electives for the student and can be used as part of the student’s overall degree requirement of at least 120 hours needed for graduation.
Experiential Learning Credit
Cross Discipline Courses (CDC)
3301 Portfolio Development (2)
This is a course in the preparation of an educational portfolio, a formal file or folder of information compiled by students on learning acquired through specific past experiences and accomplishments. Students are required to prepare a portfolio under the guidance of the instructor. The course is required of all students prior to submission of a portfolio to the university for evaluation for experiential credit.
Experiential Learning Assessment (ELA)
Credit Experiential learning assessment (ELA) is a process used by Troy University to evaluate prior college-equivalent learning attained by students outside the classroom and not transferable through any of the standard methods of accepting non-traditional credit. Each student prepares a portfolio that is a carefully organized folder documenting learning outcomes (not learning activities) for the purpose of earning credit for a specific college course or courses. The procedure for students interested in requesting assessment of prior experiential learning is as follows:
- The student enrolls in CDC 3301 Portfolio Development for two semester hours of credit. A student may enroll in CDC 3301 only once and should plan to develop all materials for receiving academic credit for experiential learning from this one-time enrollment. The instructor for this course:
- Provides an overview of the experiential learning assessment program,
- Assists in determining whether or not prior learning is appropriate or adequate to request academic credit,
- Provides the guidance necessary to prepare an educational portfolio, and
- Evaluates the portfolio to determine if the content is sufficient to approve submission for faculty assessment.
NOTE: No more than 25 percent of the degree may be earned by using experiential learning assessment credit or portfolio-based credit. Academic credit earned through experiential learning will not count toward the University’s residency requirement.
- The student prepares the portfolio, which includes
- A statement of the student’s educational goals;
- A chronological record, with external documentation, of the student’s education and work experiences;
- A clear statement of the specific knowledge and skills not learned in college for which the student desires to receive academic credit;
- Information that links the specific knowledge and skills to the student’s goals and educational degree program;
- Information that links the specific knowledge and skills of the student to specific learning outcomes of the specific courses for which the student wants to receive equivalent academic credit; and
- Documented evidence that substantiates the student’s claim to learning.
- Faculty assessment.
Once the portfolio is submitted to the faculty for evaluation, the faculty member uses several methods of assessment, which include product assessment such as an original computer program, interviews, oral or written examinations, simulations, performance tests, and/or essays. The faculty member makes a recommendation to award or not award the hours of credit. This recommendation is made to the dean of the college for which equivalent academic credit will be awarded for experiential learning activities and to the associate provost/dean of undergraduate studies for final approval and confirmation of awarded credit to the university registrar.
- Fee Payment
The tuition and/or fees for CDC 3301 is charged whether or not experiential credit is earned. In addition to tuition charges, a per hour charge for credit awarded is also charged to the student’s account.
- Credit is then posted to the student’s transcript by the University Registrar.
Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies (120 Hours)
Area I-IV Requirements
- 41-42 hours from the Troy University Catalog
Area V Requirements (18-19 hours)
- TROY 1101 - University Orientation
- LDR 1100 - Introduction to Leadership
Electives (14-15 hours)
Major Requirements (54 hours)
- Course Requirements for three Troy University minors (18 hours each).
Electives (6 hours)
*Only one contract minor may be used in fulfillment of the major program requirements.
*Prerequisite courses for the selected minors may be completed as part of Area V in General Studies.
Military Electives
Military electives may be taken from credit earned through the American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations, Community College of the Air Force (CCAF), or military credit from regionally accredited institutions. For additional information regarding the military science leadership minor, please consult the index of this catalog.
Pre-Professional Careers
Students who are interested in preparing for careers in the professions will find many such opportunities at Troy University. Considered among the best available, Troy’s pre-professional programs feature small classes, special academic advisers, free tutors, exceptional laboratory facilities and an outstanding and well qualified faculty.
Pre-law
Admission to accredited professional schools of law requires from three to four years of college preparatory work with preference given to applicants with the bachelor’s degree. Law schools generally do not prescribe a particular major or course of undergraduate study as a prerequisite for admission. All such schools emphasize the important of excellence in whichever course of study is pursued. For students planning to enter the profession of law, it is recommended that a student pursue a bachelor’s degree giving emphasis to such fields as English, history, political science, criminal justice, social science, speech communication or business. Troy University offers an Accelerated Law Curriculum (3 year option) for interested students. Students will complete the requirements for the Social Science major-General Science concentration by the end of their third year of study. Students may then apply to a partnered institution’s law school program. After 30 semester hours of law courses outlined by the partnered institution, students may be awarded a Bachelor of Science in Social Science with a minor in Legal Studies and have completed one year of Law School. Students applying for early admission must meet the requirements set forth by the partnered Law School program. For individualized advice about courses appropriate for law school, students may consult with the advisers for the Pre-Law Society.
Pre-engineering
Program requirements among the professional schools of engineering vary, although certain courses are common to most such schools, particularly during the first two years’ work. Students may complete selected course work at Troy University within their first 1-2 years of study before transferring to a professional school. The choice of the professional school and the particular field of engineering will determine the required course work and the most appropriate time for transfer. Students who are interested in pursuing this route to a professional engineering degree should meet with their assigned pre-engineering academic advisers prior to registration each term.
Pre-health Professions
Courses required for admission to these professional schools are available at Troy University. Admission to these schools is highly competitive. Troy University recommends that students who plan a career in healthcare such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, chiropractic medicine, veterinary medicine, or osteopathic medicine follow a program which leads to the bachelor of science or bachelor of arts degree. Although professional schools require many common courses, they differ slightly for a small number of specialized courses. For this reason, students should consult with their pre-health advisors to identify these courses.
Pre-veterinary Medicine
Programs leading to the doctor of veterinary medicine degree normally require four years of preparatory college work and four years in the professional school. Four years of the preparatory work may be taken at Troy University.
Pre-agriculture and Forestry
Students who plan to follow courses of study leading to degrees in agricultural engineering, animal or poultry husbandry, dairying, farm management, horticulture, wildlife, agriculture education, or forestry may complete as much as the first year’s work at Troy. Certain courses required during the second year also are offered, but before continuing into the second year, the student should carefully examine the requirements of the professional school selected.
Other Pre-professional Career Paths
Troy University also provides appropriate courses of study for a number of other professional and vocational fields, including pharmacy, home economics, land surveying, physical therapy, public administration, seminary training, etc. These programs require general preparation (as required for the bachelor’s degree) as a prerequisite for admission to the professional or graduate school.
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