College Administrator & Honors Thesis Coordinator colemanc@pdx.edu
BRIANNA AVERY College Advisor bavery@pdx.edu
JILL TAYLOR Admissions & Engagement Coordinator jitaylor@pdx.edu
PELIN BASCI
Faculty - Humanities bnpb@pdx.edu
AMY BORDEN Faculty - Humanities aebordon@pdx.edu
TINA BURDSALL
Faculty - Social Sciences tdb@pdx.edu
TYLER CORNELIUS
Faculty - Humanities tcornelius@pdx.edu
ALBERTO GANIS
Faculty - Social Sciences aganis@pdx.edu
JENNIFER HOSKINS Faculty - Internships jhoskins@pdx.edu
PAUL MCCUTCHEON Faculty - Humanities pmccu2@pdx.edu
FEDERICO PEREZ Faculty - Social Sciences fedperez@pdx.edu
PATRICK POLETTI Faculty - Sciences polettip@pdx.edu
ERIC RODRIGUEZ Faculty - Humanities emr7@pdx.edu
ALEXANDER STEELE Faculty - Humanities asteele@pdx.edu
REBECCA SUMMER Faculty - Social Sciences rebeccasummer@pdx.edu
WILLIAM "HARRY" YORK Faculty - Humanities why@pdx.edu
WELCOME!
WHAT IS HONORS?
Welcome! This handbook is a guide to the Honors College at Portland State University. In the following pages, you will find information about our curriculum and courses, our community spaces and events, scholarship and research opportunities, our in-house faculty, and tips and advice for the program.
In the Honors College, you can dig deep into the issues that matter most, join a tight-knit community of highly motivated students, and experience an exceptional education unlike any other. Honors is both a curriculum and a community offered to students at PSU, and our goal is to outfit students with reading, writing, and research skills that will help you throughout college and beyond. Our program emphasizes critical thinking,
I chose the Honors College because I wanted the smaller class sizes and specialized curriculum. The professors within this department have been absolutely amazing, and the support systems that have been created for students are what make everything possible.
NINA MUNSON
Senior, International and Global Studies major
deconstructing arguments, and understanding how knowledge is created—and how you, as a scholar, can and will contribute to these discussions.
As an Honors student at PSU, you have all the benefits of a small liberal arts college embedded in Oregon’s only public urban research university. Our unique focus on the city of Portland opens unmatched opportunities for research, creativity, and academic exploration. You can work closely with world-class researchers, study abroad with Honors faculty in London or Kenya, and intern with top employers. It all culminates in your senior year, when you not only research, create, and write, but also publish your Honors thesis.
There are many benefits to being an Honors student at PSU. You’ll receive personalized advising, priority registration for classes, and support from trained tutors in the Honors Writing Center. Honors has an interdisciplinary resident faculty; these are professors who only teach in the Honors College and who will get to know you. We also offer internships for credit, access to leadership opportunities, and enrichment workshops focused on graduate school and careers. Your time in the University Honors College will be both challenging and rewarding.
ADVISING
Honors students have a dedicated academic adviser, Brianna Avery. Brianna supports and advises students throughout their academic journey at PSU, from new student orientation to graduation, no matter what their major or degree path. She can answer questions about registration, creating an academic plan, understanding requirements, studying abroad, finding internships, applying to graduate schools, and more. She is also a resource for students who are facing challenging situations in terms of academic difficulties, financial stress, and mental health struggles; she connects students with helpful people and departments at PSU. If you have a question, and you don’t know who to ask, you can always reach out to Brianna!
BRIANNA AVERY
bavery@pdx.edu
Make an Appointment: brianna-avery.youcanbook.me/
ACADEMIC RESOURCES
HONORS WRITING CENTER
Make an Appointment: pdx.mywconline.net/
The Honors Writing Center is the writing center specifically for Honors students, where we come as a community to talk about writing. Our peer-to-peer model takes some of the pressure off that process by creating a space that makes it easier to develop your own particular style and prose. Writing tutors are happy to work with you at any stage of the writing process—whether you have a complete draft or you're still in the brainstorming phase.
ACADEMIC COACHING
pdx.edu/learning-center/academic-coaching
Academic coaching is a free support service available to all PSU students. Students work with coaches to create measurable plans to meet their academic goals. Goals may address school/life balance, active learning and studying strategies, organization, communication skills, how to access resources, and more.
TUTORING
pdx.edu/learning-center/tutoring
Available for math and statistics, sciences, World Languages. All Learning Center tutors are PSU students. Tutors offer both drop-in hours and 30 minute sessions by appointment.
Brianna Avery and her dog, Jasper
CURRICULUM
Honors is a four-year curriculum. Each year is designed to teach valuable reading, writing, and research skills, while building a strong cohort of peers and connecting you to Honors faculty. The curriculum will prepare you to carry out your thesis project: a year-long independent study project of your choice. Transfer students are supported in starting at either the sophomore or junior level. Honors courses fulfill PSU’s general education requirements (you’ll take Honors classes instead of FRINQ, SINQ, junior clusters, and capstone), both writing requirements, and part of the BA/BS degree requirements. You can even double-count credits for Honors and your major. Students from all majors are welcome to join Honors. Honors is part of your degree, not in addition to it.
FIRST YEAR THE GLOBAL CITY
The first year of Honors is a foundation for the rest of the program. This year-long sequence of three courses is taken with the same professor and classmates, allowing you to create lasting connections while studying the urban environment. All first years begin with these courses, including those with AP/IB credit earned in high school.
15 CREDITS: HON 101, 102, 103
There are six sections of Global City, each taught by a different Honors professor. Each section of the course will study different material on a unique theme, but the writing tools learned throughout the year are the same. Those writing, reading, and research skills will assist you in the next years of Honors and your time at Portland State. You can read detailed Global City section descriptions at: pdx.edu/honors/first-year-global-city
SECOND YEAR
EXPLORE NEW PERSPECTIVES
In the second year, you will learn and practice different types of research skills in HON 201, 202, and 203. All three courses are required, they can be taken in any order and are each 4 credits, for a total of 12 credits. Sophomore transfers will begin with HON 260, which replaces HON 202.
12 CREDITS: HON 201, 202 OR 260, AND 203
HON 201: URBAN SOCIAL SCIENCES
Learn how social scientists collect data and create your own ethnographic research project. Consider techniques such as participant observation, surveys, experiments, and analyzing human data, as well as the ethics of human subjects research.
HON 202: URBAN HUMANITIES
Study texts, artifacts, and other forms of evidence by approaching them through cultural and historical context. Understand how writing is used as a subjective tool to organize thought, and learn strategies for reading efficiently and comprehensively.
HON 203: URBAN ECOLOGY
Learn how cities interact with other environments as humans continue urban expansion, and study how the architecture of cities changes wildlife populations and behaviors. Design a research project.
SOPHOMORE TRANSFERS (30-89 CREDITS)
HON 260: HONORS WRITING FOR SOPHOMORE TRANSFERS
This course is the expected entry point for transfer students starting Honors at the sophomore level. You will learn the writing and research tools necessary for upper-level seminars and for the senior thesis within the context of the urban experience.
After HON 260, continue with second year coursework (HON 201, 203). You are not required to take HON 202.
THIRD YEAR
EXPLORE NEW PERSPECTIVES
The third year of the Honors curriculum is where you begin to personalize your path. Students must take at least one HON 407 seminar and then earn 8 more junior Honors credits through any combination of HON 360 (transfers), additional HON 407 seminars, internships or research opportunities for credit, or study abroad experiences. Honors junior requirements do not need to be completed before the senior thesis.
12 CREDITS: HON 407 + HON 401, 404, 407, OR 360 (TRANSFERS)
HON 407: JUNIOR SEMINARS
Seminars are 4 credit interdisciplinary courses taught by faculty from across the university. Seminars are small, discussion-based, reading- and writing-intensive courses that require students to actively engage with artifacts and texts, and write researched papers. The Honors College offers several seminars every quarter, on a variety of topics. View course descriptions: pdx.edu/honors/hon-407-seminars
HON 404: INTERNSHIPS
Earn up to 8 credits for approved internships related to your major or intended career field. This is a chance for you to explore and define your professional goals, gain experience for your resume, earn money and/or academic credits, develop professional connections, hone your skills, and develop ideas to use in your Honors thesis. Internship information: pdx.edu/honors/hon-404-internships
HON 401: RESEARCH
Earn up to 8 credits by participating in research opportunities: join a research lab or pursue independent study projects, gain critical experience and technical skills, build your resume, and connect with professors. Research can be performed at PSU or other institutions. Research Information: pdx.edu/honors/hon-401-research
JUNIOR TRANSFERS (90+ CREDITS)
HON 360: HONORS TRANSFER WRITING
This class is designed to teach the skills from the first two years of Honors, so you will be prepared to take junior seminars and complete your thesis. This class is reading and writing intensive, learning how to think critically about how scholars perform research, establish their arguments, and enter into academic discourse.
After HON 360, complete one HON 407 seminar and 4 more credits from third year Honors requirements.
FOURTH YEAR
SHOWCASE YOUR SKILLS
The final year of the Honors program is spent planning, researching, writing, presenting, and publishing a thesis paper. You decide what to study, how to go about obtaining information, what your argument is, and how you'll present your findings. Creative majors are supported in conceptualizing and carrying out a culminating project in their artistic discipline and submitting a thesis paper reflecting on and contextualizing their work. All the skills you've built during your time in Honors are utilized here; see how far you've come as a scholar and participate in academic discourse at PSU and beyond.
8 CREDITS: HON 403
HON 403: THESIS PROSPECTUS
Join a group of your peers who are also beginning their thesis projects; think about the questions you want to research, how you will perform your work, which faculty member you'd like to work with, and create a timeline for your project. (Can be taken fall, winter, or spring term.)
HON 403: THESIS CONTINUATION
Join a peer group who are completing their thesis projects; finish writing your paper, practice presenting your research, and create a presentation for the Thesis Symposium. Then submit your thesis for publication and share your work with your peers. (Can be taken fall, winter, spring, or summer terms.)
Most students will spend three terms working on their thesis. Students typically begin the thesis in the fall term of their final year; however, you can start earlier than that if you expect your project to take additional time. All students are expected to attend an Honors Thesis Orientation in junior year to learn more about thesis expectations, timelines, and finding an adviser.
The Honors Thesis Handbook is a terrific source of information: pdx.edu/honors/fourth-year-honorsthesis . Honors Theses are published on PDX Scholar and are available to browse and download: pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/honorstheses/
SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS
pdx.edu/honors/scholarships-fellowships
The scholarships and fellowships listed are only offered to Honors College students at Portland State University.
HONORS LAURELS SCHOLARSHIP
This is a four-year tuition remission scholarship awarded to outstanding applicants to the Honors College. The award is based primarily on the applicant’s application essays, although GPA and other factors may be taken into account. Awarded once a year to new applicants to the college who apply by January 1. There is no separate application for this scholarship.
HONORS ROSENBAUM SERVICE LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS
Rosenbaum Scholars will be matched with a local non-profit board for which they will serve as an intern. Students will develop leadership skills by engaging with and receiving mentorship from the chair, members of the board, and the executive director of the non-profit organization. Internships will run for the 9-month academic year from September to June. Rosenbaum Scholars will receive a $2,000 scholarship over the academic year they are in the program, earn 8 Honors internship credits, and receive remission scholarships covering this internship credit. Scholars are selected in spring term for the following academic year through a competitive application process
HONORS EDITORIAL FELLOWSHIP AT PACIFIC HISTORICAL REVIEW
The John and LaRee Caughey Honors College Editorial Fellowship with Tuition Grant is a 12-month fellowship beginning in mid-September. As a cooperative effort between the PSU University Honors College, The John and LaRee Caughey Foundation, and the Pacific Historical Review, the PHR is happy to offer an undergraduate fellow position to a student currently enrolled in the University Honors College as either a rising junior or rising senior. Students in history (or any major or field of study) are encouraged to apply. Fellows receive a $5,000 tuition remission scholarship and an hourly wage for 12 hours a week. Fellows are selected in winter term for the following academic year through a competitive application process.
ROSE E. TUCKER CHARITABLE TRUST SCHOLARSHIP
The Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust Honors Scholarship is available to a student currently enrolled in the Honors College. This scholarship is awarded to students with a high degree of financial need, with preference for students with the highest merit and who are the first in their families to attend college. Students must be admitted Honors College students, are in good standing, and must maintain full time status (minimum 12 credits). The scholarships begin in the Fall and the award money will be distributed in equal amounts each term of the academic year.
"As a Rosenbaum intern at the Nature Conservancy, I engaged in a variety of roles that helped advance the organization's commitment to conservation. From hands-on trail restoration, to researching Tribal interests in climate related projects and working to connect government funding with Indigenous communities"
BRANDON BARNHART
Junior, Community Development major
EAGLES SCHOLARSHIP
The EAGLES Scholarship awards $10,000 towards the total cost of tuition for students earning a STEM degree. This is a need and merit-based scholarship for undergraduate students, who will also receive mentorship from faculty and members of the scientific community, and opportunities to participate in environmental pollution research and paid internships. Some scholarships are awarded outside the Honors program as well.
ANNE E. SIVERS STEM SCHOLARSHIP
This is a $5,000 award, renewable for two years, for two students per year. Students must be majoring in a STEM field, with preference given to students studying engineering or physics. Students should have demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic merit. The application opens in April for the following year.
HONORS COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP
Honors students who are in good standing and accepted into a PSU Honors Faculty-led study abroad program are automatically awarded a $2000 scholarship. No additional application is necessary.
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Honors College offers several unique opportunities for students to take on leadership positions in the Honors community; student leaders are compensated. Most applications open in spring term for the following academic year.
COMMUNITY FELLOWS
Organize social, academic, and community service events for the Honors student community. Collaborate with your peers and Honors faculty, gain experience in facilitating community engagement, and demonstrate leadership skills.
COMMUNICATIONS INTERNS
Design creative materials like logos and advertisements for upcoming events, write copy for the Honors alumni newsletter, and maintain social media accounts.
"As I navigate through the hustle and bustle of academia, I find myself deeply immersed in the exciting world of thesis development. Whether it's dissecting technical papers or crafting compelling arguments, I love helping my peers with their writing"
JASMINE BEACH
Senior, Environmental Science major, has served as a Writing Fellow for three years
STUDENT AMBASSADORS
Represent the Honors College! Give tours to prospective students and guests at weekly Honors Visit Days, and serve as a panelist at PSU admissions and recruiting events.
WRITING FELLOWS
Receive training to tutor Honors students in writing! Help students with assignments and writing advice.
ANTHÓS
Anthós is the student-edited undergraduate academic journal published by the Honors College, featuring the writing of Honors students. You can serve as editor-in-chief, managing editor, or a junior editor.
LAB MANAGER INTERNSHIP
Gain lab management experience and a “behind the scenes” understanding of how science is taught. You will be responsible for updating the equipment and supply inventory, assisting with equipment repair orders, and helping keep the lab space clean and well-organized.
HOUSING: STEPHEN EPLER
pdx.edu/housing/urban-honors
Stephen Epler Hall is our living learning community for Honors students. It is not required to live on campus (or in Epler) during your time at PSU, but it is a great way to build community, stay connected with Honors students, and explore downtown Portland. The fifth and sixth floors of Epler are for first year Honors students: this can help you to create networks that can last during your time at PSU and beyond.
The Honors Community provides students admitted to the Honors College with the opportunity to participate in a close-knit community with other high achieving and highly motivated students. This community integrates classroom and experiential learning into the residential experience to form a dynamic learning community.
Built in 2003, Stephen Epler Hall has modern studio apartments with large windows, private bathrooms, and kitchenettes with a stove top, oven, and mini fridge. We've put a modern, state-of-the-art focus on sustainability.
There are many advantages to living in the Honors Living Learning Community:
Students develop a sense of community by residing with others who share similar interests, goals, and classroom experiences
Honors faculty and staff are easily accessible for advising
The Honors floors are supervised by Honors
Resident Assistants, who act as peer advisors to new students
Student leadership development opportunities
Open to all students in the Honors College
NOTE: First year students who live more than 25 miles away from campus at the time of application, are under 20 years of age on the first day of the term, and who enroll in 8 or more credits, are REQUIRED to live in a PSU residence hall during their first academic year (fall, winter, and spring terms).
Learn more about the first year on-campus housing requirement: pdx.edu/housing/first-year-housing
STEPHEN EPLER HALL
Epler’s studios have private bathrooms and kitchenettes with a stove top, oven, and mini fridge.
HONORS COMMONS
The ground floor of Epler Hall houses the Honors classrooms and the Honors Commons.
The Honors Commons is a student lounge reserved for Honors students where we host events, tutoring, the Honors writing center, and hang out.
Head to the Commons if you need a workspace: there are computers, printers, whiteboards, projectors, couches, and study buddies.
The Commons is keycard accessible 24/7, only available to Honors students (all Honors students, including those living off-campus).
Copies and prints made in the Commons do not count toward your PSU print credits, but you do need to supply your own paper.
STUDY ABROAD
pdx.edu/honors/honors-education-abroad
Honors students are strongly encouraged to study abroad through any of the many programs offered by PSU. Seminar classes and internships taken abroad can fulfill Honors junior requirements - talk to Brianna for details. If you are interested in studying abroad, be sure to register for an Ed Abroad 101 session. These workshops provide important information about how to apply for, fund, and earn credits for study abroad trips.
The Honors College also hosts summer faculty-led study abroad programs just for Honors students, in London, Kenya, and Bologna (Italy). You can earn 4-8 seminar credits (HON 407) for these experiences.
KENYA
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABILITY IN AFRICA
This program considers the history of environmental conservation in East Africa with a focus on Kenya. We discuss the development of "fortress conservation" programs under colonial contexts. We then shift attention to consider conservation programs that have evolved since decolonization. We focus on community-led conservancies that seek to address both environmental conservation goals and social justice goals, seeing these as inextricably intertwined. In Kenya, students visit a number of community-led conservancies that focus on forestry conservation and wildlife conservation programs.
LONDON
GATEWAY TO MARVELS AND MYSTERIES: MEDIEVAL SCIENCE AND MODERN STAGE
Spend a month in London with Interim Dean and Honors Director Dr. Brenda Glascott and Professor Harry York. Read and study texts about theater and London’s history, explore locations discussed in class, and earn 8 credits of HON 407.
HON 407: LONDON AS STAGE
The heart of Dr. Glascott’s course will be four theater performances, ranging from the West End to fringe theater, that will root our inquiry into intersectional matrices (gender, race, class, sexuality, religion, etc) for experiencing and understanding identity in particular contexts. Dr. Glascott's course will explore how identity is shaped by and shapes the "stage" of the global city of London through the plays and supplemental readings.
HON 407: URBAN LIFE IN MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN LONDON
Dr. York’s class will view London and England from a medieval “scientific” perspective. Readings and discussions will focus on medieval science and technology and how they reflect understandings of the “marvels” of the natural world, geography, cosmography, health and disease, and alchemy.
INSIDER TIPS
TALK TO YOUR FACULTY! GO TO OFFICE HOURS! Honors professors love to meet with students, and this can give you a chance to discuss the course, topics, questions, concerns, and other material you find interesting. Even if you don't have anything specific to talk about, you can always stop by and say hi.
READ THE HONORS COLLEGE NEWSLETTER. Every Monday you will receive the newsletter by email. You can learn about current scholarship opportunities, upcoming Honors events, and advising tips.
WHEN ADDRESSING YOUR INSTRUCTOR OR FACULTY MEMBERS, USE THEIR PROFESSIONAL TITLE: EITHER “PROFESSOR” OR “DOCTOR.” If they invite you to use their first name, then you can use that as well!
IF YOUR DEPARTMENT HOSTS EVENTS, ATTEND THEM! You can meet guest speakers, ask questions, or even volunteer to help. This can give you invaluable connections, or just new knowledge.
ADD YOUR FULL NAME AND PSU ID NUMBER TO YOUR EMAIL SIGNATURE , so professors and advisors know who you are and can find your information.
MEET WITH BRIANNA AND YOUR OTHER ADVISORS. It is always a good idea to check in and make sure you are taking the right courses, completing your required credits, and graduating with the degree and opportunities you desire.
START ON YOUR THESIS EARLY! Spend some time brainstorming topics and building connections with potential faculty advisors for your work.
JOIN THE HONORS DISCORD AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM (@PSUHONORS)!
