Director Michael O’Conner • (217) 424-5096

Mission Statement of the Honors Program

The Honors Program is an interdisciplinary community of scholars that provides students additional opportunities to reach their potential by challenging them intellectually and preparing them for lives of integrity, value and professional success. Based on the belief that excellence requires engagement, the program seeks creative avenues for integrating theory and practice, enhancing critical thinking, examining ethics and values and fostering the development of better citizens and successful leaders.

Goals of the Honors Program

The Program will:

• afford intellectually curious students a forum for an interdisciplinary and collaborative exchange of ideas through distinctive approaches to learning;
• afford intellectually curious students a forum for an interdisciplinary and collaborative exchange of ideas through distinctive approaches to learning;
• enable students to conduct substantial self-directed research, working closely with faculty mentors;
• engage students in service to enrich the campus and larger community;
• and prepare students to experience personal and professional success beyond Millikin.

Hallmarks of the Millikin Honors program:

• Small, engaging seminars with our honors students and faculty
• Innovative courses with experimental pedagogy
• Interaction with campus leaders among students, faculty, and administrators
• Independent scholarship, under direction of faculty mentors
• Diverse methods of inquiry, drawn from multiple disciplines
• Creative pursuits that encourage risk taking
• Service contributions during each year of the program
• Flexibility in individualized plans of study

General Overview

Millikin's has a 2 + 2 Honors Program structure.  Students during their freshman and sophomore years are designated as Honors Scholars.  At the end of the sophomore year, students can choose to apply to become James Millikin Scholars during their junior and senior years. 

The Honors Program invites applications from entering freshmen who rank in the upper 10 percent of their high school graduating class and achieve an ACT composite score of 27 (SAT combined verbal and math of 1150) or above to become Honors Scholars. A written application and personal interview are required of each applicant. Application forms may be requested from the Office of Admission. The interviews are conducted as part of the Presidential Scholars selection process in the winter and spring. Honors Scholars qualify for a significant scholarship each year they maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 out of 4.0 and complete required coursework. Students with demonstrated financial need beyond this amount, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and/or the Illinois State Scholarship Commission, could qualify for additional scholarship awards.

Established in 1974, the James Millikin Scholars (JMS) Program offers opportunities for independent study and research to junior and senior students. Any qualified sophomore student may apply for the JMS Program. An essay, a personal interview, and faculty recommendations are required of all applicants. James Millikin Scholars will be selected by the Honors Committee and JMS interviewers. A limited number of applicants are chosen each year. James Millikin Scholars must be capable of outstanding academic performance, demonstrate intellectual curiosity, be willing to take academic risks, and be strongly motivated for study at the college level. Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 out of 4.0 and complete required coursework to remain in the JMS Program.

The Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1984 as the University sought to identify students who combine outstanding academic records with service to their communities (broadly defined) and leadership in community and school activities. Students chosen as Presidential Scholars receive full-tuition scholarships. The application process is the same as for freshman Honors Scholars. Presidential Scholars automatically enter the JMS Program at the end of the sophomore year and must maintain a 3.5 cumulative grade point average throughout their years at Millikin.

Outline of the Honors Program

Honors Scholars follow the Honors curriculum presented here for the First and Second Years of the Honors Program.  James Millikin Scholars who were Honors Scholars previously at Millikin follow the Honors curriculum presented here for the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Years of the Honors Program. They do not follow the University Studies portion of the Millikin Program for Student Learning curriculum presented elsewhere in the Bulletin. In addition, they are responsible for all their appropriate school and division requirements, as well as for all required courses for the major.

James Millikin Scholars who were not previously Honors Scholars at Millikin or who did not transfer in to Millikin as part of a recognized articulation agreement with other institutions that have honors programs, must still complete all University Studies curriculum requirements for the Millikin Program for Student Learning, except for the off-campus learning requirement.  This requirement will be fulfilled by service components of the JMS Program.  In addition, they are responsible for all their appropriate school and division requirements, as well as for all required courses for the major.  They must also complete the curriculum presented here for the Third and Fourth Years of the Honors Program.

Students who are removed from or drop out of the Honors Scholars or James Millikin Scholars programs must revert to the regular requirements for the Millikin Program for Student Learning University Studies curriculum.

First Year: Honors Scholars/Presidential Scholars

Theme: Discovering Scholarship (12 Credits)

First Semester: (6 credits)

• IN 183 Freshman Honors Seminar  (including First Week)-cohorted with
• IN 150 Honors Critical Writing, Reading and Research I
• Scholarship Assistantship (Optional program, for 60 hours per semester)

Second Semester: (6 credits)

• IN 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207 Honors Seminar

Students will complete an Honors Seminar in one of the following areas:  Business (IN-200), Education (IN-201), Fine Arts (IN-202), Humanities (IN-203), Natural Sciences (IN-204), Nursing (IN-205), Social Sciences (IN-206) or Mathematics (IN-207).

• IN 151 Honors Critical Writing, Reading and Research II

Culminating Event: Honors Scholars Conference

First-Year Honors Scholars and First-Year Presidential Scholars will present their research in a conference open to the University Community.

Second Year: Honors Scholars/Presidential Scholars

Theme: Exploring Scholarship (6 credits)

First Semester: (3 credits)

•  IN 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207 Honors Seminar

Students will complete an Honors Seminar in one of the following areas:  Business (IN-200), Education (IN-201), Fine Arts (IN-202), Humanities (IN-203), Natural Sciences (IN-204), Nursing (IN-205), Social Sciences (IN-206) or Mathematics (IN-207).

Courses may not be repeated.

On-campus service learning component through the second year.

Second Semester: (3 credits)

• IN 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207 Honors Seminar

Students will complete an Honors Seminar in one of the following areas:  Business (IN-200), Education (IN-201), Fine Arts (IN-202), Humanities (IN-203), Natural Sciences (IN-204), Nursing (IN-205), Social Sciences (IN-206) or Mathematics (IN-207).

All Honors students will do on-campus service learning

Culminating Event:  Celebration of selection into JMS

Third Year: James Millikin Scholars/Presidential Scholars

Theme: Engaging Scholarship (5-11 credits)

• IN350 Global Studies course:  non-Western emphasis outside of major (not an honors course)
• IN 491 Honors Project (total six credits over two years)
• IN 492 Honors Seminars (one credit each semester)

Culminating Event:  Juniors will present their Honors Proposal, at an Honors Community event.

Fourth Year: James Millikin Scholars/Presidential Scholars

Theme: Demonstrating Scholarship (5-8 credits)

• IN 491 Honors Project (total six credits over two years)

? IN 492 Honors Seminars (one credit each semester)

Culminating Event: Seniors will present their honors projects at Senior Recognition Day, which is open to the University Community.

Total Hours Required in Honors Program: 31

Other Components of the Honors Program

Service: Service-learning experiences are included in each of the four years of the program.

Off-Campus Experience: The University-wide requirement for off-campus experience will be satisfied through the service components of the Honors Program. Any additional off-campus experience required by the major must be completed by the honors student.

Honors Courses  (IN) (Credits)

IN 183. Freshman Honors Seminar  (3)

(Including First Week) cohorted with Interdisciplinary 150, Honors Critical Writing, Reading, and Research I. The topics of these paired courses will vary from year. The two courses will be linked by skills, assignments and/or content. The major focus of these first semester courses is the development of a student research interest. The courses will involve considerable writing of a variety of types. Students will begin to examine research from a variety of disciplines within the context of the seminar.

IN 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207 Honors Seminar (3)

Taken simultaneously with Interdisciplinary 151, Honors Critical Writing, Reading, and Research II.

Students will complete an Honors Seminar in one of the following areas:  Business (IN-200), Education (IN-201), Fine Arts (IN-202), Humanities (IN-203), Natural Sciences (IN-204), Nursing (IN-205),  Social Sciences (IN-206) or Mathematics (IN-207). Courses may not be repeated. There will be numerous opportunities for the students to share their research and critique the research of others.

Second Year - First Semester IN 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207 Honors Seminar (3)

Students will complete an Honors Seminar in one of the following areas:   Business (IN-200), Education (IN-201), Fine Arts (IN-202), Humanities (IN-203), Natural Sciences (IN-204), Nursing (IN-205),  Social Sciences (IN-206) or Mathematics (IN-207). Courses may not be repeated.

Second Year - Second Semester IN 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207 Honors Seminar (3)

Students will complete 3 different seminars in the following areas by the end of the sophomore year: Business (IN-200), Education (IN-201), Fine Arts (IN-202), Humanities (IN-203), Natural Sciences (IN-204), Nursing (IN-205),  Social Sciences (IN-206) or Mathematics (IN-207). Courses may not be repeated.

IN 491. Honors Independent Project (6)

This course is used by students completing an honors proposal and project with a faculty mentor on an individualized basis. A student works with an advisor on a one-to-one basis from proposal writing, to the final project, to the oral presentation of the results. The hours may be distributed according to a plan approved by the project advisor, the academic advisor and the Honors Director.

IN 492. Honors Seminar (1)

Seminars will allow students to meet and discuss progress on the honors project and to integrate materials from a variety of courses. This seminar is designed to help students work to develop projects, give them a forum for sharing research ideas/problems/questions, allow them to make connections among courses and keep ties with their honors peers.

Information for Students Not Continuing into JMS or Not Completing the Honors Program

1. For students not continuing into the JMS Program, three courses taken in the first year (IN183, IN150 and IN151) will replace University Seminar (IN140) and Critical Writing Reading and Research I and II. Honors students who do not continue in the JMS program, however, must fulfill University Studies requirements in order to be eligible for graduation. Honors Seminars may sometimes be used to satisfy one or more of the following University, Division or College requirements, including:

(1)  Depending on course content, many IN206 Social Science Honors Seminars may fulfill the US Studies requirement.

(2)  IN202 fulfills the Fine Arts requirement.

(3)  Depending on course content, IN203 may fulfill the literature requirement for BA students, the historical studies requirement for A&S students, or part of the Cultures track for Track C students.

(4)  IN204 fulfills the Natural Science requirement, depending upon course content.

(5)  IN206 fulfills the Social Science requirement for A&S students, if not being counted as US Studies.

(6) IN207 fulfills the quantitative reasoning requirement, depending on course content.

(7)  Courses not meeting one of these requirements may be used as an elective.

2. JMS students must fulfill JMS requirements and not University Studies requirements. Students who withdraw or are removed from the JMS program at any time will use the honors courses to replace comparable courses in the Millikin Program of Student Learning or other courses (on a course-by-course basis) as deemed appropriate by the student, the advisor, the Honors Director and the Registrar. These students must then complete all requirements of the Millikin Program of Student Learning not replaced by honors courses.

Dean’s List and High Dean’s List Designations

The Dean’s List is announced each semester and contains a listing of Millikin students whose grade point average for that semester is 3.5 or better. Students must carry at least 12 graded credits to qualify for this honor. Students earning a 4.0 grade point average are listed on the High Dean’s List.

Graduation Honors Designations

Graduation honors are based on all college work attempted with at least 33 credits earned in residence at Millikin. Highest honors (summa cum laude) require an average of at least 3.8 for all credits attempted. Magna cum laude requires at least a 3.65 grade point average, and cum laude requires at least a 3.5 grade point average.