Honors Self-Designed Studies (HSDS)

Stand-alone Major

First Major

Second Major

Minor

Self-Designed Course Sheet

 

What happens after I submit my proposal?

The Assistant Director for Academics of the MHC reviews all proposals within two weeks. You will be notified by email if your proposal is accepted as is, or if revisions are required.

Upon approval: Work with your MHC advisor to change your major on TopNet. Use your approved proposal for planning and registration.

Upon earning 75 credit hours in residence: Work with your MHC Advisor to submit the Honors Self-Designed Course Sheet. This form will direct the Registrar’s Office to create your program on iCAP.

Agritourism

A combination of agribusiness and hospitality management courses, this major is preparing the designer to learn the logistics of an agritourism business while providing premium guests services.

Critical Zone Science

Critical Zone Science studies all pieces of an environment at once, which requires a broad understanding of natural processes in climate science, biology, geology, meteorology, physics and chemistry. The major is preparing the designer for graduate school in an increasingly interdisciplinary field.

Semantics-Based Computational Linguistics

With a focus on the analytical side of linguistics, both generally and semantically, this major, when paired with a major in computer science, is preparing its designer to create programs that can understand and keep up with the fluidity of modern language.

Sustainable Agriculture

At its core, agriculture is the combination of several branches of science (particularly biology, chemistry, geology and ecology) aiding in our understanding of how to cultivate plants and livestock. This major allowed the designer to gain a deeper understanding of agriculturally-related processed and agricultural practices through a sustainability-minded lens.

Digital Storytelling

This interdisciplinary major prepared its designer to compose and create effective media by understanding the theories and systems that make up the relationships between people and the media while exploring digitally composed rhetoric (such as documentary film, online design and multimedia advertising).  The coursework from Communication, Public Relations, Marketing and English allowed the designer to focus on the theory and art of informing, persuading and inspiring action in an audience through multimedia.

Community Arts

Based in participatory art, social practice, research, and community-based art, the major allowed its designer to catalyze meaningful social change for communities. Coursework combined performing arts, visual arts, craft practices, sociology, cultural practices, storytelling and narrative media to develop collaborative projects around real issues. 

 

• Any proposed HSDS must be a major or minor WKU does not already have.
• At least one-half of the hours in any HSDS major or minor must be upper-division (numbered 300 or above).
• No more than six hours of courses used to satisfy Colonnade requirements may be used in the HSDS major or minor.
• The HSDS must include honors coursework, either through dedicated honors courses, or Honors Augmentation Contracts (HACs)
• In accordance with WKU degree requirements, any two separate academic degree programs must total a minimum of 54 credit hours and have at least 48 non-duplicated credit hours.
• Students completing an HSDS major or minor must complete all other requirements of the Mahurin Honors College.
• Students must meet with an MHC advisor and their HSDS faculty sponsor every semester and provide and update on progress.