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The core of the Honors Program is a group of four courses addressing a wide range of philosophical, political, religious, literary and artistic texts to debate problems the world has been facing over the past three thousand years. These courses have been designed to help prepare students for thinking creatively and critically about some of the key problems and challenges that confront us today as human beings, making use of authors and texts whose ideas have made a difference in our world. Issues of moral values, social justice, and human diversity are woven throughout the program.

Since the courses are taught by professors from different academic fields such as philosophy, political science, history, and art history students come to understand how various strands of geopolitical and cultural world history are linked with one another.

The Honors curriculum follows a historical progression from antiquity to the present, leading from discussion classes in the freshman year to independent research in the junior year. Students in the program develop academic abilities that gradually build on one another and create increasing competence, awareness, and self-reflection. The skills and values fostered by the Honors Program prepare students to engage with the contemporary world in a critical and meaningful way.

All courses in the program fulfill Dearborn Discovery Core Requirements.

Written and Verbal Communications:

• Communicate clearly in writing and public speaking.
• Compose analyses of challenging texts in thesis-driven academic essays.
• Compose advanced, inquiry-oriented papers, demonstrating comprehension of relevant primary and secondary sources and academic genres.

Critical Thinking:

• Raise good questions.
• Evaluate relevant texts in terms of authors’ theses, assumptions, evidence, and inferences.
• Consider counter evidence in response to ongoing reading.
• Draw well-reasoned conclusions that address implications of findings.

Integrative, Comparative and Creative Thinking:  

• Compare different historical contexts and ideas.
• Assess one’s own assumptions.
• Create ways of integrating contrasting information on contexts and theories.

Problem Solving:  

• Recognize problems that inhibit use of intellectual standards in thinking.
• Identify and discuss reasonable solutions.
• Work and communicate with others in solving problems.

In their first semester of the freshmen year, students take a unique gateway course first, HONS 300 “Four Trials”, in which they study several trials of great world-historical significance. The course introduces students to key developments in philosophy, history, science, and modern secular politics, while also providing an introduction to methods of textual analysis, critical thinking, theoretical reflection, and cogent writing that are the very fundamentals that the program seeks to develop.

In their first and second semesters, students also take two composition courses specially designed for the program. These are small classes, capped at 25 students per section. 

Curriculum

• HONS 300: Four Trials (first course)
• COMP 110: Honors Composition I
• COMP 220: Honors Composition II

Between their second and fifth semesters, students complete a sequence of two courses that together cover nearly three millennia of cultural history and thought:

• HONS 311: Ways of Knowing
• HONS 312: Ways of Seeing
• HONS 400: Honors Seminar 

In the junior or senior year, Honors students enroll in HONS 400: Honors Seminar. This is a smaller class, capped at 25 students.They pursue intensive study of a given topic with a faculty member who is an expert in the field. The course introduces students to timely and important areas of research and it usually requires a major writing assignment.

How Does the Honors Program Fit into the College Curriculum?

The Honors Program provides an alternate route for completing basic required courses. Honors classes satisfy Dearborn Discovery Core requirements for the various units on campus. If a student leaves the program, the classes easily translate into a normal college program with no loss of time or credit. Honors courses are demanding, yet the atmosphere is supportive and honors students generally maintain the same GPA in the program as they would taking ordinary courses.

Apart from their Honors requirements, Honors students follow a normal course of study in their own area of concentration, together with the other students in their unit. They are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of no less than 3.2 to remain in the Honors program. Any student falling below an overall average of 3.2 at the end of any given semester will be assigned probationary status in the Honors program for the succeeding semester. Failure to improve the overall average to 3.2 or above during that probationary semester will result in dismissal from the Program.

The program accepts students from all units on campus: College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters; College of Engineering and Computer Science; College of Education, Health, and Human Services; and College of Business.

There are no special charges or fees for participation in the program.

The Honors Program is open to all entering freshmen with a high school GPA of at least 3.5 or other evidence of superior academic ability. The program accepts students from all units on campus, including CASL, Engineering, Education, Health, and Business students.

Students who are eligible to join the Honors Program will be invited via email.

Participating in the program provides a chance for additional scholarship opportunities, including a chance to compete for our top Chancellor’s Scholarship, which meets 100% full tuition and fees. 

Students eligible for the Honors Program are notified in January, and must complete required steps by Friday, February 28, 2025. Upon successfully completing the required steps, students will receive confirmation in April that they have successfully joined the Honors Program, and receive notification of any additional scholarship opportunities. 

Our campus offers plenty of scholarships that students can consider applying for. Honors students have the opportunity to apply for the and Scholarships through the  by March of every year. 

"I am a Junior majoring in History. To me, the Honors program has not just challenged me academically, it has also challenged me with getting out of my personal bubble and with this granted me the opportunity to make lasting friendships and connections."  -Hope Pacheco

“I'm a freshman here in the Honors program, double majoring in Psychology and Integrative Studies. This is my first year in the Honors program, and I find it an astronomical program. It's truly fun and engaging. It is what helped me decide to come to UM-Dearborn; I was really grateful to find out about the small class sizes. After being in the program for a year, I can really see how it is a community, you make lifelong friends, and when you are around others you are ambitious to learn.  We are all from different majors, and it's nice to have all of those different perspectives. Overall, no matter your major, interests, etc., this program will open you to new opportunities like studying abroad, networking, and emerging yourself into different situations that you wouldn't experience in your major or general education classes.”  -Zion Porter

"I'm a second-year student studying Psychology. The Honors program the last two years has been absolutely amazing from the community we've built with each other to the topics we talk about in the classes."  -Juliana Bazzi

"I am a first-year student at the ÿ�մ���, and this is My first year in the Honors program. The Honors program has not only helped me evolve academically but personally as well; I met so many new people with similar interests! I highly recommend this program!”  -Zakaa Reda 

“The Honors program has helped me grow my intellectual knowledge as well as my analytical skills. I would consider the Honors program to have a more philosophical view of history and social studies. These classes help students grow a deeper sense of empathy, which is crucial in any field. The Honors program has helped me develop connections with staff as well as students. This is in part due to the smaller classroom setting but mostly because of the incredibly welcoming community.”  -Morgan Corley 

"Assalamu Alaikum and greetings to you all. I am a sophomore Biochemistry student pursuing medical school. To me, the Honors program provides the space for deep, fascinating discussions with amazing people"  -Adam Almaleky

The Honors Program Student Organization (HPSO) is a student-led organization committed to creating a supportive and collaborative community within the Honors Program and across the UM-Dearborn campus. We know that when students feel connected and cared for, they’re more confident, more engaged, and more successful. This sense of belonging and community translates into the classroom, where students are empowered to thrive academically.

Our work and events center around this belief. We organize events that respond to real student needs, such as De-stress events, mental health check-ins (including walks and seminars), book swaps, and free food stations during finals. We also make space for connection and collaboration through social events like our annual visit to the Detroit Theater, fall cider mill trip, movie nights, and creative gatherings.

HPSO was founded by students who care deeply about each other and the campus community. With the support of the Honors Faculty, we are able to host and create events that help build community, inspire insightful ideas, and make a genuine impact. HPSO is driven toward building a community we want to be part of and work towards.

Join the  on VictorsLink and check out our 

Contact Information:

Founder/President - Mena Azzawi, [email protected]

Vice President - Tyler Pierron [email protected]

If you wish to withdraw from the campus Honors Program, please complete this Please note that the process may take some time, and it could take a few weeks before your honors attributes are officially removed from your record.

April 2025 Spotlight

Meet Honors Student, Tyler Pierron. 

Tyler is a Finance major with a minor in accounting. He is very passionate about entrepreneurship and starting his own brand and business. This summer, Tyler will be working again as an intern at Banc of California. He also currently serves as the Vice-President of the Honors Program Student Organization. In his spare time, Tyler enjoys writing, going to the gym, and spending time with his family.

When asked about his time in the Honors Program, Tyler said, “Community and helping others are essential to me. Through the Honors Program I've found a supportive, driven group of peers, and as a member of the HPSO board, I've had the opportunity to give back and make a meaningful impact.”

He also says the Honors Program reshaped how he approaches the classroom and how it revitalized his passion for learning. “I am blessed to have had opportunities like the inside-out program, meeting perspective-changing professors, and finding lifelong friends.”

March 2025 Spotlight

Meet Honors Student, Mena Azzawi. 

Mena is a Biology major on the pre-med track in her junior year. She is passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and currently works as a medical assistant and research assistant. Amongst many things, Mena serves as president of the Honors Program Student Organization, president of the Student Sustainability Coalition, and vice president of the Deaf and American Sign Language Club.

When asked about the impact of the Honors Program, Mena says, “The Honors Program has played a key role in helping me build a wonderful community of students who support each other in our growth. I'm excited to continue contributing to campus and Honors community!”

She notes being passionate about empowering others along with making an impact through her work and leadership on and off campus. In her free time, Mena loves spending time with her family and reading.

February 2025 Spotlight

Meet Honors Student, Morgan Corley. Morgan is currently a Sophomore studying Biological Sciences here at UM-Dearborn! Morgan says, "like everyone, I am the sum of my parts. I come from two loving parents. My father has instilled in me the core belief of resiliency. My mother is the virtue of generosity and integrity. These core beliefs have followed me in my everyday life. In grade school, I was always known as a goody two shoes. When I was little I wasn’t much of a talker so I portrayed other values like helping people and sincerely listening to them. The neighborhood I grew up in is incredibly friendly. We are all from different backgrounds and yet we all get along. I know all of my neighbors and they know me and I think this environment has contributed to my personality. I would consider myself a pretty friendly and positive person."

Morgan is planning for a future as a field biology manager. She says this is due in large part to the variety of trees and wildlife surrounding her neighborhood which got her interested in the outdoors. Not only does she love the outdoors, but Morgan also is a realism artist, and she is currently working on a mural at the Environmental Interpretive Center on campus (to be unveiled later this summer).

Morgan says the Honors Program has been a dream come true - "This is a wonderful experience. The professors are enthusiastic and engaging. I enjoy the small class size as well and writing in all forms. The courses are based on higher, deeper thinking ranging from politics to philosophy." She notes how the Honors Program has allowed her to expand her knowledge of culture, history, and morality, which are skills that are beneficial throughout life and in future careers. 

Wondering about how impactful the program is? Morgan says, "These classes will undoubtedly help students understand that uniqueness doesn’t have to equate to division. The world is full of unique individuals and cultures. Diversity among skin color, ideas, and religions has led to wars and oppression. Society should be more inviting to differences. Unity among different cultures and accepting differences can lead to lasting peace. Maya Angelou, perfectly described this in her poem Human Family - 'We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.' No matter our divisions we are all alike in dignity and worth. I hope to encompass unity and acceptance in all that I do" 

January 2025 Spotlight

Meet Honors Student, Jack Borenski. Jack is currently a Junior studying Computer information Science. He enjoys going for walks and biking when the weather is nice (he says - boo winter), baking, and chilling with his cat Luna. 

Jack currently serves as Treasurer of the Honors Program Student Organization, where he is committed, alongside his fellow board members, to fostering a strong social community within the Honors Program. He says, "whether it’s through Honors pizza socials, welcoming our incoming freshmen, or even hosting our first fundraiser this month, I am extremely proud of what our organization has managed to accomplish so far, and I look forward to what other incredible ideas can be made for students!"

Jack also says he enjoys problem solving and taking the responsibility to provide detail when completing tasks. 

December 2024 Spotlight

Meet Honors Student, Noora Ahmad. Noora is a sophomore majoring in Biochemistry who is also a Sophomore Representative in the HSPO (Honors Program Student Organization). She says her role as a representative has brought her closer to the Honors Program along with the staff and students involved. 

Noora also founded the Deaf and American Sign Language Club at UM-Dearborn to make campus more inclusive by facilitating the learning of sign language and bringing attention to the hearing-impaired world and the deaf community. 

When asked about the impact of the Honors Program on her academic journey, Noora says, "being part of the Honors Program, I've had a multifold of opportunities to enhance my critical thinking along with my fellow classmates and truly create a deep conversation with many of the professors."

November 2024 Spotlight

Meet Honors Student Courtney Shady. Courtney is in her third year at UM-Dearborn, and is in the process of completing a double major in Psychology and Philosophy. She is currently the Managing Editor of the Lyceum, and an Event Coordinator for the Honors Program Student Organization. When asked about the Honors Program, she stated that “The Honors Program has allowed me to find my own way to flourish in college, and has fostered important connections with both my professors and peers. I don’t think I would be as involved in school, or have half the skills I do now, if I never joined the program. I was able to find a place where I belonged, interact with people I never would have had the chance to before, and learn how to think more critically about the world.” In her free time, Courtney enjoys reading, drawing, and spending time outside. 

October 2024 Spotlight

Meet Adam Almaleky who is majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Philosophy. His accomplishments are quite impressive, including winning first place in the 2024 Hopwood Awards, being a medical assistant at First Choice Medical Center serving hundreds of disadvantaged patients across Metro Detroit, serving as a student researcher under Dr. Kondapalli studying the downstream impacts of endosomal pH regulator, NHE9, being a co-author in the 2024 Mary Ann Liebert Journal of Environmental Justice and also as co-founder of the humanitarian nonprofit, Who is Hussain – Michigan.

When asked about how the Honors Program has helped him in his journey Adam says, “One of the most valuable lessons I've learned through the Honors Program is this mindset of intellectual humility... a simple yet profound principle. Inspired from Plato's account of Socrates, it's reshaped my entire life. It goes like this: because you will never know everything, always keep an open mind to new ideas... like actually consider new ideas... even ones that bother you. If you truly want to learn the truth, your ego can't get in the way.

Personally, I've now realized that the prognosis of intellectual humility is ego death. Which is great! I've become a better son, brother, friend, and person as a result. Besides all this philosophy stuff, the countless cherished friends I've made through the Honors Program is priceless. The program combines a bunch of super cool people you'd never normally get the chance to meet... from all majors and walks of life. Don't even get me started with the pizza, ice-skating, and field trips!

Now, how on earth has this program helped me professionally? What's Socrates going to do for my career? That's the million-dollar question. The answer is.. He'll make his students...millions. Think about it... Writing all of those papers, simplifying complex topics, and reading dense texts - it's drastically strengthened my communication and comprehension skills. Any profession I wish to pursue would benefit from that - entrepreneurial routes, classic routes, or otherwise. Because of the Honors program, I'll be so much more prepared for the CARS section (notoriously known to be the hardest for its critical thinking & comprehension aspect).

September 2024 Spotlight

Meet Randa Khanafer - an Honors student in her third year at UM-Dearborn. Randa is studying both pre-medical and English. She founded the Monthly Book Club in her sophomore year after the original club disbanded, and she serves as president. Randa was also the treasurer for the Opportunities in Minority Network Initiative in the 2023-2024 academic year, and now serves as the treasurer of the Undergraduate Society of Psychology and Neuroscience. In her spare time, Randa enjoys reading and spending time with her family.