Honors Curriculum Overview

for students who start in Honors Fall 2025

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Curriculum Overview

**for first-year students who start Honors in fall 2025 and follow the 2025-2026 Catalog Requirements. **

2025-2026 Catalog

A hub for inter- and cross-disciplinary inquiry and creative teaching and learning, the UMaine Honors College helps students become curious and creative problem-solvers, intellectual risk-takers, and compassionate, engaged individuals. Our four-year developmental “curriculum for inquiry” fosters academic skills and habits of mind that are valuable across all majors and degree programs and prepares students to take the next steps in their personal, intellectual, and professional journeys. The curriculum consists of 19-22 credits and satisfies a large portion of UMaine’s General Education requirements, as described in detail below.  

Honors credentials are indicated on final transcripts as well as the University of Maine diploma.  Honors graduates are recognized at the University of Maine commencement ceremony and are distinguished by the Honors medallion they receive upon completion of requirements.  

Note: the curriculum described below applies to first-year students who matriculate at the University of Maine beginning in the Fall of 2025. 

The Honors Curriculum is divided into two parts:

I: Cultivating Inquiry and Creative Practice (Semesters 1-4; 12 total credit hours)

From their first Honors class, students will begin building foundational skills in inquiry in small seminars led by world-class faculty members on the cutting edge of knowledge creation, scholarship, and practice. In this 4-course sequence, students will develop and practice increasingly advanced academic and research skills on diverse topics such as rebellious women, the history of plagues, urban landscapes, and biomedical ethics. Learning outcomes will be consistent across all sections, while course themes will vary according to faculty interest and expertise.  Classes are typically between 12-15 students. 

II: Translating Learning into Real-World Impact (Semesters 5-8; 7-10 total credit hours)

In their fifth semester, Honors students will consider how their skills can be applied beyond the classroom, practicing writing for the public in a Calderwood Seminar, studying abroad, or participating in an internship, for example. Then, students will apply their skills to a problem or project of their choosing. Students will work with a faculty advisor or in teams to create something meaningful in the world, from conducting research or developing a plan for a new non-profit organization to choreographing a dance, writing a book of poems, or designing tools that help us advance our knowledge of climate change. Students will execute their project and then integrate their experiences into an Honors portfolio. Begun in the first semester in Honors, the finished portfolio demonstrates the skills they have gained and the academic, personal, and professional growth they have achieved while at UMaine.

When they complete the curriculum, Honors students will possess a well-curated toolbox of academic and interpersonal skills, along with a polished portfolio that they can utilize in their life after UMaine – whether applying to graduate or professional school, engaging in volunteer work, or entering the workforce. 

Each course in the Honors Curriculum gives students the opportunity to develop core skills in scholarship and inquiry. 

Learn more about the Essential Honors Content Here!

Some academic programs may allow the Honors project and/or thesis to satisfy their Capstone and Writing Intensive within major requirements. Students should consult with their academic program about whether and how their project interacts with capstone and writing intensive requirements in their program.

Additional note on General Education Requirements (GERs): The Honors curriculum does not satisfy the First Year Writing (ENG 101) and Quantitative and Scientific Literacy GERs.

The Honors Curriculum: A Semester-by-Semester guide

The following is based on a student earning their undergraduate degree in 8 semesters and is a general guide only. Except where specified, all Honors courses are 3 credit hours. Note: the program of study may be different for students who complete internships off-campus, take summer coursework, are in credit-intensive majors, etc. Honors advisement throughout each student’s academic career will ensure that they are progressing in the curriculum. 

The Honors College welcomes transfer students (both internal and external) and will work with transfer students individually to craft an appropriate path of study.

HON 101 – Explore: Foundations of Inquiry (Fall)

  • In this first course in the Honors sequence, you will establish and practice foundational academic skills within various topic areas of instructor expertise. Working within diverse content areas in different sections of the course, each drawing from diverse Human Cultural Traditions, you will develop core skills in reading critically, source awareness and analysis, learning from diverse discussions, and writing.
  • Satisfies Western Cultural Traditions General Education Requirement (GER).

Honors Portfolio: students will create and contribute to their portfolio, per HC guidelines.

Sample HON 101 offerings

HON 102 – Connect: Evidence & Argument (Spring)

  • In this second course in the Honors sequence, you will enter into the community and practice of active scholarship within various topic areas of instructor expertise. Working within diverse content areas in different sections of the course, each drawing from diverse Global Perspectives, you will develop core skills in writing, editing, and revising; finding and synthesizing scholarly sources, and constructing scholarly arguments.
  • Satisfies Cultural Diversity & International Perspectives; Writing Intensive GER.

Honors Portfolio: students will contribute to their portfolio, per HC guidelines.

HON 102 Offerings

HON 201 – Design: Projects for Impact (Fall)

  • Students develop skills in designing research, scholarly projects, or creative practices and working collaboratively under the guidance of faculty from across the university.  Topics vary, but will center on the environment, sustainability, and how humans interact with the natural world.
  • Satisfies Population & Environment GER.

Honors Portfolio: Students will contribute to their portfolio, per HC guidelines.

HON 201 Offerings

HON 202 – Engage: Practice & Scholarship (Spring)

  • In the final semester of the Honors core sequence, students will move from design to execution, taking the next step of conducting active research, inquiry, and/or creative practices with a faculty member in their area of expertise.  In these classes, students will learn about core concepts of ethical theories, interpret ethical issues, and apply those concepts to their research and lives.
  • Satisfies Ethics GER.

Honors Portfolio: Students will contribute to their portfolio, per HC guidelines.

HON 202 Offerings (Coming soon)

HON 301 – Public Experience Seminar (Fall/Spring) or HON 349 – Public Experience Seminar Alternative (Fall/Spring)

  • Students will put the skills and intellectual habits learned in the Honors core sequence into practice in a public-facing course (e.g. Calderwood Seminar in Public Writing, service-learning course, etc.) or a zero-credit public facing alternative (e.g. travel study, internship, summer research experience for undergraduates, etc.).

Honors Portfolio: students will contribute to their portfolio, per HC guidelines.

HON 301 offerings (Coming Soon)

HON 498* – Honors Thesis I (Fall/Spring/Summer) or Capstone within Major (Fall/Spring)

  • HON 498: Students begin designing and executing their Honors project or thesis, under the guidance of their Honors thesis advisor.
  • Students on the Integrative Capstone track will complete a capstone class in their major or at least 3 credits of their capstone requirements (credits vary).

Honors Portfolio: students will contribute to their portfolio, per HC guidelines.

**This HON 349 course description and requirement information is only for students who start Honors in Fall 2025 and beyond.**

A student posing in front of an ice cave in Iceland.
A student posing in front of a podium in the Pentagon.
A student posing with a paddle pretending to play guitar while traveling down rapids.

The Public Experience Seminar Alternative (HON 349) allows students to earn Honors credit for substantial experiential learning opportunities that place them in real-world environments where they apply their skills, test their values, and navigate unfamiliar contexts. These experiences typically take place outside of the University of Maine, though students may request exceptions. 

Eligible experiences may include research, internships, travel study, public service, community engagement, creative projects, or other applied work conducted outside the structure of traditional coursework. The emphasis is on stretch experiences: opportunities that move students beyond the comfort and the familiarity of campus life to develop an understanding of public engagement, leadership skills, and applied scholarship.

To qualify, an experience must:

  • Occur outside of UMaine classrooms, laboratories, and student employment
  • Involve engagement with people, institutions, or communities beyond the university
  • Require significant independent initiative and self-direction
  • Provide learning opportunities or professional development not available through existing coursework
  • Entail a time commitment comparable to that of a 3-credit course (approximately 135 hours, which can include preparation time for the experience as well as the experience itself)

Paid experiences may count if they meet the criteria above. Simply performing routine job responsibilities or work unrelated to your academic or public engagement goals is not sufficient.

Process:

Step 1: Students must complete an HON 349 Public Experience Seminar Alternative application form at least one month before embarking on the experience that includes a brief proposal outlining their planned experience, responsibilities, and the length of time they will be engaged in the experience. You will be notified if your proposal is approved within two weeks of submission. 

Step 2: Students will be enrolled in HON 349 by the Coordinator of Academic Advising and Student Success – Sandra Cáceres Tijerina in the semester following the completion of their project. As part of the requirements for HON 349, students will submit the following to the Brightspace page for the course:

  • At least digital 6 photos that could be suitable for the Honors College website, social media, or marketing. If you are working/studying in a situation where photographs are restricted, be creative in taking photos of yourself in front of the building where you work;  with your supervisor, colleagues, or friends; or the community in which you are living.
  • Your choice of a written essay OR a short video (5 min) reflecting on your tutorial alternative experience. The essay or video must explain the significance of the experience, what was learned, and why it matters to others. (The HON 349 syllabus will have more information about this expectation and will be available on Brightspace when you are registered for the course).
  • When relevant, evidence of successful completion of any coursework involved in the tutorial alternative opportunity (for example, a transcript of courses completed during Study Abroad).

HON 499* – Honors Thesis II (Fall/Spring/Summer) or HON 401* – Honors Integrative Capstone (Fall/Spring)

  • HON 499: Students complete their Honors project or thesis, under the guidance of their Honors thesis advisor.
  • HON 401: Building on their capstone coursework, students in this course will develop a public-facing presentation of their capstone work through an Honors perspective. 

Honors Portfolio: students will contribute to their portfolio, per HC guidelines.

HON 402 – Honors Portfolio (Fall/Spring, 1 credit)

  • Students will integrate their Honors experiences into a portfolio that demonstrates the knowledge and skills they have gained and the academic, personal, and professional growth they have achieved throughout their college experience. 
  • Because the portfolio is built over multiple semesters, successful completion of the Portfolio course satisfies the Artistic and Creative Expression; Social Contexts and Institutions GERS.
For more information about the Honors Thesis/integrative capstone, click here!

HON 180: A Cultural Odyssey (Fall or Spring)

Available Starting Spring 2027

  • An opportunity for students to extend their cultural education in the context of opportunities available at the University of Maine and in the surrounding area. Various arts events including dance, music, theatre, poetry, and visual art will be explored and analyzed. May be repeated once for credit.
  • Satisfies Artistic and Creative Expression GER

Honors Courses focused on Genomics

Click Here for more information on HON 150/155/350

HON 150: Phage Genome Discovery I (Fall, 4 credits)

  • This inquiry-driven research course provides a hands-on laboratory experience in which students isolate a novel bacteriophage from the environment and characterized the bacteriophage through experimentation. Topics covered include phage biology and bacteriology, gene structure and expression, DNA isolation, restriction digest analysis, agarose gel electrophoresis, and electron microscopy. In this writing intensive course, students will learn effective scientific writing skills through instruction and writing activities and will write a final manuscript to report their research findings.  Students also carry out activities and reflective writing assignments that simultaneously teach students both scientific content as well as personal, interpersonal, and critical-thinking skills essential to the practice of science.  (HON 150 and BMB 150 are identical courses.)
  • Satisfies Writing Intensive GER

HON 155: Genome Discovery II: From DNA to Genes (Spring, 4 credits)

  • Provides laboratory experience working on DNA sequence from a bacteriophage isolated during the previous semester.  Topics include bioinformatics, genome annotation, open reading frame and RNA identification, BLAST analysis, phylogenetics and submission to a genomic database.  In addition students will gain skills in designing and running computational experiments, reading the scientific literature, writing scientific papers, and making oral presentations. (HON 155 and BMB 155 are identical courses)

HON 350: The Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease (Spring, 3 credits)

  • The Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease (HON 350) Honors tutorial course is designed to give students hands-on experience in biomedical research. The course is held annually over an intense week at MDI Biological Laboratory (MDIBL) in Bar Harbor, Maine and continues at the University of Maine over the course of the Spring semester.
  • Successful completion of HON 350 satisfies the Honors Public Experience requirement.

The Honors portfolio

Your Honors Portfolio is a space for you to collect, reflect, and make meaning of your experiences in the Honors College. Think of it as a personal record of your academic, cultural, and civic journey through college—something that will grow with you over time and help you connect your coursework and experiences outside of the classroom in a meaningful way.  You will add material to your portfolio every semester in Honors. 

Learn more about the Portfolio by watching this short video!

You should always feel free to add more than the minimum number of artifacts required each semester. You will have the opportunity to curate your Portfolio in HON 402.

Portfolio Checklist

 A central document where you’ll provide links to all your Portfolio items. You should keep the checklist updated as you add items and check the Portfolio to make sure it is complete at the end of each semester.

Reflective Writing Folder

Use this folder to copy over reflective entries you have written in your Honors courses in Brightspace, starting with two specific Reflective Writing prompts in HON 101.

Artistic & Cultural Experiences Folder

Use this folder to track and reflect on events like concerts, plays, exhibits, or lectures that broaden your understanding of arts and culture.

Civic Engagement Experiences Folder

Use this to track and reflect on events or activities that connect you with your community or deepen your understanding of civic life.

Selected Academic Work Folder

Use this folder to upload one assignment/artifact from your HON course and one assignment/artifact from a non-Honors course each semester.

Artistic and Cultural Experiences Resources

School of Performing Arts Events Calendar (UMaine)
Collins Center for the Arts (UMaine)
Lord Hall Gallery (UMaine)
Zillman Art Museum (UMaine – located in downtown Bangor)
Penobscot Theatre Company (downtown Bangor)
Ten Bucks Theatre Company (Bangor – various locations)
Bangor Symphony Orchestra (performances at the Collins Center)

Civic Engagement Experiences Resources

Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions 
Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service 
Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism
UMaine UVote Non-Partisan Voter Registration Initiative
UMaine Student Government
Student Organizations Fair
Socialist and Marxist Studies Lecture Series
Maine Heritage Lecture
Geddes Simpson Lecture 
William S. Cohen Lecture
Orono Land Trust Volunteerism
Bangor Humane Society – volunteer opportunities
Old Town Animal Orphanage – volunteer opportunities
Food AND Medicine – civic engagement opportunities
Orono Public Library
UMaine TRIOTA
UMaine Office for Community and Connections
Wilde Stein
Students for the Awareness and Prevention of Overdose (SAPO) – Insta: umainesapo
Fogler Library Salon Series

For general questions about the Portfolio, please reach out to honors@maine.edu.

How do I find my Portfolio?

To find your Honors Portfolio on your Google Drive, follow these steps: Accessing your Portfolio

I don’t have a portfolio!

If you don’t see an Honors Portfolio in your “shared with me” Drive, please send an email to honors@maine.edu.

How do I know what to upload into my portfolio?

In your Portfolio Folder is a Portfolio Checklist that lists which artifacts to include and gives you a place to add them each semester.

I added something to the wrong folder!

If you added something to the wrong folder or uploaded the wrong document, please fill out the form below to have the item moved or deleted from your Portfolio. Please note that the form must be filled out with your @maine.edu email address.

Honors College Portfolio Move/Delete Form

Academic Standing Policy

Graduation from the Honors College requires completion of all curricular and portfolio requirements, a cumulative GPA of 3.30, and a grade of C or better in all Honors courses.  

The Honors College monitors students’ progress in their coursework each semester, including GPAs and Honors grades, and in the program overall. Stated deadlines and other expectations are designed to ensure that students stay on track, fulfill requirements in a timely fashion, and complete high-quality work. For students who struggle academically, the probation and dismissal policies outlined below are designed to help get them back on track and ensure that the path to graduation with Honors remains feasible and open whenever possible. 

A “C” or better is required in all Honors courses to satisfy the requirements of the Honors College. These courses may be repeated once for credit.  In addition to successfully completing all the required Honors College courses, a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30 is required to graduate with Honors.

The Honors College monitors the GPAs of its students. Those who fall below a 3.30 GPA are cautioned based upon a set of GPA thresholds for each cohort (first-year through senior). The caution ranges are based on the credits remaining to graduation that can reasonably be used to restore a student’s GPA back to the 3.30 GPA required for graduation in Honors: 2.7 to 3.0 at end of first year; 3.0 to 3.15 at end of second year; 3.15 to 3.30 at end of third year. Students in each cohort who fall below the lower threshold will be separated from the Honors College, but have the option to appeal for reinstatement.

Students who maintain a GPA of 3.3 or higher, who earn grades of C or better in all Honors courses, and who are making progress toward completion of all  Honors requirements (including the portfolio) are in good standing in Honors.  

The following conditions are grounds for Honors College probation:

  • Cumulative GPA below 3.3.  
  • Not making satisfactory progress in the Honors curriculum, e.g. 
    not completing Honors courses, the portfolio, or other requirements;
  • Not responding in a timely fashion to outreach from the Honors College (instructors, thesis/project advisors, or dean’s office). 

Probationary process: A student who is placed on probation will be required to meet with the Honors College advising team to establish an Academic Improvement Plan; this plan will include the conditions by which the student will maintain their place in Honors and the support structures needed to reach stipulated goals. Students who meet these conditions will maintain their place in the Honors College; students who do not meet them will be dismissed from Honors. Typically, only two semesters of probation (whether consecutive or total) are allowed during a student’s tenure in Honors.   

Note: the Honors College probation process is an internal one and does not have an impact on your academic standing in your degree program or at UMaine more generally.  

The following conditions are grounds for Honors College dismissal: 

  • Cumulative GPA below 3.0.
  • Grade below C in any Honors course.
  • Not fulfilling the terms or conditions of academic probation.
  • Not being registered for an Honors class for two or more semesters without prior arrangement with the Honors College.
  • Not making satisfactory progress in the Honors curriculum, e.g. not being registered for an Honors class for two semesters without prior arrangement with the Honors College;
  • Not completing Honors course, portfolio, or thesis/project requirements;
  • Not responding in a timely fashion to outreach from the Honors College (instructors, thesis/project advisors, or dean’s office)

Dismissal process:  Students will be given an opportunity to appeal their dismissal; if reinstated, they will move into the probationary process, as outlined above.  Students who are reinstated but who do not meet the terms of their probation will be permanently dismissed from the college; no further appeals will be allowed.  

Students seeking to withdraw from the Honors College should send an email to honors@maine.edu for information about the withdrawal process.

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