Honors Mission Statement

The Bay Path Honors Program provides the academically talented and exceptionally motivated undergraduate student with uniquely challenging and intellectually stimulating educational opportunities beyond the traditional curriculum. Under the guidance of faculty known for their excellence in teaching and scholarship, students investigate special topics in interdisciplinary honors seminars. The Honors Program culminates in a major independent creative or research project, or other departmental requirement.

Honors Program Overview

• Academics: In their first two years, Bay Path Honors Program students take a special one-credit seminar each semester. These seminars are team-taught, interdisciplinary courses, which examine exciting topics from different perspectives. Courses will include guest speakers and group discussion led by some of Bay Path’s finest faculty. The purpose of these one-credit seminars is to expose students to faculty, other students, and topics outside their major and help the student develop a broad perspective on topics of universal importance. In the last two years, the Honors Program shifts to individual departments, where faculty in the student’s major develop requirements designed to deepen the student’s knowledge, creativity, and proficiency in their own major. Whereas the first two years seek to broaden the student’s vision, the final two years aim to sharpen the student’s focus in their chosen area of specialization. These departmental honors requirements may include new courses, extra work in regular courses, a thesis, or creative project.
• Maintaining Good Standing: Honors Program students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 at the end of each academic year, complete required courses, and take part in required community service.
• Harvard Model United Nations: Many Honors Program students participate in the Harvard Model United Nations in their junior year or senior year (some sophomores may also apply for admission when there are openings). In the fall semester students in the program learn which nation Bay Path students will represent and spend the semester learning about their assigned country and studying various international issues. In February, students go to Boston representing their country at the Harvard Model UN, meeting delegations from many other schools from around the United States and the world.
• Honors Program Student Council: Each year, students in the Honors Program elect officers to an Honors Program Student Council. The officers include president, vice president and representatives of each class. The Council works on a number of projects, including planning the induction for first year Honors Program students, a yearly trip and other social activities, community service events, and a dinner for graduating Honors Program Seniors.
• Community Service: The Honors Program seeks to promote Bay Path University’s commitment to serving the greater community. In that spirit, the Honors Program Student Council coordinates various service activities. Honors Program students take part in two community service efforts each year, at least one of which must be an event organized by the Honors Program Student Council.

Honors Program Admissions Policy and Application Procedure

The Honors Program faculty seeks to admit approximately 20-30 promising students to the Honors Program each year. Their invitation to join the Honors Program will be based upon the following criteria:

• SAT combined score of 1500 or above (or equivalent ACT combined score);
• High school grade point average of 3.5 or above;
• Demonstrated evidence of past academic achievement, and a commitment to extracurricular activities and community service.

Transfer Students and Late Applicants

Transfer students and late applicants may also apply for the program. Admission will be based on an interview with two Honors Program faculty members, a 3.5 University grade point average, and a commitment to extra-curricular activities. Students will be required to make up the one-credit courses they missed, unless they participated in an honors program at their previous school. In the latter case, the student would submit to the Bay Path Honors Program faculty evidence of their honors work at their previous institution. Upon approval, the missed requirements will be waived for students transferring from another honors program.