Honors Program Curriculum

The Honors Program at Clarkson University offers a unique curriculum focused on creative problem-solving at the interface between science, technology and society. Honors Program courses are designed around unresolved real-world problems, not predetermined answers. You and your Honors Program classmates from all Clarkson majors will work together to create knowledge—a true journey of discovery.

Freshman Year: Introduction to Research

• Social and Ethical Implications of Research I
  You will explore the role of research in society, particularly the social consequences and ethical concerns involved in new knowledge and technical innovations that have resulted from modern science.
• Social and Ethical Implications of Research II
  This second-semester course emphasizes student projects that develop the ability to think critically about these issues, to write persuasively and speak eloquently in order to take a position and make an effective argument on the issues involved.

Sophomore Year: The Sophomore Problem

• This two semester focuses on a real-world problem requiring teams of students engaged in multi-displicinary collaboration. Students work with faculty consultants to address issues of global problems like clean water provision in rural India or local issues like the feasibility of residential hospice facility St. Lawrence County. 
  
  In 2012-2013 the Sophomore Problem was to design interactive web-based exhibits for the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake.  The goal was to incorporate Geographical Information Systems and visualization technologies to appeal a diverse audience and to educate them on the history of human and environmental relationships in the Adirondack Park.

 You can see some of the websites here: http://web2.clarkson.edu/projects/hp200_adk/index.html

And here is a link to video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTf9BgAC-cw&feature=youtu.be

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  • Science: Problems and Possibilities
    This seminar focuses on the process of scientific research. You will work in teams to develop a NSF- or NIH-quality research proposal with the help of faculty mentors. Recent proposals include titles such as: “Gradual Acclimatization of Migratory Honeybees as a Potential Solution to Colony Collapse Disorder,” “Hydraulic Fracturing and Induced Seismicity in the Marcellus Shale Region of Pennsylvania,” and “Dynamical Modeling of Plant/ Human Interdependence in a Martian Space Colony.”
  • Honors Thesis Proposal
    You will develop a proposal for your project and choose a faculty mentor who will guide you from problem definition through the completion of your thesis during your senior year.
  • Honors Thesis
    You will continue to engage in in-depth exploration of an original problem.
    Recent thesis topics include: “The Identification of Protein Serum Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder;” “Feasibility of a Regenerative Braking System for a School Bus” and “Improving Resolution for Nanoparticle Size Distribution Measurements.” Many projects lead to presentations at national conferences and even publication in professional journals.
  • Seminar on Modernity
    Each capstone course explores an exciting new knowledge area. Recent topics have included the globalization of food and the evolution of language.

• Junior Year: Proposal and Grant Writing

  Senior Year: Research and Modernity