THE HONORS PROGRAM

Michael Bassman, Director, D-107 Brewster Building
Joyce G. Reed, Associate Director of the Honors Program and Director of the East Carolina Scholars Program

The Honors Program is a university-wide endeavor that exists to ensure superior undergraduate students an exceptional educational experience, beginning with their first day in college.  Eligible students accepted by the university are often contacted while they are still in high school.  Currently enrolled freshmen and sophomores with a GPA of 3.4 are also invited to participate in the program, which each semester offers honors sections of many regular introductory courses (in such disciplines as English, history, anthropology, and psychology) and special, often interdisciplinary, honors seminars designed to meet general education requirements.  Many of these seminars are team-taught.  In the HNRS course listing, general categories of the seminars are included; the precise topics and semesters in which the seminars are offered will be determined by honors student requests and faculty proposals.  Students may take seminars with the same number twice for credit, if the topics are different.  All honors seminars except the laboratory carry writing intensive credit.

To complete general education honors, students must complete 24 s.h. with a minimum grade of B and earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3.  After completion of general education honors, students with a 3.5 GPA or better may earn university honors in their major by completing a 6 s.h. senior project such as a thesis, field experience, community service, portfolio, or co-teaching semester.

For further information on qualifications and specific offerings, students should consult the director.  The Honors Program is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council and its regional and state affiliates and participates in national honors exchange programs.

INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS

GERONTOLOGY

Linner Griffin, Center on Aging, Associate Director for Educational Programs, 112 Ragsdale Building

The gerontology minor  augments major fields of study with an overview of issues confronting elderly people and their service providers.  In recognition that aging can be viewed from a variety of perspectives, courses from several academic programs are available. Special topics courses with aging as their primary content may be counted toward the minor.  Inquiries should be directed to the associate director for educational programs.  The minor requires 24 s.h. of credit.  A maximum of 6 s.h. may count toward general education requirements and the gerontology minor.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

John H.P. Williams, Acting Director, International House
Donald L. Spence, Associate Director, International House
Rita Gonsalves, Associate Director, International House
Marolyn McDiarmid, Director, International Admissions, International House
Anne Tillman, Assistant Director, International Admissions, International House
Wellyn Dawson, International Students Adviser, International House
Rhonda P. Brown, Immigration Coordinator, International House
Delores Randolph, Financial and Budget Manager, International House

East Carolina University views the creation of international awareness as an essential obligation of the contemporary university.  It seeks structures through academic and co-curricular programming to provide students with the knowledge and skills to comprehend the world within a broad, flexible, and sensitive conceptual framework that takes into account the reality of interdependence among states and of international structures through academic and co-curricular programming.  The university aims to produce liberally educated citizens of this and other countries capable of coping with complexity and diversity of the world in which we live.

INTERNATIONAL ADMISSIONS AND SERVICES

The Office of International Affairs coordinates ECU’s international student recruitment and admissions program, working with its own staff and others within the university to expand the international representation within its degree-seeking student body.  International Affairs coordinates the international studies minor, which is a university-wide opportunity for students to add this dimension to their degree program.  Additionally, the office offers all students and faculty a variety of opportunities to participate in international travel and learning experiences through summer-, semester-, or year-abroad programs. Fulbright and other scholarship or fellowship opportunities, teaching and research, or work experiences are a few of the activities addressed for students and faculty.

Students from countries other than the United States may apply to the chairperson of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for a Departmental Certificate of American Studies. (See Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures for requirements.)

STUDY ABROAD AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

East Carolina University is a member of several consortia which are designed to facilitate and promote the exchange of students within the US and abroad.  Students can attend more than 150 foreign institutions or almost 120 institutions throughout the US by utilizing these exchanges.  Of special interest is the fact that these exchanges permit students to study elsewhere while paying East Carolina University tuition and fees; thus, study abroad costs are often no more than the costs of studying at home.  Participation in these programs is an excellent way of experiencing other areas of the United States and the world.  Information and applications are available and processed through the Office of International Affairs.

In addition to the exchange programs, East Carolina University has numerous summer and longer-term study-abroad programs offered at its own tuition and fee rates. Programs in other countries are being added regularly.  Study abroad programs from other North Carolina institutions, and institutions throughout the US are also available to East Carolina University students.  The Office of International Affairs assists students in identifying and applying to programs of interest, utilizing its large resource library to find the best opportunities, and coordinates East Carolina study abroad activities.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES

The Office of International Affairs houses the Japan Center East  as a public service center for East Carolina University.  It is devoted to increasing understanding and strengthening ties of mutual benefit between Japan and North Carolina through cooperation with academic entities, public schools, and the community at large; to promote and develop research and teaching with Japan; and to form cooperative relationships which promote mutually beneficial activities and cultural understanding.

Phi Beta Delta, the international scholars’ honorary for students, staff, and faculty is represented at East Carolina University by the Gamma Rho Chapter.  Serving as its secretariat, the Office of International Affairs co-sponsors or arranges lecture programs, coffees, and dinners throughout the year to enhance the internationalization efforts of the institution’s students and faculty.

THE THOMAS W. AND IZABEL B. RIVERS ENDOWMENT FUND

The endowment fund established by Thomas W. and Izabel B. Rivers promotes the internationalization of ECU through support for students to study abroad, to attract international degree-seeking students to the university, and to assist faculty to engage in scholarly activities overseas.  Awards are made throughout the year, as decided by a faculty panel.  Information and applications are available through the Office of International Affairs.

Additionally, International Affairs coordinates the Rivers Distinguished Chair of International Affairs program.   It ensures that throughout each academic year outstanding scholars are in residence, assisting schools or departments as well as faculty in the internationalization process through teaching, research, and conferences.

INTERNATIONAL STUDIES MINOR

The international studies minor program is designed to provide a central core of study along with a world region or academic topic and is available to students in any undergraduate division of the university.  The minor will provide insight into social, political, cultural, and economic areas of international importance in our increasingly globalized society.

The minor program, coordinated through the Office of International Affairs, requires 24 s.h. credit and can be earned with or without participation in either overseas opportunities or language training, although both are encouraged.  Courses must be approved by the coordinator.  No course credit counted toward a student’s major may be used to fulfill the requirements of the program.