General Beadle Honors Program
At DSU, our General Beadle Honors program challenges the brightest minds and motivates students to think independently and imaginatively. Live in the Honors dorm. Excel through academics. Embark on senior-level research. Take on creative projects with peers and faculty.
We have carefully crafted our program to include coursework and experiences that are exciting, inspiring, and captivating. General Beadle Honors students represent the best of DSU. From freshmen to seniors, we have over 120 students who encounter learning that encourages critical thinking and reasoning.
The Honors Program trains students to successfully complete their degree and get rewarding jobs, but it also nurtures intellectual curiosity beyond your degree requirements to open life-long avenues of fulfillment. It is about how to make a life in addition to how to make a living.
Unique honors opportunities
Honors students enjoy intellectual, cultural, and professional travel opportunities throughout the year. Many honors courses involve funded off-campus experiences that are part of course content. The honors program also allows students the opportunity to experience live theater and music in Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, and Kansas City. And students get the opportunity to meet other honors students and present their research on campuses throughout the Midwest at our annual regional Honors Conference.
- Smaller class sizes in honors-only classes Enjoy smaller classes featuring not more work but different work
- Study subjects more deeply & broadly with innovative materials. Come to class and participate instead of being lectured to
- Honors-specific advising and preferential course registration
- Honors-specific housing
- Funded research and travel experiences. Experiential Learning – Embrace an education that also takes place outside of class & off campus. Research – Work with faculty, get your hands dirty & learn that it’s okay to fail (at first!)
Honors curriculum
To graduate with Honors, students must maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA and complete at least 28 credit hours through required courses and electives. Students with prior general education credits may qualify for a reduced number of Honors courses, based on a sliding scale.
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HON 102 - Introduction to Honors (1 credit)
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HON 202 - Intermediate Honors Seminar (1 credit)
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HON 390 - Seminar (1-3 credit)
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HON 392 - Topics: Thesis Preparation (1-3 credit)
- HON 101 - Composition I (3 credits)
- HON 105 - Introduction to Computers (3 credits)
- HON 201 - Composition II (3 credits)
- HON 285 - Society and Technology (3 credits)
- HON 291 - Independent Study (1-4 credits)
- HON 491 - Independent Study (1-12 credits)
- HON 498 - Research (1-12 credits)
All Honors students must complete a substantial academic project in their major, demonstrating advanced understanding and original analysis. This process begins with a thesis prospectus, submitted the semester before the thesis.
Students must enroll in HON 392 (1 credit) to develop their prospectus, which outlines the project's scope, significance, methodology, and expected outcomes. A completed Thesis Application Form is required.
Prospectus deadlines
Fall: November 1 for following spring semester thesis
Spring: April 1 for following fall semester thesis
(Advisor approval required before submission)
Thesis deadlines
Fall: November 1
Spring: April 1
(Thesis must include the original application form and advisor approval)
JOIN THE BEADLE HONORS COMMUNITY
Take the next step to joining the honors program:
Kurt Kemper
Professor / General Beadle Honors Program Director
Department
College of Arts & Sciences
Contact
Office Location: Ruth Habeger Science Center
Phone: (605) 256-5194
Email
Website