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Honors in the Major Secondary Education

The Honors Program at UNF is designed for the student who is intellectually mature and seeks the challenge of academic work that is different from the traditional course of study. It offers students a close collegial relationship with the University's top professors and with each other. There are two types of honors programs at the University of North Florida.

  • The first is a lower-level program open to freshmen and sophomores offered by the Hicks Honors College.
  • The second is the "Honors in the Major" program open to upper-level students in the College of Education and Human Services.

A student does not have to be in the lower-level Hicks Honors College to enroll in the upper-level "Honors in the Major" program. More information on admission requirements and procedures for applying to the program can be obtained from your academic advisors in OASIS.

Program Requirements

The Honors in the Major in Secondary Education (English, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, MG Math/Science, Physics and Social Studies) is available by application to advanced students in the major who seek the challenge of completing an a school-sponsored community service project during their internship in one of the COEHS Professional Development or Partnership schools. This program is especially recommended for candidates who are interested in serving the communities of the students they instruct in ways that extend beyond traditional academic services offered by teachers. 

To earn Honors in the Major, students with a minimum 3.0 GPA may apply at the end of the fall semester of their junior year. As a part of the application, students will submit a letter of intent and two recommendations from faculty who have instructed and assigned the final grade in an enrolled course of the applicant. Acceptable applicants will be interviewed by a screening committee consisting of program faculty. It is estimated that six students will be admitted to the Honors in the Major in Secondary Education annually.

If accepted into the program, students will need to complete the following requirements:

  1. Attend two of the following during the second semester of their junior year: a Hicks Honors College seminar, an academic speaker hosted by a unit in the COEHS, or an academic speaker hosted by another unit in or outside of the university with prior approval from the Secondary Education Curriculum Area Director (SECAD),
  2. Meet with School Administrators (in conjunction with the SECAD) in their fall semester of their senior year to 
    1. define the description and scope of the community service project and to 
    2. plan for the implementation of the project during internship, which will occur in the spring semester of their senior year.
  3. Enroll in the honors section of ESE4943, Secondary Internship, during their spring semester of their senior year. 
  4. Successfully participate in and complete the community service project during internship.

Students who complete these requirements will have Honors in the Major noted on the transcript and diploma.For further information please contact SecondaryEdu@unf.edu.

How to Apply

If you are a student who has a minimum 3.2 GPA and are willing to meet the program requirements as outlined above, you can apply for the Honors in the Major program at the end of your first semester of your junior year.

Fall Deadline: Complete the Application no later than the last Friday in September of your Junior Year by filling out the Qualtrics Survey below.

Spring Deadline: Complete the Application no later than April 1 of your Junior Year by filling out the Qualtrics Survey below.

Before you start the Application, be prepared to provide:

  • names and email addresses of two faculty members who have taught you and given you a final grade, for contact as recommendations.
  • provide a letter of intent
    • Why do you want to be in the Honors in the Major? Describe why you want to be in the Honors in Secondary Education Majors program, types of community service that you have engaged in prior and ideas you have for the type of service you might conduct if accepted into the program, your professional goals within the field of education, and what you hope to gain from the experience.

Apply Now

Contact

For further information please contact SecondaryEdu@unf.edu.