Honors in the Major
The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original research or performance project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the university for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or competition in shows. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.
Some common features of Honors in the Major programs are:
• You must take six units of Honors in the Major course work. All six units are Honors classes (###H) and at least three of these units are independent study (499H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
• You must have completed nine units of upper division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
• Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
• Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the six units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
• Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.
Majors Offering HIM
Agricultural Business |
Economics |
Mathematics |
Agriculture |
Engineering |
Nursing |
Anthropology |
English |
Nutrition and Food Science |
Art and Art History |
French |
Philosophy |
Asian Studies |
Geography and Planning |
Psychology |
Biological Science |
Geosciences |
Recreation Administration |
Business |
Health and Community Services |
Religious Studies |
Chemistry |
History |
Social Science |
Child Development |
Humanities |
Social Work |
Communication |
Journalism |
Sociology |
Computer Science |
Kinesiology |
Spanish |
Construction Management |
Management |
Theatre Arts |
While Honors in the Major is part of the University Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor for more details on the program, qualifications, and procedures for admission (see department phone numbers below). If you are interested in participating in the Honors Program but your major is not listed, please contact the Honors Director at 530-898-4767.
Honors in the Major Courses
| Department | Phone | Course Name | Course # |
| Accounting & Management Information Systems | (530) 898-6463 | Honors Seminar in Accounting | ACCT 499H |
| Honors Seminar in MIS | MINS 499H | ||
| Honors in Management | MGMT 499H | ||
| Agriculture | (530) 898-5844 | Honors Research in Agriculture | AGRI 499H |
| Honors Independent Study in Agribusiness | ABUS 499H | ||
| Anthropology | (530) 898-6192 | Proseminar in the History of Theory and Method in Anthropology - Honors | ANTH 496H |
| Honors in Anthropology | ANTH 499H | ||
| Art | (530) 898-5331 | Honors Project | ARTS 499H |
| Asian Studies | (530) 898-6062 | Honors in Asian Studies | ASST 499H |
| Biological Sciences | (530) 898-5356 | Honors Research in Biological Sciences | BIOL 499H |
| Business Administration | (530) 898-6815 | Honors Seminar in Business | BADM 499H |
| Chemistry | (530) 898-5259 | Honors Research Project | CHEM 499H |
| Child Development | (530) 898-5250 | Senior Seminar in Child Development - Honors | CHLD 495H |
| Honors Independent Study | CHLD 499H | ||
| Communication | (530) 898-5751 | Senior Honors | COMM 399H |
| Senior Honors | COMM 499H | ||
| Computer Science | (530) 898-6442 | Honors Research Project/Thesis | CSCI 499H |
| Construction Management | (530) 898-5216 | Legal Aspects of Construction - Honors | CMGT 460H |
| Honors Project in Construction Management | CMGT 499H | ||
| Economics | (530) 898-6141 | Honors Independent Study in Economics | ECON 499H |
| Engineering, Civil | (530) 898-5342 | Honors Project | CIVL 499H |
| Engineering, Electrical & Computer | (530) 898-5343 | Honors Project | EECE 499H |
| Engineering, Mechanical | (530) 898-5346 | Mechanical Engineering Design Project I - Honors | MECH 440H |
| Honors Project | MECH 499H | ||
| Engineering, Mechatronic | (530) 898-5346 | Mechatronic Engineering Design Project I - Honors | MECA 440H |
| Honors Project | MECA 499H | ||
| English | (530) 898-5125 | Special Topics/Honors | ENGL 498H |
| Honors Senior Thesis | ENGL 599H | ||
| Finance & Marketing | (530) 898-5666 | Honors in Finance | FINA 499H |
| Honors Seminar in Marketing | MKTG 499H | ||
| Honors in International Business | INTB 499H | ||
| French | (530) 898-5388 | Senior Honors Thesis | FREN 499H |
| Geography & Planning | (530) 898-5285 | Special Topics - Honors | GEOG 398H |
| Honors Research in Geography | GEOG 499H | ||
| Geosciences | (530) 898-5262 | Honors Research in Geosciences | GEOS 499H |
| Health & Community Services | (530) 898-6661 | Research and Evaluation in Health - Honors | HCSV 425H |
| Management of Health Services Organizations - Honors | HCSV 430H | ||
| Honors in Health and Community Services | HCSV 499H | ||
| History | (530) 898-5366 | Senior Honors Thesis | HIST 499H |
| Humanities | (530) 898-6379 | Senior Honors Research Paper | HUMN 499H |
| Journalism | (530) 898-4779 | Ethical Problems in Mass Media - Honors | JOUR 460H |
| Honors in Journalism | JOUR 499H | ||
| Kinesiology | (530) 898-6373 | Exercise Testing and Prescription - Honors | KINE 480H |
| Seminar in Sports Medicine - Honors | KINE 485H | ||
| Seminar in School Physical Education - Honors | KINE 510H | ||
| Biomechanical Analysis - Honors | KINE 524H | ||
| Physical Education Honors Senior Research | KINE 599H | ||
| Management | (530) 898-5663 | Honors in Management | MGMT 499H |
| Mathematics | (530) 898-6111 | Honors Reading | MATH 495H |
| Honors Thesis | MATH 499H | ||
| Nursing | (530) 898-5891 | Honors in Nursing Practicum | NURS 399H |
| Nutrition and Food Science | (530) 898-6805 | Honors Senior Thesis or Project | NFSC 499H |
| Philosophy | (530) 898-6183 | Senior Honors Research Paper | PHIL 499H |
| Psychology | (530) 898-5147 | Honors Seminar in Psychology I | PSYC 399H |
| Honors Seminar in Psychology II | PSYC 499H | ||
| Recreation Administration | (530) 898-6408 | Honors Seminar in Recr & Parks Mgmt | RECR 499H |
| Religious Studies | (530) 898-5661 | Senior Honors Research Paper | RELS 499H |
| Social Science | (530) 898-5688 | Senior Honors Research Seminar | SOSC 495H |
| Honors: Behavioral/Social Science | SOSC 499H | ||
| Social Work | (530) 898-6204 | Honors in Social Work | SWRK 499H |
| Sociology | (530) 898-6384 | Sociology World Affairs: Honors | SOCI 441H |
| Honors in Sociology | SOCI 499H | ||
| Spanish | (530) 898-5388 | Spanish Honors Seminar | SPAN 470H |
| Spanish Honors Thesis | SPAN 499H | ||
| Theatre Arts | (530) 898-6161 |