What is an Honors Contract?
An Honors Contract provides a mechanism for Honors students to earn Honors credit for courses that are not typically offered through the Honors College. The student works with the faculty member to do an independent assignment in addition to the course. Contracts are a great way to apply what you learn and get to know a professor for professional advice and letters of recommendation.
An Honors Contracts should add about 1 SCH worth of course-related activity, which equates to 25 additional hours over the semester. Here are some possibilities for contracts that can help get you started:
1) an additional set of readings that you, possibly other Honors students contracting, and the professor discuss over 3-4 brown bag lunches or in office hours. The outcome could be a reflection and analysis of the reading relative to the course topic.
2) service to the community in an area related to the course. Students can identify existing volunteer opportunities through RowdyLink or our Center for Community Engagement, which also manages all aspects and records the hours. The outcome could be a reflection and analysis of the experience relative to the course topic.
3) any set of activities that are logged and sent to the professor (or Canvas posted) that relate to the course, such as: interviewing 5-7 professors and/or graduate students in their area of interest for current research approaches or 5-7 professionals in the field for career advice and then submitting a synthetic reflection.
4) a longer or additional research paper on a topic related to the course
5) any creative effort that increases academic rigor in a meaningful way. Some possibilities could include:
- developing NSF (National Science Foundation) GRFP (Graduate Research Fellowship Program) personal and research statement drafts while learning about GRFs & how NSF evaluates
- exploring controversial and new research trends in the topic & demonstrating through writing how they connect/expand/challenge normative understandings of the topic;
- developing a high school or junior high lesson on a complex, fundamental concept (promoting science literacy and communication, e.g.);
- developing and recording TED-like talk
Please note: the faculty member has full discretion whether or not to agree to a contract, as well as to determine what constitutes Honors work for that contract.
Contract Details
For students
Students may submit Honors Contracts to the Honors College in order to earn Honors Credit for Non-Honors courses in any given semester.
- All approvals (faculty and from the Honors College) for an Honors Contract is due no later than the relevant semester's deadline to add a class. We recommend contacting faculty and submitting your form in the semester prior to your contract. You must be registered for the course to submit a contract.
- Courses must be 3 to 4 credit hours.
- Course must not be offered or cross-listed as an Honors section already.
- Students must submit the completed Honors Contract form in the Honors Contract Portal. See link below.
- All information on the form must be completed upon submission.
- Number of total contracts over the student’s degree cannot exceed the maximum allowed per student catalog and/or track.
- Students must complete the work no later than the last day of class before finals week, and earn a B- or higher at the end of the semester.
- Project completed for the Honors Contract DOES NOT impact student’s grade for the course. Students who do not complete their contract will have the ‘H’ removed from the course.
- At the end of the semester, when grades roll, faculty are contacted to confirm that contracted work is complete. Students who do NOT completed their contract stipulations will be emailed.
- Faculty members are under no obligation to write a Contract with a student. It is the student's responsibility to talk professionally, early, and often with a potential faculty member about the possibility of a contract. A faculty member is not required to participate in an event. Students should consult with faculty about contracts before submitting a request in the contract portal (see link below).
For Faculty - Approving a Contract / Confirming Completion
1 SCH of course-related activity equates to 25 additional hours over the semester. Whether a student can earn Honors credit for a specific course is at the discretion of the individual faculty member teaching the course. Once an honors Contracts is processed, students and their faculty will be emailed to confirm that the Honors Contract has been approved. Please note the following guidelines:
- Students must complete the work no later than the last day of class before finals week, and earn a B- or higher at the end of the semester.
- Project completed for the Honors Contract DOES NOT impact student’s grade for the course. Students who do not complete their contract will have the ‘H’ removed from the course.
- At the end of the semester, when grades roll, faculty are contacted to confirm that contracted work is complete. Students who do NOT completed their contract stipulations will be emailed.
- Faculty members are under no obligation to write a Contract with a student. It is the student's responsibility to talk professionally, early, and often with a potential faculty member about the possibility of a contract. A faculty member is not required to participate in an event. Students should consult with faculty about contracts before submitting a request in the contract portal (see link below).
Once a student initiates the contract process when it is time to confirm the student's work on the contract at the end of the term, you can log in to the Honors Contract Portal. Note that you will still also enter the final letter grade in ASAP separately.
Faculty members who have questions about the program can contact the Office of the Honors College a (210) 458-4106 or via e-mail at honors@utsa.edu.
How to Submit a Contract
Students initiate the contract process by submitting a request to faculty in the contract portal. Before submitting a request, students should contact faculty to organize and agree upon the work the student will do during the contract period. Remember that the last day for all contract approvals to be completed is the deadline to add a class. This deadline typically occurs one week before Census Day during Fall/Spring semesters and occurs on the second day of class during the summer. Click here for the Honors Contract Portal
Opportunities within the Honors College
The Honors College offers students the opportunity to participate in a number of different programs to further expand knowledge, especially in the realms of professional development, leadership development, and public service. Special programs are fully integrated into the Honors College curriculum, making credit transfer simple and ensuring that students are working toward Honors requirements.
