Core students have the opportunity to choose from three distinct pathways to pursue academic achievements and research interests that go beyond the standard syllabus: the Core Minor and Core Honors. As always, students are able to earn Hub credit in the small seminar setting of our unique learning community.
For a general overview of these pathway options, click here to view our factsheet on Minor and Honors Pathways. To learn more about the Core Minor, contact faculty advisor Catherine Klancer, chudak@bu.edu. To learn more about the Core Honors program, contact Core Honors Coordinator George Vahamikos, gtv@bu.edu.
The Core Minor: a liberal arts foundation
Hegis Code 1431. In order to complete the Core Minor, students begin by completing the gateway courses, CC 101 and CC 102. Next, students choose four classes from a selection of six Core courses that cover multiple fields including natural sciences, humanities, and the social sciences. Students can submit a minor declaration form
through the CAS website at any time.
Core Honors
Work for Honors allows students who are motivated to achieve a higher level of command of the material and techniques addressed in Core to conduct in-depth research in an area that interests them. This research is usually conducted during a student’s junior year.
Completion of Core with Honors requires achieving a grade of B+ or better in all eight Core courses (or, for STEM majors who do not take CC 111/212, all six Core humanities and social science courses) plus ONE of the following:
- Completion of a course taken outside of (but relevant to) the Core program, and a substantial paper or project that relates material in that course to the Core program. The paper/project must be defended in front of a committee of at least three faculty members. At least one member of the committee must be from the Core faculty, and one must be from the non-Core course, -or-
- The composition and defense of a substantial paper or project on a subject that bridges at least two particular Core courses. The paper/project must be defended in front of at least three relevant faculty members from Core.
Students get started on the Core Honors pathway by consulting with the Core Honors Coordinator George Vahamikos. Together they discuss a particular project and a schedule for completion as well as complete the application for Core Honors. This form needs to be submitted no later than the first week of classes in the semester during which the project or research will be undertaken. See below for the Core Honors application.
In some cases, Core Honors projects may be eligible for research or travel funding from Core, UROP, CAS, the Center for the Humanities, or other campus sources.