Application Deadline:
On a rolling basis or no later than:
- April 15 – courses to be taught in following spring semester
- November 15 – courses to be taught in following fall semester
Purpose
The South Carolina Honors College invites full-time USC faculty to submit proposals for the development of special topics Honors courses (SCHC). SCHC special topics courses delve into a particular subject in great detail or foster interdisciplinary study of key issues. These courses are typically open to all Honors students and can be applied towards Honors, Carolina Core and/or major/minor requirements. The goal of these grants is to provide Honors students with a greater variety of unique and creative Honors course offerings while also providing support to faculty to develop such courses. Additionally, SCHC courses are a significantly useful starting point for faculty seeking to develop a new course for their home unit.
Creating the Honors Experience
Proposals should clearly outline how the course would provide an “Honors experience” for students. According to the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), an “Honors education ignites passion for lifelong learning and encourages student creativity, collaboration and leadership in the classroom and beyond.” Honors courses are typically small (approximately 16-18 students), pair high-ability, intellectually curious students with outstanding faculty/researchers dedicated to teaching and often include the use of additional course enrichment opportunities.
Thus, we are looking for innovative course ideas and educational experiences that include the following:
- In-class and extracurricular activities that are measurably broader, deeper or more complex than comparable higher education learning experiences;
- Inventive and experiential education that would be difficult or impossible to implement in the traditional classroom;
- A distinct learner-directed environment and philosophy;
- A close community of students and faculty
Eligibility
- Any full-time faculty member is eligible to apply.
- Faculty may receive funding for only one course per grant cycle.
- Faculty must have approval from department chair/director to teach the course.
Eligible Courses
Proposals must be for the development of SCHC special topics courses.
Funds Available
Faculty who are awarded funding will receive $2,500 for developing a SCHC course.
Expectations
Grant recipients will:
- Meet with the Honors College associate dean to discuss course.
- Create course materials that incorporate learning outcomes, instructional content and opportunities for faculty and student interaction that embody the goals of the Honors experience.
- Teach the course in the following fall or spring semester from proposal acceptance.
- Share with colleagues results and experiences in a panel presentation or similar venue.
Application Process
To apply, submit a 1–2-page proposal that includes the following information:
- A description of the special topics course.
- Your goals and ideas for the course development and the relationship to the course learning outcomes.
- An explanation about how the course will create an Honors experience for students.
- The semester when you are available to offer the course (fall or spring).
Completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis (as long as funding is available) up to the cut-off point for a given semester. November 15th is the final deadline for courses to be offered fall semesters. April 15th is the final deadline for courses that will be offered spring semesters.
Applications should be submitted to the course proposal submission page as a .doc or .pdf file.
Awards will be announced on or before May 15 for spring courses and December 15 for fall courses.