Special Academic Programs

Departmental Honors in Nursing: Commonwealth College (4-year Nursing Majors only)

Departmental Honors (DH) is an Advanced Scholarship track of Commonwealth Honors College (CHC). Students have the option to complete either multidisciplinary honors (MH) or departmental honors.

Successful graduation with departmental honors requires:

  • Completion of the DH requirements with minimum grades of B (or as specified below)
  • 3.4 minimum cumulative GPA
  • Submission of a properly formatted Honors Thesis will result in the award of "Departmental Honors" on the student’s academic transcript.

For information about DH, speak with the Honors Program Director Kimberly Dion, (kadion [at] nursing [dot] umass [dot] edu). For information about the full CHC Curriculum see https://www.umass.edu/honors/curriculum.

Departmental Honors Admission Criteria:

Minimally, to be eligible to apply for DH, students must have:

  • An overall GPA of 3.40 or higher earned after one full-time semester of UMass Amherst coursework.
    • The ability to complete the DH-Track requirements.
    • The ability to complete the CHC residency requirement, i.e., 45-graded (not pass/fail) credits earned at UMass Amherst (not transferred).

Commonwealth Honors College Admission Process:

  • UMass Amherst students who are not already members of CHC must apply to DH or MH via the CHC online application.
  • Commonwealth Honors College members meet with the Department Honors Program Director (HPD) regarding their interest in joining Departmental Honors (DH), an Advanced Scholarship track of CHC. The HPD will determine a student’s eligibility and preparedness for DH. Admission to DH will be at the discretion of the HPD based on the criteria as established by the department and CHC (see Admission Criteria above). The HPD will notify the CHC office of newly accepted DH students so appropriate steps can be taken for SPIRE designation.

Commonwealth Honors College Program Requirements:

  • 2 NURS honors courses 300-level or higher
  • Successful completion of an Honors thesis

  • Individually contracted: NURS 499Y Honors Research and NURS 499T Honors Thesis

     

Nursing Residential Academic Program (RAP) (4-year Nursing Majors only):

The Nursing Residential Academic Program (RAP) is designed exclusively for first-year nursing majors and is highly encouraged. This positive living and learning environment help first-year students excel academically and adjust to the University. All students accepted to the nursing major are required to join a Faculty First Year Seminar, whether they choose to do it in a RAP or not. Nurse RAP provides an opportunity for first-year students to live in the same residence hall, have access to a peer mentor, form friendships with other nursing students, and share common classes in the fall semester, including College Writing (ENGLWP 112) and Faculty Seminar for First Year Nursing Students (N150).

International Programs

Nursing students may study abroad during the sophomore year and/or summer and spring breaks. Study abroad options in the 2024-2025 academic year may be available in Madrid, Spain, and Cyprus.

Contact Ann Becker, International Programs Director for Nursing (abecker [at] uhs [dot] umass [dot] edu), for more information.