Robert D. Clark Honors College
Encyclopedia
The Robert D. Clark Honors College is a small liberal arts
college that is part of the University of Oregon
in Eugene
, Oregon
, United States
. Founded in 1960, it is the oldest honors college in the United States. Its namesake, Robert D. Clark
, was a president of the university, and key contributor to the founding of the honors college. The college is located in Chapman Hall on the University of Oregon campus. Admission is competitive, with more than 1,600 applicants competing annually for 200 spots.
program for juniors and seniors. The program was open to the top 30 percent of the class, and consisted of special readings under professors in students' major departments. In addition, the program concluded in the senior year with an honors thesis and examination. Frank Aydelotte
, president of Swarthmore College
introduced such programs into the United States
following his own undergraduate experience as an honors student at Oxford University.
In the 1950s, the University's Curricular Review Committee addressed again the honors program offerings. They created the Sophomore Honors Program, which would eventually morph into the Clark Honors College as it exists today. Robert D. Clark
, the college's namesake, was a member of the Curricular Review Committee. Since university faculty were concerned that the new program would take away their best students, the Committee developed a compromise: students would remain in their major departments, and take only selected general requirements in the Sophomore Honors Program.
Clark was troubled by the program's initial failure, and attributed it to the lack of unity in the University's Sophomore and departmental honors programs. Inspired by Knight Dunlap's books on community, Clark created the Honors College during his tenure as University President.
The original home of the Honors College was in the basement of Friendly Hall. The College moved to its current location in Chapman Hall during the 1980s.
in their major area during the senior year as part of the college's graduation requirements.
All classes are limited to 25 or fewer students, making them stand out from other lower-division courses offered by the university that frequently enroll 100 or more students.
Students in the Clark Honors College pursue majors in many different areas, throughout all of the University's colleges and professional schools. As of 2005, the Honors College student body consisted of: 2.89% Architecture majors, 4.77% Business majors, 0.58% Education majors, 21.68% Humanities majors, 3.90% Journalism majors, 2.75% Music (and Dance) majors, 24.57% Science majors, 16.62% Social Science majors, and 16.23% of students were undeclared.
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
college that is part of the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1960, it is the oldest honors college in the United States. Its namesake, Robert D. Clark
Robert D. Clark
Robert D. Clark was an American university administrator.- Early life :Robert Donald Clark was born in Frontier County, Nebraska, on March 10, 1910. The family moved frequently.- Education :...
, was a president of the university, and key contributor to the founding of the honors college. The college is located in Chapman Hall on the University of Oregon campus. Admission is competitive, with more than 1,600 applicants competing annually for 200 spots.
History
In 1928, the University adopted a departmental honorsHonors course
Honors course is a distinction applied in the United States to certain classes to distinguish them from standard course offerings. The difference between a regular class and the honors class is not necessarily the amount of work, but the type of work required and the pace of studying...
program for juniors and seniors. The program was open to the top 30 percent of the class, and consisted of special readings under professors in students' major departments. In addition, the program concluded in the senior year with an honors thesis and examination. Frank Aydelotte
Frank Aydelotte
Frank Aydelotte was a U.S. educator. His full name was Franklin Ridgeway Aydelotte. He is known for redefining Swarthmore College as an institution while he was president between 1921 and 1940 and was also the director of the Institute for Advanced Study from 1939 until 1947.Aydelotte was born in...
, president of Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
introduced such programs into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
following his own undergraduate experience as an honors student at Oxford University.
In the 1950s, the University's Curricular Review Committee addressed again the honors program offerings. They created the Sophomore Honors Program, which would eventually morph into the Clark Honors College as it exists today. Robert D. Clark
Robert D. Clark
Robert D. Clark was an American university administrator.- Early life :Robert Donald Clark was born in Frontier County, Nebraska, on March 10, 1910. The family moved frequently.- Education :...
, the college's namesake, was a member of the Curricular Review Committee. Since university faculty were concerned that the new program would take away their best students, the Committee developed a compromise: students would remain in their major departments, and take only selected general requirements in the Sophomore Honors Program.
Clark was troubled by the program's initial failure, and attributed it to the lack of unity in the University's Sophomore and departmental honors programs. Inspired by Knight Dunlap's books on community, Clark created the Honors College during his tenure as University President.
The original home of the Honors College was in the basement of Friendly Hall. The College moved to its current location in Chapman Hall during the 1980s.
Courses
The Clark Honors College offers its own freshman literature and history series, replacing the University's general requirements. In addition, honors college students are required to participate in several colloquia, which focus on specific academic fields, and are taught by both honors college professors and experts from other university departments. Students complete a thesisThesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
in their major area during the senior year as part of the college's graduation requirements.
All classes are limited to 25 or fewer students, making them stand out from other lower-division courses offered by the university that frequently enroll 100 or more students.
Students
Admission to the college is highly competitive. For Fall 2011 Term, 1570 students applied and 205 students entered. The mean Grade point average [GPA] of admitted students was 3.93, and the mean [Scholastic Aptitude Test[SAT, Reading + Math only] score was 1360 (97th/98th percentile).Students in the Clark Honors College pursue majors in many different areas, throughout all of the University's colleges and professional schools. As of 2005, the Honors College student body consisted of: 2.89% Architecture majors, 4.77% Business majors, 0.58% Education majors, 21.68% Humanities majors, 3.90% Journalism majors, 2.75% Music (and Dance) majors, 24.57% Science majors, 16.62% Social Science majors, and 16.23% of students were undeclared.
External links
- Clark Honors College (official site)