Honors Program
Join the Honors Program and embark on an adventure of discovery and purpose
Investigate your passions and uncover enduring truths as you discover who God created you to be. You’ll experience one-on-one mentoring, exciting classes, and welcoming community events.
The Honors Program at Malone will encourage you to reach your intellectual and personal best through engaging and enriching experiences. You’ll be part of a community of scholars which is dedicated to learning for learning’s sake.
You’ll grow to understand and appreciate how fields of study are interconnected. You’ll also benefit from mentorship by faculty who will prepare you for original and advanced research. This is practical preparation for graduate school or résumé enhancement that will set you up to succeed no matter what path you choose.
Why Join?
- Top professors, smaller classes
- Participants are eligible for scholarships
- Fits with any major or minor: it adds just 10-13 credit hours
- Complete enlightening research with supportive faculty
- Achieve high aspirations and choose your own challenges
- Take courses in a comprehensive, not harder, learning environment
- Connect with other honors students, mentors, and advisers
- Enjoy honors community social and cultural activities
- Prepare for graduate school and build up your résumé
Join Our Contact List
Meet our Honor’s Program staff
Kate Huisinga, Ph.D., Honors Program Director
I’m a biochemistry professor and the director of the Malone Honors Program. I love interacting with honors students in the classroom and as a thesis adviser or committee member because their curiosity is contagious! I deeply respect their wide-awake approach to academics and life, and I’m energized by helping them meet their goals. I want to help students find more delight and less anxiety in their quest to become lifelong learners.
Scholarships
Honors students are eligible for a variety of scholarship opportunities, including:
Renewable Honors Program Scholarship
Honors students begin our program with eligibility for a renewable scholarship of $1,000 per academic year. This scholarship renewal eligibility is determined by checkpoints taken each academic year with honor’s coursework.
The Pauline S. and Samuel Mullen Endowed Scholarship Fund
Established in memory of Samuel H. Mullen and in honor of Pauline S. Mullen, this endowed scholarship is used to support honors students as they receive a high-quality educational experience. All awards are granted for one academic year and invite reapplication for Malone juniors and seniors.
Courses in this program
- HON 260 – Sophomore Seminar: Research and the Honors Thesis
- HON 370 – Honors Seminar
- HON 494 – Honors Thesis I
- HON 496 – Honors Thesis II
Faith Integration
The mind occupies a central place in the Christian life. For example, Jesus calls us to love God not only with heart, soul, and strength, but also with our minds (Mark 12:30), and the transforming power of the Gospel becomes effective in our lives through what the Apostle Paul calls the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:20). Our Honors Program supports Malone’s intellectually gifted and highly motivated students as they respond to this aspect of Christ’s call, and as they move toward holistic growth so they can transform their world as followers of Jesus Christ.
Honors Thesis
The Honors Thesis is a two-semester independent study that prepares a student for graduate-level research. The student chooses the subject of study and the faculty adviser. The student works closely with the adviser and thesis committee throughout the process to acquire deep knowledge of the subject and to finish with a strong sense of accomplishment.
“While my BSN from Malone prepared me for the amazing field of nursing, it also provided me with much more than class content. Other highlights include my nursing capstone, my Honors thesis about cultural differences in healthcare, a study abroad internship in Quito, Ecuador, and volunteering in San Benito, Guatemala. These experiences shaped my growth and continue to impact my work as a registered nurse.”
Leah Jablonski ’23
“The Honors Program at Malone was formative by challenging me to seek further knowledge and enjoy learning for more than just the grade. Within the program, I especially enjoyed the community and the fruit of my thesis project. Through this experience, I was prepared for classes and my research project in my graduate program.”
Christian Stark ‘22
Eligibility
3.8 Cumulative GPA with no test scores
3.6 Cumulative GPA with an ACT score of 26, SAT score of 1240, or CLT score of 81-83.
- Motivated students who fall short of these requirements are also invited to request to join the program. In this case, please solicit two letters of reference (high school teachers are acceptable references), and have those individuals send their letters to honors@malone.edu. Students may elect to supplement their request with a narrative essay describing their academic career in order to provide additional insight into their grades and test scores.
- No letters of reference are required for students that fit the required categories.
- Transfer students who have participated in an honors program at their previous college are automatically admitted to the program and given credit for previous honors courses.
How to join Malone’s Honors Program
Requesting to join the honors program is a separate step after a student has been accepted to the University. Please apply to Malone first, then begin the honors program process.