Enhance your College of Health Experience in the Oregon State University Honors College
Honors Seminar Courses Engage Students in Unique Learning Opportunities
Beth Rankin, an assistant professor in the College of Education, says her seminar on trauma-informed care is increasingly relevant and provides valuable knowledge for students across disciplines.
The term culminates in students creating a proactive trauma management plan for a fictional client, demonstrating how they would identify, manage and mitigate triggers.
Beth says “while many students who take the class are interested in pursuing careers in healthcare,” students majoring in “everything from music to fish and wildlife sciences to computer science have found great value in the course.”
More information about current seminars and other honors courses can be found on the HC schedule of classes site.
At Oregon State, the Honors College offers a chance to take your College of Health journey even further. Including engaging classes, the opportunity to develop an original project and a prestigious degree, the Honors College helps you build skills, connections and confidence.
Here’s a few ways it can benefit you:
- Take honors courses on unique topics with deeper collaboration.
- Build your network through faculty mentorship and honors community events.
- Complete an honors thesis that showcases your original work and strengthens project development and communication skills.
- Graduate with an Honors Baccalaureate Degree — Oregon State University’s highest undergraduate distinction.
The deadline to apply to the Honors College is Feb 1, but you can apply today! Visit your Beaver Basecamp portal and fill out the Honors College application form. You can also learn more about what the Honors College offers and send questions to [email protected].
The honors thesis is an opportunity to develop an original project in an area you are passionate about.
Recent thesis topics completed by College of Health Honors College graduates:
- Bo Chappel — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Class of 2024, thesis topic: Understanding the Impacts of Discrimination on the Experiences of Black and Latino Populations in the Healthcare System
- Ella Jeffreys — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Class of 2023, thesis topic: “An Emotional Rollercoaster.” Understanding Fear of Recurrence in Young Adult Breast Cancer Survivors
- Mindy Nguyen — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Class of 2022, thesis topic: A Comparative Analysis of U.S. News Media Coverage on Masks between the 1918 Influenza and COVID‑19 Pandemics
- Madelyn Arzie — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Class of 2023, thesis topic: The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Overlap Between Supreme Court Opinions and Amicus Briefs
- Anusha Vasudevan — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences (Nutrition & Public Health), Class of 2024, thesis topic: Investigating the Interplay of Age, Zinc Status, and the Gut Microbiome on Gut Health
- Jordan Dutertre — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences (Kinesiology), Class of 2024, thesis topic: Gymnastics Coaches' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Towards Injury Prevention
- Riley Le Cocq — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences (Kinesiology), Class of 2024, thesis topic: Motivators and Barriers to Exercise Among Those with Parkinson's Disease in the Greater Albany‑Corvallis Community
- Delaney Hammer — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences (Human Development & Family Sciences), Class of 2024, thesis topic: The Effect of Physical Activity and the COVID‑19 Pandemic on Children’s Self‑Regulation
- Carrington Fastelin — Honors College and College of Public Health & Human Sciences (Human Development & Family Sciences), Class of 2023, thesis topic: Transracial Adoptees, Identity, and Belonging: My Story in a Children’s Book
- Alexandra Zinn — Honors College and School of History, Philosophy & Religion, Class of 2020, thesis topic: Appraisals of Military Service, PTSD, and Functional Health of Vietnam Combat Veterans: Findings from the VALOR Study
- Brighid Rickman — Honors College and School of History, Philosophy & Religion, Class of 2024, thesis topic: Rural America During COVID: Exploring the Connection between Politics and Public Health with a Focus on Douglas County
The thesis can include analytic research, innovation development, a business plan and more. Whatever your goals, the thesis will put you in a position to take them to the next level.
Alumni Highlight
Margaret used her honors thesis as an opportunity to explore how scientific research can be effectively communicated to families participating in public health studies.
“The Honors College really pushed me to jump headfirst into public health research and helped me find a community that welcomed me when I transferred to OSU‑Cascades. Without the HC, I don’t think I would have done any research at all — its guidance opened doors, connected me with faculty mentors and gave me the confidence to take on meaningful, hands‑on work that blends communication and public health.”
Margaret Martin, '25, Social Science
