The steady tick of a sewing machine, the sharp snipping of scissors, the steady patching of shoes and clothing, the addition of shoe polish and a panoply of secondhand clothes filled the SLUG on a weekday in early March for the first ever Honors College Thrift and Repair Fair. The event was run by students in the spring section of The History & Future of Thrifting & Secondh
The honors general chemistry sequence is one of the longest-running honors offerings at OSU, and the three-term series gives participating students access to advanced laboratory experiences, faculty mentorship and a learning community that often shapes their academic paths in their very first year.
From creating zines in “Punk 101: An Exploration of Punk Rock through Zine and Do-it-Yourself Culture” to exploring morals through an extraterrestrial lens in "Science, Ethics and Star Trek” one- to two-credit Honors College seminars provide unique opportunities for honors students to explore a wide range of topics and connect with different perspectives they might not encounter elsewhere.
While Honors College courses frequently center global perspectives and experiential learning, HC faculty members take these components of an honors education one step — or rather, 5,025 miles — further each summer by transporting their classrooms from Corvallis to London.
The Design for Social Impact program was created for students interested in applying their degree to broader challenges, and the DSI 415 capstone course offers an opportunity to experience this kind of work as an undergraduate. The class offers hands-on experience with projects for real-world clients focused on solving problems, including nonprofits, businesses and other groups.
In fall term, 2025, Don Johnson will conclude 25 years of teaching in the Honors College with his final offering of two long-standing colloquia: Leadership and Positive Psychology and Last Year Experience. Both courses prepare students for personal and career success beyond graduation. In his 50 years at Oregon State, Don has modeled this kind of success, serving in diverse roles and taking part in the university’s transformation from a “very good university of 12,000 students into a world-class research institution of over 40,000 students.
The honors thesis is a cornerstone of the Oregon State University Honors College experience and the culmination of the honors baccalaureate degree. It offers students the chance to showcase intellectual and creative talents through a project that reflects individual interests.
The Honors College believes that individual and collective achievement go hand in hand. So too does Renata Hemstreet, a second-year honors bioengineering student whose exemplary teamwork and initiative in group learning has garnered recognition from peers and professors alike.
For Honors College students looking to get an early start on the academic year or just explore topics in intensive, hands-on ways, the fall extension period can be a revelation This past year, the Honors College offered two colloquia during this short window in advance of fall term, Field to Fork Farming and Seeing Climate Change in Oregon. These short-form classes allow students to fully immerse themselves in a topic and a community with focus and minimal distractions, creating a unique honors experience.
When you walk by Dennis Adams’s classroom, it looks more like a group of friends hanging out, playing board games and getting a bit too competitive than a college class. It’s no surprise that the course, History of Commerce Through Board Games, has become one of the most popular Honors College seminars.
