The Liberal Arts and Sciences Honors Program at Otis College of Art and Design brings motivated, academically oriented students together for advanced, cross-disciplinary coursework with the goal of synthesizing Liberal Studies and Studio curricula. Honors students gain increasing independence over their studies through research, experimentation, and collaboration.
The Honors Program runs from the sophomore to senior year, and the application process is open to any Otis student.
Sophomore Year:
Fall: Honors AHCS 224 (3 credits): Theories and Trends in Contemporary Art, Media, and Culture
Spring: Honors LIBS 214 Elective (3 credits): a dynamic, rigorous class that affords Honors students the opportunity to integrate liberal studies content into their art and design practice. Past courses have included "Culture of the Copy," "Poetry: The Voices of Many," "Art of Time + Place in Fiction"
Junior Year:
Fall: Honors LIBS 314 Lab (3 credits): In the spring of their sophomore year, Honors students meet to discuss their shared interests and work with faculty to give shape to a customized LIBS 314 course conducted in the fall of their junior year.
Spring: Honors MATH, NSCI 307, or SSCI 210 project concurrent with a Social Science, Math/Science, or other LAS Course (3 credits): Honors students develop a special project related to an existing course which they will present to faculty as well as the Honors cohort at the end of the semester.
Senior Year:
Fall: Honors LIBS 440 Capstone - (3 credits): Students will have the option of collaborating on their Capstone project.
Application Process
The application process will begin in February of the Foundation year. Students will be asked to:
Write a general statement about what they hope to gain by being part of the Honors
program and what they feel they can contribute to an Honors community
Respond to a prompt about a contemporary social issue. A panel of Liberal Arts and
Sciences faculty will review the applications. Students will be notified of the results
in advance of spring advising so that they may register for the sophomore fall Honors
course. There are no prerequisites for the Honors program. The application process
is open to all Otis Foundation students as well as those transferring to the College
as sophomores. Students must complete a minimum of four Honors courses to graduate
from the Honors program.
Incentives for applicants: courses with more rigor and depth than regular Liberal Arts and Sciences classes; experimental curriculum in which cohort has some agency in shaping; pathway to graduate school; special events