Dean's Scholars Honors is a 4-year degree program at the University of Texas in which students earn a Bachelor of Science that is designated as an honors degree in any of the majors offered by the College of Natural Sciences. This program focuses on an innovative interdisciplinary curriculum that features more elective hours than standard degree plans and culminates in an Honors Research Thesis.
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Community
Scholars take classes together, attend special dinners hosted by faculty members, participate in lunchtime discussions, and take weekend field trips to places such as the McDonald Observatory. Also, each Dean's Scholar has a faculty mentor, a staff academic advisor, and a student "buddy."
Academics
Students take smaller courses that are developed specifically for honors students and taught by the best faculty in the college, and the program has an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum that features more elective hours than standard degree plans. Because of the higher number of elective hours, many Dean's Scholars pursue double majors in the College of Natural Sciences as well as dual degrees in Liberal Arts (including the Plan II honors program) and other colleges in the university.
Research
Students are trained in research methods and develop their own research projects, and honors theses, under the direction of faculty at the forefront of scientific discovery. Every Dean's Scholar is automatically admitted to The University of Texas's Freshman Research Initiative Program, which is a unique program that involves first year students in legitimate, ongoing research under the supervision of faculty and graduate students.
Achievement
Dean's Scholars go on to enter Ph.D., M.D. and other professional programs at leading institutions world-wide, and they have won some of the most prestigious and competitive graduate fellowships in the nation, including Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships, Gates Foundation Scholarships and National Science Foundation Fellowships.