Stewart Honors Curriculum
Stewart Honors students will receive specialized instruction composed of a series of tailored and rigorous science courses with a focus on under»Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ research, problem solving and leadership development, featuring:
- Research Internship
A collaborative eight-week on-campus research project will be conducted the summer following the freshman year. Under close mentorship from a Stewart Faculty Fellow, an original scientific question or technological challenge will be tackled in a small group that (typically) brings together students from different majors. Students will have access to state-of-the art equipment and instrumentation, along with an expert mentor who will guide them through all aspects of research. A guaranteed stipend more than covers the cost of on-campus housing and meals. The eight weeks culminate in a professional poster session, where students have an opportunity to describe their work in personal conversations with academic and industry leaders, along with parents and friends. - Specialty Courses
Stewart-specific coursework will provide students with academic opportunities rarely offered in other science programs. Our SHNR course series covers such essentials as: how to read technical papers with careful, critical understanding, how to understand large-language models (and how to break them), how to brainstorm new tech ideas (and how to pitch them), how to land internships, and how to build your cv. In addition to Stewart versions of laboratory courses, we are building out new and innovative upper-division elective courses on interdisciplinary topics like bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and drug discovery. - Stewart Seminar Series
The Stewart Science Seminar Series will provide students with the opportunity to connect and collaborate with renowned leaders in science, technology and health. Over meals and meetings, these visiting scientists will be made readily available to students in the honors program, challenging Stewart Honors students to higher levels of scholarship and motivating them to prepare for leadership in their chosen careers. Some of these scholars will discuss the connections between faith and science, helping students to see paradigms for scientific inquiry that supersede a materialistic worldview. - Capstone Projects
During their junior year, with the guidance of Stewart Faculty Fellows, Stewart students will frame a capstone project—a significant piece of scholarly work—to be completed during their senior year. As advanced accomplishments, these projects are designed to help launch »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵs into the next level of their academic or professional journey.
The Stewart Honors Curriculum outlined above features enhanced versions of classes along with key extracurricular experiences, most significantly the summer research internship. These experiences and courses do not add any significant credit load to a student’s educational track. Stewart Science Honors students therefore:
- Can expect to »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ in a timely fashion, along with their non-Stewart peers.
- Should be prepared to spend eight weeks of the summer after their freshman year on their faculty-led internship projects.
- Will be engaged in a capstone project during their senior year that calls for a reasonable investment of time outside of the classroom.