The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College: A Unique Approach to Liberal Arts Education
The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, located in Jupiter, Florida, stands as the academic honors college of Florida Atlantic University (FAU). It offers a distinctive educational experience rooted in a liberal arts tradition, fostering intellectual curiosity and preparing students for impactful contributions to society. This article delves into the unique aspects of the Wilkes Honors College, exploring its curriculum, research opportunities, campus life, and the outcomes it cultivates in its graduates.
A Stand-Alone Honors Institution
What sets the Wilkes Honors College apart is its status as the nation’s only university-affiliated, free-standing honors college. Housed on FAU's John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, the college operates almost exclusively with its own faculty and staff. While maintaining accreditation under Florida Atlantic University, the Honors College distinguishes itself with stand-alone iconography and a unique campus environment. Although students typically have no need to take classes in FAU's other ten academic colleges, they have access to complete additional coursework at the university's flagship campus in Boca Raton.
Curriculum: Interdisciplinary and Personalized
The Wilkes Honors College offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in Liberal Arts and Sciences. The curriculum is designed to cultivate well-rounded individuals capable of critical thinking, effective communication, and innovative problem-solving. Students receive broad intellectual training in the liberal arts and sciences through our core curriculum, and also specialized training in an area of concentration. The B.A. and B.S. programs are designed to develop the qualities of a free and responsible citizen, one who can reason clearly, read critically and analytically, argue persuasively in speech and in writing, and contribute to society in fundamental and innovative ways.
The Honors College curriculum has two components: the Honors Core and the Concentration. With the Honors Core, students take distribution courses in the liberal arts and sciences aimed at sharpening written and oral communication, enhancing problem solving skills, and developing competency in a foreign language. Another component of the Honors Curriculum is a series of interdisciplinary seminars, some of which introduce students to two of the areas of emphasis at the Honors College, international and environmental studies.
The college offers 32 major concentrations and 20 minor concentrations in the liberal arts and sciences. These include traditional disciplines such as:
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- American Studies: Providing an interdisciplinary background in American society and culture, encompassing history, literature, politics, and more.
- Anthropology: Focusing on a holistic understanding of the human condition, with an emphasis on cultural anthropology.
- Biological Chemistry: Designed for students pursuing graduate or medical school, or careers in biotech and environmental organizations.
- Biology: Catering to students interested in graduate studies, medical school, or careers in biotech and environmental organizations.
- Biomedical Science: Tailored for students aiming for graduate school, medical school, or careers in the biomedical field.
- Chemistry: Suited for students interested in graduate school, medical school, or careers in industry.
- English: Providing a background in literature in English, fostering an awareness of historical and cultural origins of literary works.
- Environmental Studies: Offering an interdisciplinary education in environmental issues, drawing from natural and social sciences, and humanities.
- History: Exploring the human past, assembling information and giving meaning to it.
- Interdisciplinary Critical Theory (ICT): Enhancing the curriculum by creating strategic connections among different disciplines.
- International Studies: Focusing on issues that cross national boundaries, examining political, cultural, historical, economic, and social issues.
- Latin American Studies: Helping students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of culture, history, politics, and contemporary issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Law and Society: Giving students a deep understanding of the role law plays in resolving conflicts and realizing a just political order.
- Marine Biology: Allowing students to study through a joint program with FAU's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution (HBOI).
- Mathematics: Exploring the importance of mathematics.
- Medical Humanities: Preparing healthcare professionals to relate to patients on a human level.
- Neuroscience: Studying the molecular, cellular, structural, and functional aspects of the nervous system.
- Philosophy: Developing critical thinking skills through deep consideration, reflection, and evaluation.
- Physics: Offering students a number of options for study, depending on their interests.
- Political Science: Concerned with how people with different interests and values reach collective decisions.
- Psychology: Providing students with a background in the science of mind and behavior.
- Spanish: Providing a broad understanding of the Old World / New World dynamics marking Hispanic literatures and cultures.
- Women's Studies: Providing an understanding of the complex ways in which gender and sexuality are defined in relation to society, culture, science, and technology.
- Writing: Providing students with practice in the craft of writing, a background in literature in English, and experience in critical and creative reasoning.
The Honors College also offers interdisciplinary programs such as environmental or international studies, law and society, Latin American studies, and American studies. Students may also design their own concentration under the guidance of faculty. For example, one might develop a concentration that draws on philosophy, politics and economics.
Moreover, the Honors College recognizes the increasing importance of data analysis and offers a Data Analytics concentration to train students in this interdisciplinary field. For students interested in pursuing Computer Science or Engineering, the Honors College has a pathway option. Honors College students can pursue a joint Bachelor of Arts or Sciences degree at the Honors College and a Masters of Science degree through the College of Engineering and Computer Science. These students typically concentrate in Interdisciplinary Math or Data Analytics at the Honors College. They also complete the prerequisite coursework for the Masters degree while at the Honors College in their first 4 years, and can complete the masters coursework in an additional year in this “4+1” program. Many of the prerequisite COECS courses are available online.
As part of the concentration, students synthesize their skills and knowledge in producing a senior project or thesis. The Wilkes Honors College distinguishes itself from Florida Atlantic University's standards for traditional students and upper-division honors program by adding thesis, internship, research, and class type requirements for its honors college students.
Research and Academic Partnerships
The Wilkes Honors College emphasizes research and experiential learning. The college usually maintains an approximate 1:15 faculty-student ratio, fostering close mentorship and collaboration. Students have the opportunity to work on research projects one-on-one with outstanding faculty holding Ph.D.'s from leading universities. The Wilkes Honors College holds several research and academic partnerships with the Scripps Research Institute and Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. These partnerships provide students with unparalleled opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research alongside world-renowned scientists. Interested in science or medicine? You can intern in a world-class research lab and contribute to new discoveries in neuroscience, marine biology, or cancer research. Our Jupiter campus boasts the Scripps Research Institute-Florida, the Max Planck Institute for Neuroscience, and Florida Atlantic's Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and Jupiter Life Science Initiative.
A tradition unique to the Honors College is the Honors College Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Research, also referred to as "Symposium Day" or "Research Day." It is an annual conference-type event that features public talks, poster sessions, research and visual arts presentations. Symposium Day usually includes a keynote speaker from a leader outside the university. Past speakers include Florida District Appeals Judge Carole Y. Taylor and Canadian science philosopher Dr.
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Wilkes Medical Scholars Program
Have a strong desire to pursue a career in medicine? Incoming freshmen may apply to our Wilkes Medical Scholars Program, a highly selective, early admission program into the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine as a pipeline program for honors students interested in earning their M.D. FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine offers two highly selective programs that allow outstanding students to achieve both their B.S. and M.D. degrees in 7-8 years: Med Direct (Boca Raton Campus) and Wilkes Medical Scholars (Jupiter Campus).
Campus Life and Opportunities
The Honors College is a residential college. All incoming freshmen live on campus their first two years. The campus hosts many special events such as live music, student gatherings and festivities to promote a positive and inclusive community. The campus consists of six classroom and office buildings, including a library, two residence halls, a dining facility, and a 40,000 square foot science facility. The campus also offers a swimming pool, football/soccer field, sand volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, and is adjacent to an 18-hole public golf course. It is situated in the heart of Abacoa, a 2,055-acre, master planned, mixed-use community featuring a Main Street-style Town Center and Roger Dean Stadium, the spring training headquarters for the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals.
Students have the opportunity to work on research projects one-on-one with outstanding faculty holding Ph.D.'s from leading universities. Student/faculty collaborations have resulted in publications in scholarly journals and our graduates have gone on to some of the top graduate and professional programs in the country.
Students accepted to the Wilkes Honors College are encouraged to participate in a wide array of disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs of study, enjoy small classes all taught by accomplished professors, and pursue limitless internship and study abroad opportunities. As one student put it, "the opportunities here are mind-boggling!" Our advice?
Outcomes and Alumni Success
The Wilkes Honors College prepares students to become engaged citizens and successful professionals. Of graduates go on to graduate and professional programs. Our alumni are doctors, scientists, teachers, attorneys, community leaders, business professionals and more. Graduates have gone on to some of the top graduate and professional programs in the country.
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- Dr. Morgan Cable '05: A research scientist and group supervisor at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
- Dr. Carmen Cañete Quesada: Awarded the Franklin Grant from the American Philosophical Society.
- Jannatul Begum: Chose the HC because of the small, interactive class sizes.
Access and Value
All students accepted to the Wilkes Honors College and seeking their first baccalaureate degree receive merit-based scholarships, and many students receive need-based aid. The college fosters a richly diverse and inclusive community, welcoming students from a wide array of backgrounds.
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