The Honors Program at Bucknell University is designed to encourage intellectual independence and to recognize academic excellence. Many academic departments and programs of the University offer programs of departmental honors for students majoring in those areas of study. Typical programs involve independent study under the supervision of an adviser, the completion of an honors thesis or a creative project, and an oral examination by a faculty committee.
Some departments require participation in special honors seminars.
Honors programs are available in animal behavior, anthropology, art, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, classics, computer science, economics, education, electrical engineering, English, environmental studies, French, geography, geology, German, history, international relations, Japanese and East Asian Studies, Latin American Studies, management, mathematics, mechanical engineering, music, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, religion, Russian, sociology, Spanish, theatre and dance, and women's studies. Honors programs are also available within the College Major and the Interdepartmental Major. Students who successfully complete the Honors Program will graduate with honors, a distinction noted at graduation and printed on their transcripts. The Harold W. Miller Prize is awarded annually to the one or two Honors graduates who best realize the aims of the Honors Program. Honors graduates have reported that completing an honors thesis was one of their most valuable learning experiences at Bucknell, especially so for those who subsequently undertook graduate studies.