Song Nai Rhee Honors Program
The Song Nai Rhee Honors Program seeks to accomplish Bushnell University’s commitment to providing all students with educational experiences suited to their gifts and vocation. As such, the Program provides adept students a more rigorous engagement with their field of study.
Contact
Erin Mueller, Ph.D.
Song Nai Rhee Honors Program Director
Program Director & Professor of Psychology
541-684-7353
emueller@bushnell.edu
Discover More
Contact
Erin Mueller, Ph.D.
Song Nai Rhee Honors Program Director
Program Director & Professor of Psychology
541-684-7353
emueller@bushnell.edu
Why Pursue the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program at Bushnell?
The Song Nai Rhee Honors Program seeks to accomplish Bushnell University’s commitment to providing all students with educational experiences suited to their gifts and vocations.
The Program provides students with a more rigorous engagement with their field of study, and it fosters the sort of intimate collegiality—based in the joy of shared discovery—that is the hallmark of an excellent liberal arts education. It is unique in that any student can pursue topics that fascinate them in the midst of their regular coursework.
Program Objectives
Graduates of the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program will:
- Engage in the Honors community with consistency
- Demonstrate proficiency at designing and completing independent, self-paced scholarly projects
- Produce substantial academic work in direct collaboration with program faculty
The Honors Degree Requirements
An honors degree shall be awarded if the student completes each of the following requirements:
- At least 30 credits must be honors classes completed with a grade of B+ or higher.
- At least 15 of the above 30 credits must be 300 or 400 level.
- Honors degree candidates must complete an honors thesis, which replaces the senior capstone. The credits taken in completing an honors thesis count toward the total honors credit requirement for the honors degree. The honors thesis must conform to the following parameters:
- The thesis must be substantially more rigorous than a standard senior capstone.
- The student and advisor should procure the input of at least one second reader who has no direct affiliation with the student’s major program, and who holds a graduate degree in a field relevant to the thesis’ topic area.
- The student must successfully pass a defense of the thesis. Students undertaking multiple majors must complete an Honors thesis in each major to earn the degree with honors, with the exception of majors that do not participate in the program.
Honors Admissions
Song Nai Rhee
The Program is named for Dr. Song Nai Rhee, Academic Dean Emeritus at Bushnell University, for his legacy of scholarship and service to the University. A graduate of the Class of 1958, Dr. Rhee was known for his commitment to academic excellence and to the integration of faith and learning while serving Bushnell University for 37 years, retiring in 2000.
Compete for Full Tuition Scholarship
Bushnell University’s Honors at Entrance Scholarship Competition is an invite-only event held annually. Applicants with a GPA of 3.75 or higher who are interested in participating in the Song Nai Rhee Honors Program are invited to join us for this onsite visit experience. One outstanding scholar will earn a full tuition scholarship and every participant who attends will earn a $1,500 annual scholarship* towards tuition.
*This scholarship can be combined with other Bushnell scholarships and grants, not to exceed the total cost of tuition
Qualifying Requirements
- Be an incoming first-year student (have not attended any other college or university post-high school).
- Have a 3.75 cumulative high school GPA or higher
- Be admitted to Bushnell University
- Register to attend by contacting admissions
Honors Scholarship Competition Requirements
- A writing prompt
- An interview
- A group activity
- Lunch with faculty
Life at Bushnell
Visit Campus
Academic Catalog
Financial Aid
Meet the Program Director
Erin Mueller, Ph.D.
“Honors at Bushnell balances academic study, social engagement, and cultural activities, regularly exploring our local community together. Students develop close bonds with one another, as well as with faculty who oversee their Honors projects. We have found that these bonds are some that endure well beyond graduation!
This sort of personal engagement cannot be replicated anywhere except at a special place like Bushnell. Here our professors, resident assistants, cafeteria chefs, grounds crew, fellow Honors scholars, and those across the Bushnell community truly know our students, and we care.”