Dr. Reed Perkins

Simply put, the Honors Program at Queens is one of the great intellectual journeys you are ever likely to take.  Through fascinating interdisciplinary seminars, one-on-one collaboration with faculty mentors, and a vibrant intellectual community on campus, the Honors Program encourages students to explore the academic landscape beyond their standard coursework and pursue their intellectual passion.

Your Honors experience begins with interdisciplinary seminars.  Be sure to bring an open mind, keen insights, and a sharp curiosity because these seminars are fast-paced and wide-ranging.  In Spring 2008, seminars include “Satire: from Aristophanes to the Daily Show” (taught by former North Carolina Professor of the Year Dr. Richard Goode) and “The Brain Game: Exploring Our Behaviors” (taught by Dr. Patricia Koplas).  Past seminars covered topics ranging from DNA to the literature of the French Revolution.  I guarantee these courses will not only challenge you, but also reward you with new insights and perspectives.

The next step is the Honors project.  Usually begun at the beginning of the junior year, the Honors project is an opportunity for students to pursue a question or topic more deeply than otherwise possible in a normal four-year curriculum.  Each Honors student chooses a faculty mentor, and together they leave behind the confines of a standardized curriculum and venture into new intellectual territory.

Importantly, being an Honors student at Queens is not only about learning something, it is about doing something with your new knowledge.  As an Honors student, your last step is to give back to one of your communities (campus, civic, or intellectual) by sharing what you have learned.  Often, this is the most rewarding element of the entire program.  This can include, but is certainly not limited to, publishing your work in a peer-reviewed journal, presenting at a regional or national conference, mentoring K-12 students, or leading a lunch discussion for faculty and students at Queens. 

The Honors Program is for all students, regardless of their major.  So, whether your major is Business, English, Science, or Art (or anything in between!), you can also be a part of the Honors Program.  In fact, completing the Honors Program requirements is the only way to have the words “With Honors” added to your diploma.

As Director of the Honors Program, I look forward to hearing about your interest in Honors.  Of course, please send me an email (perkinsr@queens.edu), give me a call (704-337-2393), or just drop by my office (Walker Science 115A).  I can’t wait to hear your ideas!

Reed Perkins