Program Overview

The COS Honors Cohort runs collaboratively with the Honors College to provide a unique educational experience for academically talented students with a commitment to excellence in the sciences. This program is open to a select group of College of Sciences students from all majors who have already been accepted into the Honors College. Students in the program will actively engage in experiential learning, build community, and receive faculty and staff mentorship to gain a competitive edge in graduate programs and prestigious scholarships (e.g. Goldwater, Rhodes, Trumann).

The COS Honors Program also includes micro-communities. These are programs within the COS that are geared towards the personal and professional development of undergraduate students as scientists.

Micro-communities within COS Honors Cohort

Program Requirements

The COS Honors Cohort works collaboratively with the Honors College, therefore program requirements were designed for maximum alignment to ensure students completion and retention. Students who successfully graduate from the COS Honors Cohort will have completed the following:

Honors College Course Requirements:

  • Admitted into the Honors College
  • 3.0 GPA each semester and a 3.3 overall GPA
  • Attend six honors events each academic year
  • Completion of Honors 1000 — (0 credit hour)
  • Completion of HON 2301 Civic Ethos — (1 credit hour)
  • Completion of Honors CSH 1213 Topics in World Cultures — (3 credit hours)
  • Completion of Honors WRC 1023 Freshman Composition II — (3 credit hours)
    Entering students who have already completed Composition II through dual, transfer, or credit earned at UTSA have satisfied this requirement.

COS Honors Cohort Experience Requirements:

  • COS Honors AIS 1203 during first semester at UTSA
  • Student's Choice of Experience
  • Student's Choice of Experience
  • COS Experience 4
  • COS Experience 5
  • COS Experience 6

Experiences are a core concept of the Honors curriculum, preparing students with real-world experience that will benefit them beyond UTSA. They can include honors courses, special programs and guided experiences, and/or outside of classroom experiences. As part of the Honors College curriculum, students complete six Honors Experiences prior to graduation. As a member of the COS Honors Cohort, three of these experiences must be science in nature. They may include (but not limited to): honors science courses, science internships, research experience, science-oriented field work, counselor for a science camp.

Students can design their own experience or take part in existing programs as long as they meet the following criteria:

  • They require 75 hours minimum time on task.
  • They result in a significant achievement, one generally worth placing on a resume or discussed in a job interview.
  • They have a guided mentor.

List of potential COS Honors Experiences

  • Any science course listed as honors
  • Independent study in the College of Sciences
  • Science internships
  • Presenting at a scientific conference
  • Science oriented field work
  • Counselor for a science camp
  • Volunteer research experience
four students on steps by Rowdy statue
four students on campus bench
three student sitting on campus grass

COS Honors Recommended Curriculum Timeline

Year 1: Fall Semester

  • Students enroll in COS Honors AIS 1203
  • Students enroll in HON 1000

Year 1: Spring Semester

  • Students enroll in HON 2301: Civic Ethos

Year 2

  • Students may enroll in honors courses specific to their major
  • Students participate in community building events hosted by the Honors College and COS Student Success Center
  • Students complete two experiences

Year 3

  • Students may enroll in honors courses specific to their major
  • Students participate in community building events hosted by the Honors College
  • Students complete two experiences

Year 4

  • Students may enroll in honors courses specific to their major
  • Students participate in community building events hosted by the Honors College and COS Student Success Center
  • Students complete at least one experience

Contacts

Dr. Hector Aguilar - Hector.Aguilar@utsa.edu
Daniel Ramirez-Escobedo - Daniel.Ramirez-Escobedo@utsa.edu

Support Structure

The COS Honors Cohort has collaborative support from the Honors College and the COS Student Success Center. Below is an organizational chart of the support structure with division of duties. The Honors College Associate Dean of Academic Affairs is responsible for the maintenance and collaboration of agreements between the two colleges.

Honors organizational chart