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Academics - Upper School
Honors Program
Honors Program Manual (.pdf file)
Honors Program Application (Microsoft Word file)
Senior Demonstration Proposal Form (Microsoft Word file)
Honors Program Record Sheet (Microsoft Word file)
***Read About 2009 Honors Program Senior Capstone Projects
Overview
The MFS Honors Program is designed to challenge and inspire students wishing to undertake the most rigorous and wide-ranging college-preparatory curriculum the school has to offer. Two years in duration, its goal is to provide students with both breadth and depth of learning, i.e., accelerated, well-rounded mastery of the academic disciplines coupled with significant specialization in one area. Emphasizing individual creativity, independence, and action, the program requires students to identify and develop a passion, seek out and acquire relevant knowledge and skills, and apply these in the world. Students have significant latitude in designing their program, and work closely with a faculty advisor during the two-year process.
Criteria for admission to the program include academic aptitude as indicated by grades and standardized test scores through the sophomore year, a high degree of motivation and organization, an ability to work independently, and strong teacher recommendations. Application to the Honors Program committee is made in the spring of sophomore year.
Program Requirements
Candidates must satisfy the following four academic criteria in their junior or senior year:
- Completion of a minimum of four AP courses and exams, including at least one quantitative (e.g., Chemistry, Calculus, Physics) and one verbal/literary (e.g., English, History, Spanish).
- Completion of level four French or Spanish.
- Completion of a Discipline Concentration (see sample concentrations below), i.e., a program of related major and minor courses, extra-curricular activities, service, trips, etc., designed by the student and approved by the academic department.
- Completion of a Senior Demonstration, i.e., a capstone project that is presented and defended publicly. Typically requiring about 40 hours of independent work (i.e., not used to fulfill other MFS requirements), such projects might include: a research paper; lab experiment; portfolio; internship; technology project; directing, staging, lighting or costuming a play; choreographing and/or performing a dance; composing and/or performing music; mounting an art exhibition; performing a service initiative, etc.
Candidates must also satisfy two of the following action criteria in their junior or senior year:
- Participation in a varsity-level sport during both junior and senior years.
- Participation in a significant leadership position (e.g., clerk of Agenda Committee, Honor Committee or Meeting for Business, editor of yearbook or school newspaper, organizer of Emancipation Rocklamation).
- Participation in a service trip (e.g., Mexico, Everglades, New Orleans, Nicaragua or Tanzania) or a significant community outreach project (e.g., political campaign, environmental advocacy, fundraiser).
- Participation in a foreign language exchange/trip.
- Participation in at least four significant off-campus opportunities (e.g., competitions, conferences, student leadership institutes, summer programs).
- Participation in two performing arts groups during junior and senior years, or playing a significant role in two dramatic performances during junior and senior years.
- Participation in a significant action-oriented experience of the student’s own design.
Sample Honors Program Discipline Concentrations
English Concentration (Publications)
Majors: American Literature Honors, AP English
Minors: two-year commitment to two school publications (Wordsworth, yearbook or Images)
Activities: publication of written work in Images or Wordsworth, attend student publications conference, summer internship at local newspaper or magazine
English Concentration (Theater)
Majors: AP English, Theater Arts Major
Minors: Acting, Directing, Interpreting Shakespeare, Diversity in Film, Paper Bag Theater, Greek Theater
Activities: Drama Club, Shakespeare Club, stage/tech crew; director of one-act play at Drama Club night; participation in Governor’s School of the Arts (Theater)
English Concentration (Creative Writing)
Majors: AP English, Creative Writing Major
Minors: two-year commitment to Wordsworth or Images, Creative Writing (Poetry), Creative Writing (Memoir), Children’s Literature
Activities: Dodge Poetry festival, submission of creative writing to out-of-school publication or competition, participation in summer program
History Concentration
Majors: AP United States History,
Philosophy Honors I & II
Minors: The Bible as History, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Medieval History, Latin American History through Film, The History of Science
Activities: submission of research paper to Cum Laude Society; participation in Model UN, Mock Primary Election
Math Concentration
Majors: AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics
Minors: Robotics, Game Theory, Discrete Mathematics, Computer Game Programming, Advanced Geometer’s Sketchpad, Personal Finance
Activities: Engineering Club; Computer Club; peer tutor in Math; Lower School teacher’s aid in Math; American High School Math Exam
Performing Arts Concentration
Majors: Theater Arts, AP Music Theory
Minors: Acting, Directing, Chorale and Show Choir or Wind Ensemble and Small Group Ensemble, History and Film, Interpreting and Performing Shakespeare
Activities: Drama Club, Shakespeare Club, Film Club, stage crew; director of one-act play at Drama Club night, participation in plays; tour with Choir in Toronto
Science Concentration 1 (Physical sciences)
Majors (at least one AP course): Physics I Honors and AP Physics C; or Chemistry I Honors and AP Chemistry
Minors: Robotics, Engineering Design, Rocketry, Slot Cars, Food Science, Forensic Science, Science of Cosmetics
Activities (at least two): Conqueror of the Hill Competition, NJ Science Olympiads, Delaware Valley Science Competition, National Chemistry or Physics Olympics Competition
Science Concentration 2 (Life sciences)
Majors (at least one AP course): Biology I Honors and AP Biology or AP Environmental Science
Minors: Epidemiology, History of Medicine, Evolution,
NJ Wildlife, Forestry, Aquatics, Scientific Illustration
Activities (at least two): New Jersey Envirothon, Young Epidemiology Scholars Competition, NJ Science Olympiads, Deborah Heart Challenge and Art Competition, NJ Department of Agriculture Conservation Poster Contest
Service & Social Justice Concentration
Majors: Globalization, Conflict & Religion, Modern Africa Honors, Literature of the Holocaust, Race, Gender & Identity in Literature
Minors: Effective Leadership, Model United Nations, Economics and Ecology, Humanitarian Law, Samaritan Hospice, Teaching/Orchard Friends
Activities: Member of Agenda and Service Committees, Gay-Straight Alliance and MLK, Jr. Club, participation in New Orleans Service Learning Trip
Technology Concentration
Majors: AP Computer Science, Media Arts Major
Minors: Advanced Topics in Computer Science, Advanced Video Editing, JAVA, Web Design, Multimedia Publishing, Introduction to Illustrator
Activities: Computer Club, Film Club; original film screened at MFS Film Festival
Visual Arts Concentration
Majors: Art Studio 1, AP Studio Art (Drawing)
Minors: Oil Painting, Woodworking, Modern Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics or Sculpture, one Fiber Arts course
Activities: design/production of scenery or costumes for plays; design of hallway for Spirit Week; work published in Images or exhibited locally; design and installation of in-house display case or bulletin board
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