Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be a humanities major to participate in the Honors Program?
No, all majors are welcome.

Can AP credit be used to satisfy Honors Requirements?
No, the nature of the Honors curriculum is much more rigorous than anything you took in high school. Your AP courses will, of course, prepare you to succeed in the Honors Program courses.

Does that mean I will have to take more courses to graduate with Honors?
No, the Honors Program is designed to stay within the minimum requirements of your major. You will work with your Honors advisor to ensure that everything fits together.

How do Honors Courses differ from regular courses?
Honors courses are typically team taught and are designed to be more interdisciplinary in their topics. There is more faculty-student interaction and more reading and writing, yet, classes are more relaxed since they are small seminar-type sections.

What are the grade requirements to stay in the program?
You must maintain a 3.5 GPA to remain in good standing in the Honors Program. To graduate with Honors, you will need to achieve a 3.5 GPA, complete the Honors curriculum, which includes all HNRS courses, all Honors Colloquia, the two contract courses, and the Honors Thesis.

What is the Honors Thesis?
The Honors Thesis is is an opportunity to work closely with a faculty member on a research or creative activity. Typically, the research is within your major and counts toward major requirements. The Thesis will most likely be a traditional academic research paper; however, you can be creative with the help and mentoring of your advisor.

What if I find that Honors isn't for me? Can I leave the program?
Absolutely. You can withdraw at any time with no academic penalty. The Honors courses you have completed will remain on your records, and they all count toward regular university credit and satisfy core curriculum requirements. However, you will lose the endowed Honors scholarship.

page last updated 12/8/2009