The Honors Program provides academically talented and highly motivated students with superior educational opportunities which challenge their abilities. Selected from diverse backgrounds and majors, honors students should possess broad scholarly interests, enthusiasm for learning, imagination and creativity, and a solid academic record.

Admission to the program is limited and academic standards are rigorous. To complete the program successfully, students must have a GPA of at least 3.50 in all honors courses and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20. Students who fall below the required honors GPA (3.50) or the required cumulative GPA (3.20) for three consecutive semesters will be subject to dismissal from the Honors Program. Students who have not registered for an Honors course for three consecutive semesters are also subject to dismissal from the Honors Program.

Students are expected to review their grades each semester to see whether they have continued to meet requirements for the program. A student whose Honors or cumulative gpa falls below the minimum or who otherwise fails to meet the requirements should schedule a meeting with the Director of the Honors Program to discuss his or her plans for improvement.

Each honors student must take a minimum of seven honors seminars and the honors senior thesis (24 hours). Honors seminars may be used to satisfy portions of the university general education requirement.

In lieu of the Capstone Course, honors students are required to compose a senior thesis under the direction of a faculty mentor and to present it at an open forum. The senior thesis enables the student to engage in independent study, research, and writing.

The Honors Program integrates traditional and novel approaches to learning from the behavioral and social sciences, the humanities, and other divisions of the university. In each honors seminar, contemporary and historical topics are addressed from the perspective of multiple academic disciplines. Faculty chosen for the program are committed to the interdisciplinary approach to teaching, and honors students bring specialized knowledge from varied fields of study to the classroom. Further information is available from the Honors Program Director, at 512-448-8558.