Honors Requirements

First-year students must achieve a minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA by the end of their first year; sophomores and beyond must maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in order to graduate from the honors program.

First Year

An Honors first-year should aim to complete at least three Honors courses during their first year.

• (ENG 1050H) Honors Introduction to College Writing*
• (RTS 1XXXH) Honors 1000-level course in Religious and Theological Studies
• (PHL 1000H) Honors Introduction to Philosophy 

* An honors section of ENG 1050H is required, even with AP or transfer credit equivalent.

Students should not enroll in non-honors sections of the above classes. In addition, honors students at any level may choose an honors section of calculus, physics, psychology, business, history or other courses depending on their interest and course availability.

Important: Many first-year honors classes are pre-populated by the registrar during the first semester to ensure that students meet program requirements. First-year students in the honors program should not drop or withdraw from any honors course without first contacting the honors program director.

Also, all human development majors are required to take (EDU 2130) Diversity and Social Justice in the spring of their first year. With the addition of an honors contract, this course fulfills the honors service-learning requirement that most students fulfill during their sophomore year with (SOJ 1000H) Introduction to Social Justice-Honors (see below.)

A section of EDU 2130 will include an honors contract for honors human development majors. Be sure to discuss this with your education adviser and honors program director to ensure you register for the correct section of the course. 

Second Year

As of fall 2017, all incoming first-year students will take an honors section of Introduction to Social Justice. Beginning in their second year, honors students may earn honors credit for one of their non-honors classes by means of an Honors Contract.

Submit Your Fall 2022 Honors Contract

Third Year

In addition to any regular honors course a student may select, honors students will register during the second semester of their junior year for (HON 4001H) Honors Senior Capstone seminar. This course counts as as one of the eight required honors courses. Students who decide to study abroad during the spring semester of their junior year must take HON 4001H in the fall of their senior year.

Fourth Year

Honors program seniors are required to complete a capstone experience. Please check the Honors Student Handbook for more information.