Applying to the Program

Successful Honors students have a passion for learning and an openness to new ideas, a commitment to studying the past in order to solve the problems of the present, and a dedication to become leaders for a just and humane world. Competitive applicants to the University Honors program demonstrate a sustained record of academic excellence, as evidenced by a strong GPA (typically 3.5 or better) and letters of recommendation.

Yes. Every student in the program receives an annual $1,800 scholarship for the full four years of their undergraduate education. These scholarships are awarded in addition to other elements of a student’s financial aid package.

Yes! The majority of Honors students double-major in a variety of subject areas. Some recent combinations include Political Science/Philosophy, International Studies/History, English Lit/Econ, Biology/History, and Physics/Creative Writing.

Several disciplines (Creative Writing, Economics, English, History, and Philosophy) count relevant Honors seminars as fulfilling specific requirements in the major, thereby reducing the overall number of major courses a student needs to take. These credit discounts allow students to not only get a head start in their major, but also to double major or easily add a minor to complement their major.

Each track has distinctive characteristics and, while none of the tracks are designed for students in specific majors, you will want to consider what you are planning to major in when selecting a track.

Science and nursing majors are given priority for the Innovations track. This track is designed to accommodate students who pursue these credit-intensive majors, spreading the courses over three years, so that students take fewer courses per quarter and can therefore make their scheduling work.

If you are interested in in a humanities or a social sciences discipline, Intellectual Traditions or Society, Policy & Citizenship are ideal choices.

• Due to credit-intensive requirements in the first two years, Nursing, Diagnostic Ultrasound, BS in Computer Science, BS in Biology, BS in Criminal Justice, Criminology and Forensic with specialization in Forensic Science, and BS majors who pursue the Pre-Health Pathway can only take the Innovations track.
• Pre-Health students majoring with a BA in Biology, English, Creative Writing, History or Philosophy can take any of the three Honors tracks.
• Science majors pursuing a BA can take any of the three Honors tracks.
• Engineering students cannot be admitted to the University Honors Program because of class schedule conflicts.
• Matteo Ricci students are ineligible for the University Honors Program because its program of study has a separate curriculum.