College Honors

The program has been recognized by graduate, law and medical schools around the country as offering outstanding preparation for careers in research and the professions. It has been cited by the federal Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education as one of two model programs in the nation.

Requirements
Honors may be undertaken as early as the junior year; normally it is done in the senior year. Each candidate completes three to five credits (two in special cases) of advanced study, under the supervision and guidance of a faculty advisor and committee chosen by the student. Credit is only awarded for work done on campus.

Courses undertaken for Honors may be either in addition to or in place of regular departmental requirements. At the end of the project, the student submits a thesis or creative portfolio andis examined on their work. The examination, which is oral, is given by the student's advisory committee, assisted by a scholar or other professional who has special knowledge of the student's field.

A candidate for College Honors must have the endorsement of his or her major department and of the department in which the work is done, if different from the major department. An applicant is expected to have a cumulative gradepoint index of 3.2 or above. The Honors Subcommittee of the Academic Standing Committee gives final approval for undertaking College Honors. Applications should be submitted to the Associate Dean of the College by the third term of the junior year and no later than two weeks after the start of classes in the senior year. Application forms are available from the Office of the Registrar, or download here.