University Honors Program
www.unco.edu/hsl
The University Honors Program is designed to foster outstanding students by providing enriched course and research experiences, extra faculty attention, a community of intellectually-challenging peers and appropriate recognition for accepting the challenge to make the most of their undergraduate education. The Program asks that students be alive to the life of the mind and pushes them to raise the expectations they have for themselves and their education. It seeks to involve them in learning, heighten their critical awareness, and encourage their independent thinking and research leadership in the university and community.
Program Highlights
With admittance into the University Honors Program, students have resources of a comprehensive university and the individual attention traditionally associated with a small college, including:
- Provides immediate connections to faculty and fellow students who share a passion for learning and a commitment to excellence.
- Opportunities for students to go beyond the walls of the classroom and outside the covers of their textbooks to add their own thought and sense of self to their learning.
- Access to honors courses, seminars, research opportunities, personalized advising and other enriched learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.
- Opportunities to reside in the Honors Residence Hall, take part in honors governance through the Student Honors Council and participate in a rich variety of social, cultural and service activities.
- Eligibility for scholarships available only to honor students, travel and research stipends and extended library check-out privileges.
- Recognition at commencement, on transcripts and on the university diploma.
Program Requirements
- Completion of a total of 18 course credits with 12 courses in Academic Foundations and 6 course credits undertaken in Application of Academic Inquiry
- Presentation of Honors Research or Creative Capstone Project in a public forum
- Evidence of Community or Professional Engagement during the student’s undergraduate studies
- Maintain a cumulative 3.25 UNC GPA
Required Courses
Academic Foundations — 12 credits
The Academic Foundations area provides Honors students with a variety of course options in their UNC Liberal Arts Core, Honors seminars, and experiential learning. All students must complete at least one Life of the Mind (MIND) designated course and also complete either a second MIND or an Honors Connections or PLP Seminar as part of their Academic Foundations for a total of 6 credits. The remaining 6 course credits in Academic Foundations may come from additional MIND and seminar study or through various experiential learning options.
The 12 credit hours of Academic Foundations will include the following three categories:
Category 1 — (3 credits)
Category 2 — (3 credits)
- Honors Connection Seminar or
- PLP 200 Seminar or
- Any MIND course
Category 3 — (6 credits)
- Any MIND course
- Honors Connection Seminar
- Upper division enriched course by contract
- Graduate level course by contract
- Field Experience/Student Teaching/Internship
- Study Abroad or National Student Exchange
Application of Academic Inquiry — 6 credits
Honors students engage in an in-depth study or creative works project of their choice which gives them the opportunity to work individually with a faculty mentor and strengthen their research, writing, creative and presentation skills. Students may complete their in-depth study in any discipline, and projects may include field research, experimentation, an applied civically engaged project, or creative composition such as in the humanities or fine arts. All projects require a written component with critical, research-based, reflective analysis. All complete project are bound and placed in the permanent collection of the university’s James A. Michener Library, and students present their completed research or creative project in a public forum to educate others on their topic.
For incoming Freshman who enroll in Honors, the 6 credit hours shall be spread over the typical four year schedule with the following courses:
- Year 1: LIB 151 Research Skills for Beginning Researchers (1)
- Year 2: LIB 251 Research as Inquiry: Exploration for Beginning Researchers (1)
- Year 3: HON 351 Junior Honors Seminar (1-3)
- Year 4: HON 451 Senior Honors Research Thesis (1-3)
Sophomores and Juniors who enroll in Honors shall contact the Honors Program to determine their schedule.
Additional information about Honors Requirements and program planning can be found in the Honors Program Student Handbook available on the website at www.unco.edu/honors.
Applying to the Honors Program
Students are urged to join the Honors Program as freshmen, but they may enter up to the second semester of their junior year. All applications must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation from teachers along with a statement of intent. Entering freshmen should have a 3.5 high school GPA and either be in the top 10 percent of their graduating class academically or have scored a minimum ACT of 27 (composite) or SAT of 1170 (critical reading and math). Students who do not meet these requirements may still apply and should explain their interest in their Statement of Intent. Prospective Honors students already enrolled at UNC or transferring from another college need a minimum 3.25 GPA.
Requests for applications and program inquiries should be directed to the Honors Program office. Applications may also be downloaded in PDF format at www.unco.edu/honors.
Additional Information
Please contact the Honors Program through the Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership by calling (970) 351-2940, by visiting the office in Michener L-98, or by finding us online at www.unco.edu/honors.