University Honors Program
General Information
Honors Curriculum
Each year, over 300 honors classes are offered by academic departments across the University. Honors courses have limited enrollment and are reserved for highly successful and motivated students. As a result, they encourage participatory learning through the interchange of ideas between students and professors and among students themselves. In honors classrooms and laboratories, students work closely with many of the University’s most acclaimed faculty and have the opportunity to explore course material in unusual depth. Small size (usually no more than 25) also allows honors classes to undertake activities and utilize facilities otherwise not readily available to undergraduate students. Honors classes may be special sections of regularly offered courses or courses developed specifically for honors students.
The University Honors Program is not a separate curriculum track. In fulfilling departmental, college and University degree requirements, honors students have the opportunity to choose the combination of honors courses and regular course sections that best meet their needs and interests. Typically, participating students register for one or two honors courses each semester.
For University Honors Program participants interested in pursuing an intellectually challenging sequence of honors courses and research opportunities within their major area of study, the Engineering Scholars Program, the Honors Plan in Liberal Arts and Mays Business School Honors Program offer special, structured honors experiences. The individual college sections of this catalog offer information about these honors study options.
There is no separate application for admission to the University Honors Program. Rather, students meeting the criteria described below are eligible for participation in honors course work semester by semester.