Students take 16 hours of an Honors Core that fulfills the University Core. In order to complete the Honors Core, Honors students take Honors English, Honors Fine Arts, Honors Social Science, Honors University Seminar, and two Honors Humanities courses (one of which must be Honors Literature).

Upon completion of the Honors Core, students have two choices:

• Honors in the College
• Honors in the University

To graduate with Honors in the College, students must complete the Honors Colloquium (HONR 1001), Honors Senior Seminar (HONR 4010), and five Honors Contracts. Students must also have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.4 by the time of graduation.

To graduate with Honors in the University, students must complete the Honors Colloquium (HONR 1001), Honors Senior Seminar (HONR 4010), five Honors Contracts, and Honors Project (to include two credits of HONR 4015). Students must also have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 by the time of graduation.

Honors Contracts. The honors contract seeks to foster creativity and scholarship as well as to develop relationships with faculty. Students can obtain honors credit by doing honors-level work in academic courses or cocurricular activities that include, but are not limited to, creative performance, service-learning, internships, travel abroad, and other forms of research engagement.

Students arriving with prior credit for core courses may apply for course substitutions to satisfy honors requirements. Approval comes from the Director of the Honors Program.

HONORS FAQS

Would I do better in college if I did not join an Honors Program?
For some this is true, but for most it is not. Why? Honors Programs provide students with a peer group that values academic excellence, so highly motivated students are in classes with other highly motivated students that lead to study groups, academic teams, and social networks to support each other. The transition to collegiate life is not always easy. Honors Programs create an environment that makes it easier to transition from high school to college. Consequently, students in Honors Programs often perform better academically than students not in Honors Programs.

Are college Honors courses like high school Honors courses?
No, there is usually a world of difference between high school and college Honors courses. In many high schools, Honors courses are just the normal courses made harder with extra readings, extra assignments, and more rigorous grading. In college, Honors courses are enriched courses. Honors courses avoid lectures in favor of discussion and debate on important topics. Honors courses eschew passive learning in favor of interactive methods with innovate materials covering cutting edge concepts. Honors courses provide smaller environments, which allows professors to utilize techniques and methods that cannot be used in larger, regular university courses.

Will Honors courses be too hard for me?
No. If you were accepted into an Honors Program, then you have the natural ability to succeed in your Honors courses. You will gain even more confident in your own abilities by working together with (not competing against) other highly motivated students on campus. In Honors courses, students and faculty learn from each other and work with each other. Honors courses, and their professors, are often so stimulating that students barely notice the work they are doing and how much more they are learning.

Will my college GPA suffer if I join an Honors Program?
No, Honors courses are not graded harder than other college courses. Students find the hardest courses are usually their upper-level, non-honors courses within their major.

Can I participate in sports or other extra-curricular activities and still do Honors?
Absolutely, and you will meet many other students doing the same. Honors students are able to participate successfully in athletics, Greek life, student government, registered student organizations, and other extra-curricular activities. In fact, Honors students often hold leadership positions and elected offices.

Wouldn’t it be better for me to wait a semester or two before joining the Honors Program?
It depends. Honors Programs are designed for first-time freshman since first-time freshman have more time to complete Honors requirements. However, you can enter after your first semester or even your first year. 

Can I do an internship or study abroad if I am in an Honors Program?
Absolutely. Honors Programs strongly encourage internships and study abroad.

Will Honors separate me from other students at the college?
No, Honors students are as immersed in regular college life as regular students. Honors students take a mix of Honors and non-Honors courses, and will find friends and roommates in and out of Honors.

Are there conferences that I could go to as an Honors Student?
Yes. Students annually attend and present at national, regional, and local Honors conferences paid for by the Honors Program.

Will participation in an Honors Program help me get a job, or get into graduate or professional schools, after I graduate?
Yes, there is evidence that participation is an asset for your future. As an Honors student you will be identified as possessing the commitment and motivation to take on challenging work (supplemented by extracurricular involvement). Honors students are eagerly sought out by employers and preferred for admissions by graduate and professional schools. Your Honors research provides you with graduate-level experience to prove your ability to work independently at an advanced level.

Learn more about financial aid options: https://www.ulm.edu/financialaid/

Learn more about scholarship opportunities: https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/