Choosing a University Honors curriculum means choosing courses and experiences that are measurably broader, deeper or more complex than traditional college-level learning.

University Honors students develop intellectual curiosity (I), professional purpose and ethics (P), innovative approaches to solving problems (V) and transformational leadership (T).

University Honors students:

• Explore enduring questions and contemporary research/scholarship in a discipline or disciplines in honors courses and discussion-based seminars (I);
• Highlight insightful patterns, differences or similarities within and among the disciplines in honors courses and discussion-based seminars (I);
• Understand disciplinary methodologies and principles and providing evidence of synthesis and evaluation of evidence from across disciplines in honors courses, seminars and research experiences (I);
• Apply ethical standards related to each discipline within a disciplinary or interdisciplinary field of inquiry in honors courses, seminars, research processes and products (P);
• Pursue substantial, additional knowledge and/or independent educational experiences beyond the classroom in internships, service-learning and/or research (P);
• Connect ideas or solutions in an effort to identify unaddressed challenges and needs (V);
• Develop a logical, consistent plan to research or problem-solve and articulate consequences of research and reason for choosing methods and/or solutions (V);
• Make explicit reference to previous learning and apply in an innovative way that knowledge and those skills (P, V, T);
• Reflect on how their own attitudes and beliefs are different from those of other cultures and communities, and exhibit curiosity about what can be learned from diversity of communities and cultures (P, V, T); and
• Demonstrate leadership or ongoing involvement or community and global-focused actions that have a positive impact (T).

To earn the minor in University Honors distinction, students complete an 18-credit program that includes a discussion-based honors seminar, a substantial research or design-thinking experience and presentation, and 12 elective honors credits. Students may choose an area of emphasis (or track) within the minor including the Emory Lindquist Honors Scholar, Honors Leadership, Honors Law and Public Policy, or Departmental Honors track. 

Most of the courses taken to meet University Honors requirements also fulfill general education or major requirements. Because of this overlap, we say that Honors is a different way to do your degree, one that engages you more broadly or more deeply than traditional college study. In other words: It's more meaningful work!

Admission

To pursue the minor in university honors, a student must be admitted to the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College. There are no minimum ACT/SAT or GPA requirements for admission to the Cohen Honors College. Interested students submit an online application through the link on the college website.

Program Requirements

To receive a diploma distinction of minor in university honors, a student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.250 and complete 18 honors credit hours comprising:

Students have the option of completing an area-of-emphasis within their University Honors minor by selecting an Emory Lindquist Honors Scholar, Honors Leadership, Honors Law and Public Policy, or Departmental Honors track. Track requirements are listed separately in the catalog.

Students are not required to complete an area-of-emphasis track, but students who do will receive a transcript notation listing the area of emphasis. 

A student must complete 3 unduplicated credit hours (credit hours not used toward general education or toward the student’s major requirements) in a minor program of study.