Honors Experiences

UHP recognizes that students are actively engaged inside and outside of the classroom throughout their academic career.  The UHP Honors Experience was created to encourage this diversity in educational means and to provide students with flexibility when it comes to choosing an individualized educational path.

Careful attention has been paid to the manner in which Honors Experiences can be fulfilled, as to ensure their substantive educational value while maintaining relevance and ease of integration into the student's major requirements.

Honors Experiences may be fulfilled by honors courses, honors thesis projects, and other non-course options that enhance the student's education.

Honors Courses

Honors departmental courses and honors seminars make up the vast majority of courses that fulfill Honors Experiences.  However, freshmen seminars and Writ 1401 also serve as honors course options.  In exceptional circumstances, at the suggestion of an honors advisor, students may contract with a faculty member to enhance a non-honors course in order to gain an Honors Experience.

More info:
Honors curriculum page: honors departmental courses and honors seminars
Orientation and First-Year Programs website: Freshmen seminars

Honors Thesis Project

An Honors Thesis Project is required for graduation with Latin honors at all levels. This project is the culmination of the student's work in research, creative expression, or practicum experience.  It must be supervised and approved by a faculty advisor.  Read more

Non-Course Options

Participation in various distinctive, educational experiences may be counted as Honors Experiences. Students looking to fulfill Honors Experiences in this way must complete an Honors Experience Proposal form.  Students should discuss this with their honors advisor prior to completing the proposal.

Examples of non-course options include: 

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) projects and other faculty-directed research
• Study abroad experiences*
• Internship experiences*
• Community engagement projects*
• Publication in a recognized scholarly or professional journal
• Poster presentation at a regional or national conference
• Undergraduate tutoring and teaching experiences*

* In order to be approved, these experiences must exhibit significant levels of participation. 

Non-Course Honors Experience Guidelines

Honors Experience Proposal form (PDF)