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Information for New and Prospective Students

University Honors Program Curriculum Requirements
University Honors Programs Benefits
Applying to the University Honors Program

University Honors Program Curriculum Requirements

The Honors Program requires completion of a total of 18 credits with 12 credits undertaken in Academic Foundations; 6 credits undertaken in Application of Academic Inquiry; and evidence of Community or Professional Engagement during the student’s undergraduate studies. Honors students who complete all requirements and maintain a cumulative 3.25 UNC GPA will receive recognition during university commencement ceremonies, on their diploma, and on their transcripts that they have graduated from the University Honors Program.

The Academic Foundations area provides Honors students with a variety of course selections under Liberal Arts Core, Honors Connections Seminars, and Honors Experiential Learning Options. Students who carefully plan their course of study in this area may be able to use all of their Honors coursework to co-satisfy Liberal Arts Core, major, or minor program requirements.

In their junior and senior year, 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, and presentation skills. For their work in Application of Academic Inquiry, students must take 3 credit in each of two courses—HON 351 and HON 451—to satisfy this requirement and must present their completed research in a public forum to educate others on their topic. Students may complete their in-depth study in any discipline, and projects may include field research, experimentation, or creative composition such as in the humanities or fine arts. All projects require a written component with critical, research-based, reflective analysis.

Finally, as a means of developing a personal ethic or professional demeanor in one’s field or discipline, each student must also engage in Community or Professional Engagement. This requirement can be met by the student providing evidence of participation in at least one of the following while at the university: a leadership role in a campus student organization; a peer mentor role for Honors or another campus organization; a volunteer coordinator for a campus-wide or community-wide event/activity; membership or affiliation with a discipline-based professional organization.

For complete details on the Honors Program curriculum requirements, prospective students may download the free Honors Student Handbook on the Forms and Documents page or contact the Honors Program office to have a copy of the handbook mailed to them.

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University Honors Programs Benefits

The Honors Program offers students academic enhancements in their educational experience by allowing them to expand their learning in interdisciplinary subjects and also focus more closely on their own academic area of interest. Additionally, the community of students and scholars who make up the University Honors Program are engaged in service and social activities which give students the chance to interact with faculty and other members of the extended Honors community in settings outside the classroom.

Some additional benefits of being in the University Honors Program include:

Recognition — At commencement, on their diplomas, and on transcripts, Honors students are recognized as Honors Program graduates.
Honors Thesis — The capstone of the Honors experience, Honors theses are placed in the permanent collection in Michener Library.
Honors Conferences — Honors students have opportunities to attend and present at regional and national conferences.
Honors Events — Students are invited to take part in a variety of regular events including pizza seminars, the International Film Series, the Works in Progress Symposium, Research Day, and Academic Excellence Week.
Personalized Advising — All Honors students enjoy personalized advising from university faculty.
Honors Residence — Students in the Honors Program have the option to live in the Honors-designated residence, Decker Hall, which is located on Central Campus.
Library Privileges — Honors students engaged in thesis research are entitled to graduate student library borrowing privileges.
Unity in Diversity — Honors students come from a variety of backgrounds and have diverse academic and social interests. Together, they form a community of highly motivated learners.

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Applying to the University Honors Program

The University Honors Program is looking for motivated students who thrive in an atmosphere of creative learning and intellectual exploration. High school applicants should have a 3.5 GPA and either be in the top 10 percent of their graduating class or have scored a minimum ACT of 27 (composite) or SAT of 1170 (critical reading and math). Students already enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado or those transferring from another college or university need a minimum GPA of 3.25.

In applying to the University Honors Program, students must submit the following documents:

University Honors Program Application
Letter of Introduction
Two Letters of Recommendation
Official High School and/or College Transcripts

Prospective students may request that the application, forms for the letters of recommendation, and complete instructions on applying be sent to them by contacting the Honors Program office at (970) 351-2940 or by e-mailing the program at honors@unco.edu. The forms and instructions are also available on the Forms and Documents page on this Web site.

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