FAQs

General Honors Questions

Honors Courses

Honors Plans and Graduation Distinctions

Other Opportunities (research, internships, pre-professional, study abroad)

Options for Honors Credit

Honors Early Registration

Honors Residence Halls

Honors Programs Overview

What are the benefits of the University Honors Program?

The Honors Programs office builds a community that unites people of great potential for growth and achievement.  This mission is achieved in the following ways:

Challenging curriculum

Honors courses are small—usually no more than 20 seats—and are lead by faculty that have been identified by their departments as outstanding teachers.  Honors courses encourage students to delve deeply into the course material, not just to master the material, but to learn how to think.

Students who choose to challenge themselves can also pursue an Honors Distinction, either at the University level, college level, or departmental level.  Additionally, the Honors curriculum encourages independent study and research.

Specialized Advising

The academic advisors in the Honors Programs office are experts in their fields, and because they work with a limited number of students, Honors advising sessions are often more in depth than one would normally encounter.  Honors Advisors can provide advice on a range of personal, professional, and academic development issues, from Honors courses and curricula, to goal setting, study skills, research, and preparation for professional or graduate school and prestigious national scholarship competitions such as the Rhodes Scholarship.

Strong Community

The Honors Programs office fosters a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, students, staff, and faculty who appreciate the act of learning, whether in the classroom or out.  The Honors Programs oversees three Residence Halls—Clements, McFadden, and Lechner Halls—as well as a number of student groups, including Honors Student Council, Honors Invitational Peer Leaders, and the Executive Council on Health Occupations, among others.

Further, the Honors Programs office sponsors numerous community events throughout the year, including Parents’ Weekend Brunch, Pizza-and-Profs lectures, and Honors Faculty Socials, among others.

How do I get into the Honors Program?

There is no application for Honors.  Currently-enrolled students who have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPR are eligible to enroll in an Honors class. 

Incoming freshman are flagged as Honors eligible if they meet either of the following criteria: 1) Are in the top 10% of their high school graduating class and have a combined score of at least 1250 on the verbal and math portions of the SAT (with at least 570 in both sections) or a combined score of 28 on the ACT (with 27 in English and math) OR 2) Are a National Merit, National Achievement, or National Hispanic Scholar.

Incoming freshman who are from an extremely small school, who are homeschooled, or who attended a school that did not rank its graduates should speak with an Honors advisor to determine eligibility.  Transfer students are also handled on a case-by-case basis and must speak with an Honors Advisor.

These criteria apply only to the University Honors Program.  The college and departmental honors programs may have different eligibility requirements.

Back to Top

Honors Courses

How are Honors courses different than non-honors courses?

Honors courses are generally capped at about 20 seats and are led by accomplished tenured or tenure-track faculty.  As well, each of the other students in the Honors classes is motivated and eager to learn, so distractions are few.  Most Honors courses are simply separate sections of existing courses.  Occasionally, Honors-only courses are offered.

How hard are Honors courses?

Honors courses are intended to be “enriched,” not accelerated.  Although the content of an Honors course will be largely the same as a non-honors course, the class activities will require a student to interact differently and at a deeper level than in a non-honors course.  For instance, one could expect increased discussion, critical essays, creative projects, and group presentations instead of rote memorization or multiple-choice tests.  Overall, students prefer their Honors courses over their non-honors courses, although they do admit that the Honors courses can be more time-consuming.

Are there Honors courses in my major?

Most likely.  Over 300 Honors courses from each of the nine academic colleges at Texas A&M are offered annually.  For a current course listing, refer either to http://courses.tamu.edu or to the Honors Programs website.

How many Honors courses am I required to take if I’m in the Honors Program?

There is no minimum or maximum number of honors courses any student must or can take.  Eligible students may take only one course or two dozen courses over the course of their undergraduate career.  Most active Honors students take one to three Honors courses a semester.  Students who intend to graduate with honors do need to take specific courses.  The best thing to do is to meet with an Honors Advisor to work out a curricular plan.

What course should I take?

Before registering for an Honors course, a student should consult his or her departmental advisor.  After determining their curricular needs, the student should then refer to the Honors course listing and select a course that fits their needs.  This course may either be major-specific, a core curriculum course, or an elective.

Please note that both of the University Honors Programs graduation distinctions (Foundation and University Honors) require both math and science coursework, so students should consider their long-term plans before completing their core curriculum requirements. 

I have a scholarship from the Honor Programs—do I have to take an Honors course?

No student at Texas A&M is required to take an Honors course, and a minimum number of Honors credit hours are not required for any of our freshman scholarships.  For specific GPR and enrollment requirements, refer to the Academic Scholarships Handbook or speak with a Scholarship Advisor.

What happens if my GPR drops below 3.5?

Honors Eligibility is determined on a semester-by-semester basis, so a student who begins a semester below the 3.5 eligibility mark could be Honors Eligible at the end of the semester, once grades are posted.  Students who become Honors Eligible after preregistration may register for an Honors course during open registration.

Back to Top

Honors Plans and Graduation Distinctions

How do I graduate with honors?

The designation of “Latin” graduation honors, Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude, is based solely on cumulative GPR.  To graduate with an Honors Distinction from the University Honors Program, students must complete specific course distributions. 

The requirements for the Foundation Honors distinction are directly tied to the Texas A&M University Core Curriculum.  Completion of Foundation Honors requires a minimum of 19 credit hours of Honors coursework, distributed as follows:

 To receive the University Honors distinction, a student must complete 36 credit hours of Honors coursework.  In completion of this honor, many students engage in Honors Course Contracts and Honors Independent Study.  The distribution requirements are as follows:

Can I substitute my AP/IB credit for Honors requirements?

Students may substitute a limited amount of credit earned through Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate.  To qualify, the test scores must be one point or two points above the minimum required at A&M, respectively.  Total substitutions are limited to seven credit hours for Foundation Honors and twelve credit hours for University Honors. 

Does my academic college or department offer an Honors plan?

Currently, the colleges of Engineering, Business, and Liberal Arts offer college-level honors plans that can be pursued in conjunction with the University Honors Programs plans.  Additionally, the departments of Architecture, Communication, English, History, Mathematics, Political Science, and Psychology also offer honors plans.  Students interested in pursuing these honors distinctions should contact the advising offices of the colleges or departments in question.

Back to Top

Other Opportunities

How do I apply for scholarships?

Four-year academic scholarships are awarded to incoming freshman only.  For information on how to apply for academic scholarships as an incoming student, speak with an Academic Scholarships advisor or visit the Academic Scholarships portion of our website.

The Honors Program does offer one scholarship for continuing students – the Honors Incentive Award, a one-year scholarship of $1,000.  To be eligible, a student must be actively pursuing Honors coursework, be Honors Eligible, and may not have received a four-year scholarship from the Honors Programs.  For further information on the Honors Incentive Award, contact Jonathan Kotinek – jkotinek@tamu.edu .

Two scholarships for transfer students exist: the Hazelwood Scholarship and the Collegiate Excellence Scholarship.  The former is for students transferring from other four-year colleges and universities; the latter is for students who have graduated from a Texas two-year school and its honors program.  For further information, visit the Honors Programs website or contact Kyle Mox – kemox@tamu.edu .

How do I apply for National Scholarships?

The term “National Scholarships” refers to any scholarship or fellowship that is offered by an organization or foundation outside Texas A&M and is open to students from across the nation (e.g. Rhodes, Goldwater, Truman).  There are literally hundreds of scholarships to choose from, and most are very specialized and extremely competitive.  Our website has an extensive list, and anyone who has questions about a specific scholarship should contact Kyle Mox – kemox@tamu.edu .

How do I apply for University Scholars?

Only students who meet the eligibility requirements for University Scholars are invited to apply (invitations go out via email to students’ official email addresses).  To be eligible, a student must meet the following criteria: 1) be a second-semester freshman; 2) have achieved at least a 3.5 GPR; 3) be a recipient of a four-year merit scholarship from the Honors Programs office.

How can I get help applying for Medical, Law, Veterinary, Allied Health, or Graduate School?

One of the key features of the Honors Programs office is the Office of Professional & Graduate School Advising (OPGSA), which provides guidance to students who intend to apply for post-baccalaureate training of any kind.  OPGSA advisors can help students map out an appropriate curriculum, find useful extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities, and navigate the application processes.  OPGSA also advises several pre-professional student organizations.  Students who are considering applying for professional or graduate school should schedule an appointment with an OPGSA advisor early in their undergraduate career.

How can I get involved in research?

The Honors Programs office encourages students to pursue independent scholarly work.  Numerous opportunities exist—the best strategy is to talk directly to one’s professors, especially Honors faculty.  Students can earn Honors credit through Honors Independent Study, and students who complete the University Undergraduate Research Fellows program receive an Honors Graduation Distinction.

Is there an Honors study abroad program?

The Honors Programs office does not sponsor a study abroad program of its own, but students who receive a four-year scholarship from the Honors Programs are eligible for a $1,000 study abroad stipend, which may be applied towards any Texas A&M-led study abroad program.  For further information, speak with an Honors Advisor and consult with the Study Abroad Office – http://studyabroad.tamu.edu .

Do I have to write a senior thesis?

The University Honors Program does not require students to write a senior Honors thesis (although some college-level plans do).  However, the Honors Programs office does coordinate the University Undergraduate Research Fellows program, a selective program for students who wish to execute an independent scholarly project.  Students would submit a proposal at the end of their junior years and execute the project over the course of their senior year.  Students must also select a faculty member to oversee the project.  Credit can be received via independent study.  For further information, contact Dr. Kurt Ritter – kurt@aphonors.tamu.edu .

Options for Honors Credit

There are no upper-level Honors courses in my major.  What should I do?

Students who are “Honors Candidates” (have completed at least nine credit hours of Honors coursework in residence) can receive Honors credit for upper-level non-Honors courses by applying for an Honors Course Contract.  In essence, the student would complete alternate or additional activities to emulate the experience of an Honors course.  The activities must be proposed to and approved by the instructor of the course.  The application for a Course Contract must be submitted by the 12th class day of the semester.  After final grades are posted, an “H” will appear on the student’s transcript, and the course credit will thereafter be considered Honors credit.  Applications are available in the Honors Programs office.  Please note that Honors Course Contracts may not be issued retroactively.

Can I get Honors credit for independent research or study?

Honors Candidates may receive Honors credit for their Independent Study coursework.  Applications for Honors Independent Study are available in the Honors Programs office and are due by the fourth class day of the semester.

Back to Top

Honors Early Registration

What is Honors Early Registration (HER)?

Honors Early Registration (HER) exists to help students who are actively pursuing honors study avoid potential scheduling conflicts.  HER occurs in the first two days of each registration season.  Students who do not remain enrolled in that or any Honors class in the following semester will have their HER privileges revoked.  To be eligible to use HER, a student must meet both of the following criteria:

Please note that to remain in the Honors courses for which one registers during HER, one must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPR.  Students who register for Honors courses but later fail to achieve a 3.5 cumulative GPR will be asked to drop their Honors courses.

How do I know if I have HER?

To receive an Honors Early Registration (HER) time, a student must first submit an Honors Early Registration Request.  The request must be completed by a certain date, well in advance of the start of registration. Students who are eligible for HER will receive a registration notice from the Registrar before pre-registration begins. This notice will indicate the student’s registration start date and time. 

What if I don’t want to register for an Honors course?

Students must register for an Honors course to use HER.  Students who are unsure if they want to take an Honors course or do not intend to take an Honors course should not use HER and should register at their alternate (i.e. regular) registration start time.

How many Honors hours can I add to my schedule?

Students are asked to limit themselves to seven credit hours of honors coursework during HER. Once open registration begins, students are welcome to register for as many Honors courses as they like.

I've been told that I can't use HER--why not?

After a student initiates a request for HER, Honors Programs staff will review the student's records to verify eligibility. New students who feel that they were overlooked for HER should speak with an Honors Advisor.  If the omission is noticed well in advance of the start of registration, the Honors office can approve HER, assuming that the request comes well in advance of pre-registration

Continuing students who use HER but do not remain enrolled in an Honors class the following semester will have an automatic HER block placed on their record.  In some cases, this block is made in error.    In other cases, the student received the block inadvertently.  For instance, if the class is cancelled or if the student dropped her Honors course because her GPR dropped below a 3.5, the student should speak with an Honors Advisor about removing the HER block.

Back to Top

Honors Residence Halls

Which Halls are Honors Residence Halls?  How are they different?

Presently, there are three Honors Residence Halls, McFadden|Lechner and Clements Halls.  Life in these halls is much the same as in other residence halls, except the residents are more likely to be closely aligned in their values and academic aspirations.  As well, each hall benefits from a close relationship with the Honors Programs office, which coordinates numerous programs for the residents.

How can I get into McFadden|Lechner Halls?

Invitations to reside in Lechner Hall are extended to all Honors Eligible students who receive a four-year academic scholarship from the Honors Programs office.  Lechner is a freshman-only residence hall.

How can I get into Clements Hall?

Honors-eligible students of any classification (i.e. freshman through senior) may select Clements as a housing option.

Can I pick my roommate if I live in McFadden|Lechner Honors Hall?

In accordance with Department of Residence Life policies, students may either select where they live or with whom they live.  Thus, students who select McFadden|Lechner or Clements as their housing option may not specify a roommate.

Experience has shown that this “potluck” process for roommate selection is actually quite beneficial. Students that room with a best friend or relative often have a difficult time meeting new people.

How can I get involved in leadership in the Halls?

With the guidance of support of the Honors Programs office, student leaders in the Honors Housing Community help to maintain an environment that fosters growth and achievement.  In Clements Hall, Peer Advisors help to maintain an academic enriched environment by maintaining a study lounge and test bank, providing educational programming, and supplying peer advice.  Freshmen, juniors, ad seniors can apply for the Peer Advisor position in the Spring semester for the following year.  In McFadden|Lechner Hall, Sophomore Advisors help to foster a vibrant social and academic climate in the hall through social and educational programs and one-on-one interaction.  Freshmen living in McFadden|Lechner may apply for a Sophomore Advisor position in the Spring semester.

 Back to Top