Frequently Asked Questions

The Honors Program at SUU provides enrichment opportunities for exceptionally talented, creative and academically committed students in a friendly, informal and interdisciplinary undergraduate experience. The program connects students with some of SUU’s best faculty through small classes and participation in and out of class activities. Honors students that are fully engaged, maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, earn 21 credit hours of honors course work and complete an Honors capstone project will graduate with University Honors. Graduating with University Honors is a nationally recognized accomplishment that indicates exceptional work in undergraduate studies. 

Honors students enjoy many privileges and opportunities not available to the regular student body. Some of these privileges include: use of the Honors Commons (computer lab and group study room on the third floor of the library), free printing in the Honors Commons, priority registration, enrollment in honors courses, access to Honors Undergraduate Research and Travel Grants, participation in monthly honors activities, specialized advising, and close connections with SUU’s finest faculty. 

As freshmen, all honors students are required to enroll in HONR 1040; as sophomores, students are required to enroll in HONR 2040; and as juniors, students must complete HONR 3040. Aside from these three courses, students are free to direct their own efforts and pursue their own education. The Honors Program encourages students to focus on what they GET to do rather than what they HAVE to do. However, to remain in the program, students must stay fully engaged by meeting minimum standards of performance.

To be fully engaged, students must average 3 credit hours of Honors coursework each semester, attend at least one Honors sponsored activity each month and maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA. A student’s status is evaluated at the conclusion of 4 semesters (≈60 credit hours) to determine if their full membership in Honors will be maintained. 

The Honors Program is a community of academically focused students. We offer many out of classroom opportunities to keep you engaged and help build your relationships with other honors students. Students who are highly engaged in extra-curricular activities are rewarded at the end of the year. Information on upcoming events can be found on our website and Facebook page.

Students must meet the following requirements:

• Earn at least a 3.5 overall GPA,
• Complete at least 21 credit hours of honors course work, including
• At least 3 but no more than 12 credit hours through honors contracts, and
• Complete at honors capstone project (which might be a thesis, experiential/artistic, or a disciplinary capstone)

Honors credit can be earned in three ways:

1. Completing the Honors section of a general education course.

2. Completing an Honors course.

3. Completing an Honors contract in conjunction with a regular SUU course.

Earning Honors credit need not add “extra” classes to your schedule nor prolong time to graduation. Contact honorsadvising@suu.edu with more specific questions about how honors can fit in with your academic plan.

Honors students rarely describe their course work as “harder.” That being said, Honors courses involve more discussion, more reading, more writing and/or more group work than regular courses. Often, Honors assignments encourage and expect more independent thought and creativity. Honors professors are some of the very best at SUU and they expect the most out of honors students. 

To conclude their work in the Honors Program, Honors students must complete an Honors capstone in order to qualify for graduation with University Honors.

Students may choose from one of three capstone endeavors: an Honors Thesis, an experiential/artistic capstone or a disciplinary capstone.

Regardless of what the student chooses, all capstone projects must be approved and guided by the honors administration.

Admission into the Honors Program does not require students to live in Honors Hall. Living in the Honors Hall provides a supportive and fun learning community for honors students who choose to live in these dorms. See Honors Hall for more information.

Current students at SUU or transfer students are invited to apply to join the Honors Program. Upon applying, students will need to schedule an appointment to meet with the director to determine if the requirements can still be met. Check out the application or set up a meeting with our director.

There are many leadership opportunities for honor students to plan events, lead a group (into the field, for example), and otherwise. Students can organize such experiences and receive honors credit for doing so by participating in Honors experience waivers (leadership, study abroad, internship). Students can receive a reduction of up to 4 honors credits by proposing and completing an honors experience waiver. Please inquire about such opportunities on the Honors Canvas course or reach out to the honors office.

The honors office is dedicated to making honors education at SUU the best it can be. The director, faculty, and staff are personally invested in the success of each student. The office team is a valuable resource available to all honors students and they can help with course selection, contract ideas, research possibilities, and creating campus connections. The honors office is located on the third floor of the library, room 307. It is open 8:00-5:-- Monday through Friday. The honors program also has a dedicated academic advisor to help with scheduling, graduation requirements, and other issues.