Honors

Program Overview

211 Mary Gates Hall

uwhonors@uw.edu

The four-year University Honors Program features an interdisciplinary Honors core curriculum, Honors academic advising, foreign study programs and exchanges, and opportunities for independent study. It provides an academic community and educational opportunities to those students who are willing to take academic risks, think across disciplinary boundaries, and engage in experiential learning (e.g., research, leadership, community and/or international engagement).

To be considered for admission to the University Honors Program at entrance, students must apply to the Honors Program when they submit their Application for Undergraduate Admission to the University. Selection is based on a student’s high school record, essays, and a recommendation from the secondary school. Students also may seek admission based on their academic performance during their freshman year at the University.

Students who are accepted into the University Honors Program in their freshman year and complete the Honors Core Curriculum alone graduate ""With Interdisciplinary Honors." When students complete both the Core Curriculum and the Honors requirements in their chosen major, they graduate ""With College Honors in Name of Major." Students who do not participate in or complete the Honors Core Curriculum but are admitted into and complet the Honors Program in their chosen major will receive a degree "With Honors in Name of Major." By special arrangement it is possible for students to complete a degree "With College Honors" in departments, schools, or programs that do not offer a formal Honors option.

Core Curriculum

47 credits as follows:

1. HONORS 100 (1 credit)
2. One Honors social science course (HONORS 230 series or Honors I&S course) (5 credits)
3. One Honors arts/humanities course (HONORS 210/HONORS 240 series or Honors VLPA course) (5 credits)
4. One Honors interdisciplinary course [HONORS 390 series or Honors course coded with two or three Areas of Knowledge designations (VLPA, I&S, NW)] (5 credits)
5. Three Honors science courses (HONORS 220 series or other Honors NW courses). Some colleges or departments may have restrictions. For information, see the Honors Program Website. (15 credits)
6. Combination of any three 4- or 5-credit Honors VLPA, I&S, NW courses and HONORS prefix courses. Some colleges or departments may have restrictions. For information see the Honors Program Website. (15 credits)
7. HONORS 496 (1 credit)
8. At least 15 credits of courses with the HONORS prefix, excluding HONORS 100 and HONORS 496.
9. In at least one major in which the student is pursuing Interdisciplinary or College Honors, no more than three courses used in the major may apply toward the Honors core curriculum.
10. Courses specifically required in Departmental Honors may not be applied toward the Honors core curriculum.
11. Students may fulfill no more than 15 credits of Honors core requirements by completing an ad hoc project in a non-Honors course outside the major or by way of a non-Honors study abroad program.
12. Minimum cumulative 3.30 GPA in all courses completed at the UW.

Departmental Honors

Typically students apply for admission to Departmental Honors in their junior year of college, although some majors have earlier entrance options. Each department at the UW has a unique set of Departmental Honors requirements. For links to specific information about each department, see the Honors Program Website.