Honors

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The University Honors Program is composed of Interdisciplinary Honors and Departmental Honors. Completion of both results in a degree with College Honors.

Interdisciplinary Honors features an interdisciplinary general education curriculum with a focus on experiential learning and reflection, and independent study. Departmental Honors invites students to enrich disciplinary thinking within their majors through a culture of creativity, student-centered learning, and rigorous attention to complex challenges. This is often done with guidance from a faculty mentor, and by completing upper-level electives, research, or an extended thesis.

The Honors Program provides a learning community and educational opportunities to accepted students pursuing either or both of these distinctions.

To be considered for admission to the Interdisciplinary Honors Program (IHP), students must apply to the Honors Program when they submit their application for undergraduate admission to the University. Selection is based on a holistic review of the UW application and the additional Honors materials. Students also may seek admission to IHP during spring quarter of their freshman year at the University via the second-year admission process.

Interdisciplinary Honors Requirements

47 credits

1. HONORS 100 (1 credit)
2. One Honors-prefix social sciences course (HONORS 23x) (SSc; 5 credits). This requirement cannot be completed by courses with multiple Areas of Inquiry designations.
3. One Honors-prefix arts and humanities course (HONORS 21x/HONORS 24x) (A&H; 5 credits). This requirement cannot be completed by courses with multiple Areas of Inquiry designations.
4. One Honors-prefix natural sciences course (HONORS 22x) (NSc; 5 credits). This requirement cannot be completed by courses with multiple Areas of Inquiry designations.
5. One Honors-prefix interdisciplinary course (HONORS 205, HONORS 345, HONORS 38x, HONORS 391, HONORS 392, HONORS 393, HONORS 394) (5 credits)
6. Honors Electives: any five additional 4- or 5- credit courses. May be HONORS-prefix or non-HONORS-prefix courses. (A&H, SSc, NSc)
7. HONORS 496 (1 credit)
8. Courses applying towards Departmental Honors may not be applied toward completion of the Interdisciplinary Honors requirements
9. Students may fulfill no more than 15 credits of Interdisciplinary Honors requirements by completing HONORS 499 (independent study), graduate-level courses, or ad hoc projects in non-HONORS courses, including a non-HONORS study abroad program. These credits may only be applied to the Honors Electives requirement; they may not be applied to the HONORS-prefix social sciences, arts and humanities, natural sciences, or interdisciplinary course requirements
10. Interdisciplinary Honors courses overlap with the UW Areas of Inquiry requirements
11. Minimum cumulative 3.30 GPA in all courses completed through the UW

Experiential Learning

Interdisciplinary Honors students identify two learning activities that are experiential in nature and extend the educational process beyond the classroom. Activities should be in the areas of leadership, research, service, or international engagement.

Portfolio

Interdisciplinary Honors students practice reflection via an online portfolio, an archive of their academic and experiential work. Students contribute to their portfolios throughout their time at UW and in Honors before polishing and presenting their portfolios in HONORS 496.

Departmental Honors Requirements

Students may apply to Departmental Honors in their major(s) after they have been admitted to the major, typically in their junior year. Each department at UW has a unique set of Departmental Honors requirements (see individual department websites for more information). Interested students should contact the department for their major.