Honors

Program Overview

211 Mary Gates Hall

uwhonors@uw.edu

The four-year University Honors Program features an interdisciplinary Honors core curriculum with a focus on experiential learning and reflection, 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 demonstrated engagement with interdisciplinary learning, high school record, essay responses, a letter of recommendation, and fit for the program.” Students also may seek admission based on academic performance during spring quarter of their freshman year at the University via the late admission process.

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 Departmental 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 complete the Honors Program in their chosen major will receive a degree “With Honors in Name of Major .” By special arrangement it mayis be possible for students to complete a degree “With College Honors” in departments, schools, or programs that do not offer a formal Departmental Honors option as well as Departmental Honors by itself.

Core Curriculum

47 credits as follows:

1. HONORS 100 (1 credit)
2. One Honors-prefix social science course (HONORS 23x) (I&S; 5 credits). This requirement cannot be completed by courses with multiple Areas of Knowledge designations.
3. One Honors-prefix arts/humanities course (HONORS 21x/HONORS 24x) (VLPA; 5 credits). This requirement cannot be completed by courses with multiple Areas of Knowledge designations.
4. One Honors-prefix science course (HONORS 22x) (NW; 5 credits). This requirement cannot be completed by courses with multiple Areas of Knowledge designations.
5. One Honors-prefix interdisciplinary course (HONORS 205, HONORS 345, HONORS 38x, or HONORS 391, HONORS 392, HONORS 393, HONORS 394) (NW; 5 credits). This requirement cannot be completed by courses with multiple Areas of Knowledge designations.
6. Combination of any five additional 4- or 5- credit HONORS courses. May be HONORS-prefix or non-HONORS-prefix courses. (VLPA, I&S, NW)
7. HONORS 496 (1 credit)
8. Courses applying towards Departmental Honors may not be applied toward the HONORS core curriculum.
9. Students may fulfill no more than 15 credits of HONORS core requirements by completing HONORS 499 (independent study), graduate-level courses, or ad hoc projects in non-HONORS courses or by way of a non-HONORS study abroad program. These credits may fulfill only a student’s additional five HONORS courses requirement; they may not count towards HONORS-prefix social science, arts/humanities, science, or interdisciplinary requirements.
10. Minimum cumulative 3.30 GPA in all courses completed through the UW.

Departmental Honors

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 the UW has a unique set of Departmental Honors requirements. For links to specific information about each department, see the Honors Program website.