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Honors aims to create students who become active, creative scholars, fully prepared to contribute their knowledge and skills to the wider world. The Honors College offers special opportunities for Honors students to develop their multiple intelligences, enhance their analytical skills, and augment their knowledge and abilities in their chosen fields. The Honors College offers Honors sections of General Education courses, Honors-Option courses for upper division credit, Honors Independent Study course credit, and Honors Special Topics courses.
Honors students have the opportunity to live in the Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC) which includes four residence hall buildings that house a total of 321 Honors students. The HLLC also includes the Honors Smart Classroom Building where many Honors courses are held in addition to special events, Honors College Association (HCA) meetings, and related activities.
Admission to the Honors College
- Entering freshmen must have an ACT superscore of 28 (or higher) AND a high school GPA of 3.50 (or higher) to be considered for admission. All students formally admitted to Arkansas State University will be automatically screened for admission to the Honors College; there is not a separate freshmen application for the Honors College. Transfer students with fewer than eighteen (18) hours must complete the HONORS TRANSFER APPLICATION to be considered for formal admission to the Honors College; ACT scores and high school grades will also be reviewed.
- Current A-State sophomores, juniors, seniors, or students transferring to Arkansas State University with eighteen (18) or more hours of work may apply for formal admission to The Honors College by completing the HONORS CURRENT STUDENT APPLICATION or the HONORS TRANSFER APPLICATION. Students with an outstanding academic record are strongly encouraged to apply for admission to the Honors College. Students applying should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and be recommended by a faculty member or their academic advisor. Students formally admitted to the Honors College will be able to enroll in Honors courses.
NOTE: Honors students may take no more than ten (10) hours of Honors coursework in any one term.
Honors Retention Policy (Effective Fall 2009)
It is the responsibility of each Honors student to maintain their academic standing. A formalized retention policy was introduced in Spring 2009 in order to effectively communicate what academic standards are expected of Honors students. This policy took effect in Fall 2009 and applies to all Honors students regardless of their matriculation date.
- Honors students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher to remain in good academic standing in Honors.
- Honors students with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.00 for one semester are placed on probation in Honors. This applies to only the fall and spring semesters.
- Students need to have a semester GPA of 3.25 or higher and/or a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher the following semester to be removed from probation in Honors. This allows a first term student with an extremely low GPA to redeem him or herself in their second semester.
- Students with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.00 for two consecutive semesters are dismissed from Honors.
- Plagiarism and violation of the student conduct code can be grounds for immediate dismissal from Honors.
NOTE: Institutional scholarship renewal and academic standing in Honors are separate and independent review processes; meaning it is possible that a student could lose their institutional scholarship and still maintain their standing in Honors.
Honors Course Completion Policy
Honors students must successfully complete Honors courses with a grade of C or better to be counted toward graduation with distinction from the Honors College. This includes graduating “In University Honors,” “In Honors,” or earning an Honors Certificate. Students who earn a D or F will not be able to count a course toward their total number of Honors credit hours.
Honors Transfer Credit Policy
Transfer students who are formally admitted to the Honors College may count up to six Honors credit hours from their previous institution if they meet the following criteria:
- Honors course(s) is denoted on the official transcript from the previous institution
- Student has earned a grade of A or B in the Honors course(s)
- Honors credit hours from both community colleges and four-year institutions can be considered. Each Honors transfer student will have their transcript reviewed by the Honors College staff for a determination of which 6 Honors credit hours can be counted toward graduation with distinction from Honors.
Each Honors transfer student will have their transcript reviewed by The Honors College staff for a determination of which 6 Honors credit hours can be counted toward graduation with distinction from Honors.
Honors Forms and Procedures
Honors students should familiarize themselves with the InfoReady forms and procedures for special Honors credit hours opportunities that are on the Honors website at https://www.astate.edu/college/honors-college/student-information/.
1. Honors Option Course Application & Procedure
Students who are formally admitted to the Honors College may earn Honors credit for an upper-level course in their major program of study by contracting with the professor for significant additional work of an independent character as a supplement to the standard requirements for the course.
2. Honors Independent Study Application
Honors Independent Study is a course of study initiated by an Honors student and carried out under the supervision of a member of the faculty with appropriate expertise.
3. Honors Thesis Application & Guidelines
Honors students in good academic standing in the Honors College may undertake thesis study in his or her major field of study or his or her declared minor. A student must have senior Honors standing to apply to undertake an Honors senior thesis.
4. Petition to Enroll in a Graduate Course for Undergraduate Honors Credit
Students who are formally admitted to the Honors College may petition to enroll in a graduate course for undergraduate Honors credit.
5. Petition to Substitute an Upper-Level Honors Course for a General Education Requirement
Students who are formally admitted to the Honors College may petition to substitute an upper-level honors course for a general education requirement.
Graduation Requirements
Graduate in University Honors
To graduate “In University Honors,” students must take at least twenty-four (24) hours of Honors coursework. Twelve or more of these hours must be upper-division (junior/senior level) work. Students should be enrolled in at least one Honors course each semester to progress toward graduation. Students earning “In University Honors” are required to complete Honors Senior Thesis credit hours in their major (or minor) area of study and must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA.
Diplomas and official transcripts of those fulfilling these requirements will bear the designation “University Honors Program.” All Honors courses are indicated as such on the student’s transcript.
Students earning the distinction “In University Honors” receive a certificate and gold medallion to wear at Commencement and at other university functions.
Graduate “In Honors”
To graduate “In Honors,” students must take at least eighteen (18) hours of Honors coursework. Nine or more of these hours must be upper division (junior/senior level) work. Students must also have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA. Transfer students may graduate in Honors by either meeting these requirements in full or, if entering with 36 or more hours completed, by taking fifteen (15) hours of upper division Honors work; they must also have at least a 3.50 GPA. Diplomas and official transcripts of those fulfilling these requirements will bear the designation “Honors Program.” All Honors courses are indicated as such on the student’s transcript. Students earning the distinction “In Honors” receive a certificate and silver medallion to wear at Commencement and at other university functions.
Honors Certificate
Students who do not graduate “In Honors” or “In University Honors” may earn an Honors Certificate. To earn an Honors Certificate students must complete a minimum of eighteen (18) credit hours of Honors coursework and maintain at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA
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