Accelerated Honors Program

The Accelerated Honors Program (minimum 19 credit hours) is designed for students who enter the Honors College with 30 or more completed credit hours. The program includes a primary emphasis upon the completion of major requirements and the production of a final distinction project in six or fewer semesters. Students must complete the following requirements:

Accelerated Honors Program Requirements

Completion of One of the Following Honors Elements

All first-time in college students, regardless of class standing, must complete UHC 110 - Freshman Honors Seminar . This course satisfies the University’s First-Year Foundations General Education requirement and must be completed during the first semester of study;
Transfer students and MSU students admitted to the Honors College after completing GEP 101 - First-Year Foundations must complete one General Honors course or one Honors Experiential Learning course of their choice (see General Honors Program Section A above).

Students must complete a minimum of 12 hours of honors course work in their major

including a minimum of 3 hours of UHC 499 - Honors Distinction Project . Students may propose appropriate combinations of the following courses:

Note:

Students must complete a course and distinction project proposal under the guidance of a faculty member in their major department. The proposal must be approved by the Department Head for the major and by the Director of the Honors College before a student may register for honors course sections. Distinction proposals must be approved prior to the beginning of a student’s senior year.

The Honors Distinction Project must be submitted to the Honors College on the final day of classes prior to a student’s graduation.

Students who complete all Accelerated Honors Program requirements and earn a final institutional GPA of 3.25or higher are eligible to graduate from the Honors College after they satisfy all other University degree requirements. Final transcripts and diplomas will include the notation “Bachelor of _______ (with possible grade point honors such as cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) in the Honors College with Distinction in ______.”

Additional Requirements and Regulations

In order to remain in good standing in the program, a student must maintain a 3.25 cumulative institutional GPA or higher and enroll in 12 or more credit hours per semester. Members should normally carry no more than two honors classes in any one semester and must take at least one honors class each semester until they have completed the General Honors Core Curriculum. Students who complete the General Honors Core Curriculum maintain good standing in the program by maintaining a 3.25 cumulative institutional GPA.
The Director of the Honors College will review the academic progress of all students at the end of each semester. Students who do not achieve the required 3.25 cumulative institutional GPA will be given one semester to achieve that level, provided it is mathematically possible. Students who cannot achieve a 3.25cumulative institutional GPA or who fail to reach a 3.25 for two consecutive semesters will be ineligible to continue in the program. Students who are removed from the program may apply for readmission after one semester if their academic performance satisfies program requirements. Students who are removed from the program a second time are not eligible for readmission.
Advanced Placement, CLEP, Dual Credit, and International Baccalaureate credits are available in some departments of the University. These credits and courses will not carry honors designations or satisfy Honors College program requirements.
Honors courses may not be taken on a Pass/Not Pass or Audit basis.
In certain departments it may not be practical to offer a separate honors section or honors course due to low student demand. In such cases an Honors Component of one credit hour can be added to a regular course or section to recognize honors work. Students should consult with a professor of the department who specializes in the subject and with the professor’s consent present a written proposal to the department head and the Honors College for final approval. Proposals should be presented for approval before final registration for the term in which the component is to be done. Only one approved Honors Component may be taken in any semester.
Students who are not members of the Honors College may be allowed to enroll in honors courses on a space available basis provided they have both a 3.50 cumulative GPA and permission of the Director of the Honors College.