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Honors Info for Incoming Freshmen
Welcome to Honors! Our goal in Honors is to help you achieve your goals, whether they include graduate school, professional school, or an excellent job. Honors students enjoy the benefits of smaller, more discussion-based classes; one-on-one work with professors; and the opportunity to associate with other ambitious, high-ability students. We're looking for students who want to go the extra mile, and who are curious and eager to learn about the world around them.
During your first two years in the Honors Program, you will take courses toward the first portion of an Honors degree, called "Honors in University Studies." A student earns Honors in University Studies by taking 12 credits of Honors general education courses and seminars. There are options for our students who have already completed their general education requirements. Speak with your Honors advisor about this during your SOAR advising appointment.
Honors Connections
Honors Connections takes place before classes start in August. Honors Connections is designed to help you hit the ground running for your first semester of college, and make the transition from being a high-ability high school student to a successful Honors student. Read more about Honors Connections.
Honors Breadth Course
Once you have been accepted into the Honors program, you will register for an Honors breadth course for fall semester. These lower-division Honors courses will help you meet your general education requirements at USU. Please note that the majority of Honors breadth courses are only offered in the fall semester, and taking an Honors breadth course your first semester is key to really getting a "feel" for Honors.
Continuing on the Pathway
Second Year
During your second year as an Honors student, you will have the opportunity to take an Honors section of English 2010, as well as one or more of your depth courses. By the end of your second year, you should have earned at least 12 hours of Honors credit.
Departmental Honors
Once you enter 3000-level coursework within your major, you will begin work on the second portion of an Honors degree, called "Departmental Honors." For Departmental Honors, instead of taking Honors-only courses, you will contract one-on-one with the professors of a few of your regular courses. The culmination of your work and research as an Honors student and a key element in your graduation portfolio is the senior thesis. Several majors, including all those in engineering, already require a senior project, which can expand into your Honors thesis. For those who undertake research in their major or an internship, these projects can also be easily converted into an Honors thesis. Learn more by visiting the Departmental Honors link to the left.