University Honors
John R. Vile, Dean
Philip E. Phillips, Associate Dean
The Honors College curriculum is designed with the needs of the superior student in mind. It is a university-wide program, leading to a University Honors minor or an Honors Associate minor in a major of the student’s choice. Emphasis is placed on small classes, excellent instruction, and interaction between students and professors.
The University Honors College is housed in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, a facility designed to provide a sense of community among high-achieving students.
Entering freshmen are eligible to participate in the Honors College if they have a minimum high school GPA of 3.50 and a 25 composite score on the ACT or SAT 1200. Returning MTSU and transfer students with 12 or more hours and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or greater may enroll in honors classes.
Participation in the MTSU Honors College does not afford students an automatic waiver of out-of-state tuition.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate from the University Honors College, a student must
- complete a minimum of 15 hours of any level honors coursework or approved substitutions;
- complete the following 8 hours of upper-division honors coursework:
- 1 hour, UH 3000 - University Honors Lecture Series , UH 3200 - Visiting Artist’s Seminar , or ENGL 3635 - Creative Writing Event Series ;
- 3 hours, Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar (UH 3500 , approved study abroad, internship or research hours substitution, UH 3900 , UH 4010 or UNIV 4010 );
- 1 hour, UH 4900 - Honors Thesis Tutorial (Astronomy or Physics majors take ASTR 4850 or PHYS 4850 - approval required);
- 3 hours, UH 4950 - Honors Independent Research or Creative Project (Astronomy or Physics majors take ASTR 4900 or PHYS 4900 - approval required);
- have a minimum 3.25 overall GPA;
- file an Intent to Graduate form no later than the beginning of the semester of graduation.
Recognition
Students who graduate from the University Honors College
- can request a certificate upon completion of 15 hours of any level honors coursework;
- have all honors coursework designated on their transcripts;
- have “University Honors College graduate” designated on the official transcript and diploma;
- wear special academic regalia at graduation.
Students who lack the 12 honors hours (any level) may earn the Honors Associate minor if they
- have at least three semesters left before graduation;
- receive approval from an Honors College advisor;
- complete the following 11 hours of honors coursework:
- a minimum of 3 hours of any level honors section or honors upper-division contract (or approved study abroad, internship, or research substitution);
- 1 hour, UH 3000 - University Honors Lecture Series , UH 3200 - Visiting Artist’s Seminar , or ENGL 3635 - Creative Writing Event Series ;
- 3 hours, Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar (UH 3500 , approved study abroad, internship, or research substitution, UH 3900 , UH 4010 or UNIV 4010 );
- 1 hour, UH 4900 - Honors Thesis Tutorial (Astronomy or Physics majors take ASTR 4850 or PHYS 4850 - approval required);
- 3 hours, UH 4950 - Honors Independent Research or Creative Project (Astronomy or Physics majors take ASTR 4900 or PHYS 4900 - approval required);
- have a minimum overall 3.25 GPA.
Upon completing the honors thesis, an engraved University Honors College medallion is awarded. Honors Associates will not receive the designation “Graduated from the University Honors College” on their transcript and diploma. However, completing an honors thesis can make students more competitive when applying to graduate or professional schools.
Students who intend to complete the requirements to graduate through the University Honors College will add the University Honors Minor (23 hours) to their overall degree requirements. Students who intend to complete an Honors Associate option will add the Honors Associate Minor (15 hours).
Students who receive the Buchanan, Buchanan Transfer Fellow, or special Honors College four-year scholarships will have the applicable honors minor added to their program of study at the point of entry into the Honors College. Other students will add the University Honors Minor (or the Honors Associate Minor) when they enroll in an upper-division honors course (such as UH 3000, 3200, 3500, 4010, or 4900). The Honors College will send a list of names to the Records office for the honors minor to be added to their program of study.
Additional minors or hours may be needed to fulfill university graduation requirements. Students must consult their major advisors. Students choosing to complete an honors minor must meet with an Honors College advisor to complete the honors upper-division form for their appropriate honors minor and to obtain a signature from the Honors College.
Departmental or School Honors Offerings
Honors sections are offered in the following schools or departments:
| Accounting |
Management |
| Aerospace |
Marketing |
| Agriculture |
Mathematical Sciences |
| Art and Design |
Media Arts |
| Biology |
Music |
| Chemistry |
Philosophy and Religious Studies |
| Communication Studies |
Physics and Astronomy |
| Criminal Justice Administration |
Political and Global Affairs |
| Economics and Finance |
Psychology |
| English |
Recording Industry |
| Health and Human Performance |
Sociology and Anthropology |
| History |
Theatre and Dance |
| Human Sciences |
University Studies |
| Journalism and Strategic Media |
World Languages, Literatures, and Culture |
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Honors students may receive a limited number of Honors credit in non-Honors courses under special circumstances (see Honors).
Publications
The Honors College publishes an annual honors news magazine, Areté; Collage, an arts and literary magazine that accepts poetry, short stories, short plays, song lyrics, photography, art, video and film, and audio; and Scientia et Humanitas, an undergraduate and graduate research journal that accepts essays in natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
Scholarships
The Honors College offers Buchanan Fellowships to 20 incoming freshmen a year, Honors Buchanan Transfer Fellowships to 30 incoming transfer students a year, and additional achievement scholarships to MTSU undergraduates who have distinguished themselves in Honors courses. Other academic and study abroad scholarships are open to active Honors students.
Study Abroad, Internships, and Research Credits
The Honors College offers Honors Signature Programs away and abroad as well as support for a variety of additional study abroad opportunities. Students wishing to receive honors credit must complete an Honors Study Abroad Intent form and meet with representatives of the MTSU Education Abroad Office and the Honors College advisor prior to the trip. A maximum of 9 hours from approved study abroad programs can be applied toward honors minor requirements.
Students may request to use internship and/or research credits towards the honors minor requirements. Internships and/or research must count for college credit and appear on the official MTSU transcript in order to substitute for honors requirements. Students must request approval prior to the start of the internship by submitting an Internship and/or Research Credit Substitution Request form to an Honors College advisor.
Once final grades have been submitted, the credits will be evaluated by an Honors College advisor to determine how the credits will be applied toward the honors minor. A maximum of six hours will substitute for honors requirements.
Undergraduate Fellowships Office
The Undergraduate Fellowships Office strives to offer assistance to MTSU students applying for national and international awards, scholarships, grants, and more. The office identifies and promotes academic and scientific scholarships that allow students to further study in their future, respected careers. The Undergraduate Fellowships Office has had students receive numerous scholarships, including Gates Cambridge, Fulbright, Goldwater, Gilman, Critical Language Scholarship, Phi Kappa Phi, and Udall, as well as finalists for the Marshall Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship, and Truman Scholarship. See http://honors.mtsu.edu/ufo/ for more information.
Non-Degree
