Honors College

The Honors College at Auburn University offers a select cohort of high-ability students a unique academic experience designed to provide many of the advantages of a small college in addition to the myriad opportunities available at a large and diverse research university. Because of their academic potential, Honors College students have access to a more academically challenging set of courses and programs. Due to their rigorous Honors-level courses, access to graduate courses, specialized advising, and regular exposure to diverse social and co-curricular programs, Honors College students have closer connections to faculty and with other students, providing a sense of community and identity within the larger university context.

Eligibility

Students may gain admission to the Honors College as an entering freshman based on ACT/SAT scores (29 or SAT equivalent targeted minimum), high school GPA (3.85 minimum), an application essay, and a record of leadership and service. Students already enrolled at Auburn having a 3.4 cumulative, unadjusted GPA may also be considered for admission.

Curriculum

The Honors curriculum provides Honors College students the opportunity for challenging scholarly courses across the university and within their disciplines, culminating in a sustained, in-depth experience in their major fields of study. 

The four Honors College graduation distinctions, University Honors Scholar, University Honors Research Scholar, Honors Scholar, and Honors Research Scholar, are conferred at the time of graduation and printed on students’ diplomas and transcripts. 

University Honors Scholar

To earn the designation University Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of:

• 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses, AND
• 6 hours of coursework identified as Signature Impact Experiences

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.4 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

University Honors Research Scholar

To earn the designation University Honors Research Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of:

• 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses; 1 hour of which must be “Honors Lyceum: Research at Auburn”
• 3 hours of Honors Research Methods
• 6 hours of Honors Seminars
• 6 hours of designated Honors Research Seminars
• 6 hours of coursework identified as Signature Impact Experiences

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.4 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

OR

Honors Scholar

To earn the designation Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of Honors College coursework, including a minimum of:

• 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

-OR-

To earn the designation Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 7 hours of Honors coursework, including:

• 6 hours of Honors Research/Honors Thesis/Honors Special Topics or 6 hours of graduate level courses in the major field of study at the 6000 or 7000 level, AND
• 1 hour of an Honors Participation course

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

Honors Research Scholar

To earn the designation University Honors Research Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of:

• 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses; 1 hour of which must be “Honors Lyceum: Research at Auburn”
• 3 hours of Honors Research Methods
• 6 hours of Honors Seminars
• 6 hours of designated Honors Research Seminars

Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

Honors Course Options

The Honors College curriculum is designed to give students flexibility with their choice of Honors courses in order to fulfill their diverse goals, needs, and interests.  The Honors College offers students course work that fall into the following general areas:

Honors Academic Courses

• Honors University Core courses
• Honors Departmental courses
• Honors Study and Travel courses (maximum of 1)
• Honors Seminars (maximum of 2)
• Honors Research Methods courses (maximum of 2)
• Honors Research Seminar (maximum of 2)
• Honors Contract courses

Honors Participation Courses

• Honors Freshmen Exploration (one-time enrollment as a first-year student)
• Honors Lyceum (maximum of 2)
• Honors Book Club (maximum of 2)               
• Honors Forum (maximum of 3)

Honors Signature Impact Experiences

• Honors Research
• Honors Thesis
• Honors Special Topics
• Honors Contract courses in the major field of study at the 4000-5000 level
• Graduate-level courses in the major field of study (maximum of 12 hours)

Honors Business Minor

The Honors Business minor is 15 hours consisting of five 3-hour courses: four required courses (12 hours) and one elective course (3 hours). Four of the five courses must be taken at the honors level to successfully complete the minor. The minor is limited to students in the Honors College.

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses:
ACCT 2110/2117	Principles of Financial Accounting *	3
FINC 3610/3617	Principles of Business Finance	3
MNGT 3100/3107	Principles of Management	3
MKTG 3310/3317	Principles of Marketing	3
Elective Courses (choose one):
BUSI 3250/3257	International Business	3
ECON 2030/2037	Principles of Macroeconomics	3

*	Students completing this minor in the College of Business summer abroad program will satisfy the Accounting requirement with ACCT 2817: Honors Fundamentals of Accounting.

Policies

A grade of “C” or better in Honors courses is required to earn Honors College credit.

In order to remain in good standing as a member of the Honors College, students must meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors curriculum. Satisfactory progress is defined by attaining the following minimums by the end of the specified academic year:
   • First year                  7 Honors hours
   • Second year           14 Honors hours
   • Third year                 21 Honors hours
2. First-year students must attain a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA and second, third, and fourth-year students must maintain a minimum of 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA. A student whose GPA falls below the minimum is give one semester to correct the deficiency or be suspended from the Honors College.
3. All first-year students in the Honors College must meet with an Honors academic advisor in both fall and spring semesters and submit a Plan of Study prior to registration for spring courses. Any changes to the Plan of Study should be done at a meeting with an Honors College advisor.
4. Second, third, and fourth-year students must meet with an Honors academic advisor at least once a year to ensure retention and understanding of the program and to confirm progress being made toward the completion of the Honors requirements.
5. Students who do not successfully maintain good standing (Honors course progression, GPA, meeting at least once a year with their Honors advisor, and/or submission of the Plan of Study) will be suspended from the Honors College. Students may be reinstated upon attaining the minimum GPA and/or providing the Honors College with an updated Plan of Study for Honors courses. It is the student's responsibility to notify the College when good standing has been attained.
6. Any scholarships awarded by the Honors College are contingent upon maintaining membership in good standing in the Honors College. Suspension from the Honors College will result in a loss of Honors scholarship funding.

Honors College Graduation Distinctions

After completing the requirements of the Honors College curriculum, students graduate with a special designation that is noted on their diploma and transcript.

• To graduate as a University Honors Scholar or University Honors Research Scholar, students must complete all of the requirements for those designations, the requirements for their disciplines, and have a minimum cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA of 3.4.
• To graduate as an Honors Scholar or Honors Research Scholar, students must complete all of the requirements for those designations, the requirements for their discipline, and have a minimum cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA of 3.2.