Honors Program Admission

Admission to the Honors Program is available to incoming freshmen with strong records of academic achievement in high school. Specific admission requirements include:

  1. A composite ACT score of 24 or SAT score of 1650 or higher;

OR

  1. A cumulative high school GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4-point scale) and a ranking in the high school class in the top quintile (20th percentile).

Honors Requirements

To graduate from the Honors Program, students must complete the requirements below with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all honors courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher for all courses.

  1. Honors Orientation

    Honors Orientation (HP 101) is a 2 credit-hour course that introduces students to the College and the Honors Program, emphasizing the skills required for success in the program, interaction with faculty and students in the program, and participation in activities that promote leadership, high intellectual standards, and social involvement.  The course satisfies the graduation requirement of COLL 101 and is taken in the first semester of an incoming student’s first year.  This course requirement is waived for transfer students with an Associate’s Degree (GPA > 3.5) or who have completed at least one year in good standing in the Honors Program of another college or university at the time of transfer.

  2. Honors Courses

    Students in the Honors Program must complete at least 12 credit hours of honors courses (four courses @ 3 credit hours each).  Honors courses address historically important topics from an interdisciplinary perspective.  Most honors courses satisfy General Studies Program requirements.

  3. To Graduate with “Distinction” from the Honors Program, students must complete the following:

    Mentored Scholarship Project

    Honors Students wishing to graduate with distinction must engage in a genuine scholarly or creative endeavor in collaboration with a faculty member willing to support the student’s efforts.  Generally, these will be completed in the senior year, and will include 3 credit hours of independent study in the topic of choice.  The credit hours may be divided among two semesters if appropriate to the project.  The scholarly project is not limited by academic discipline or by the form of the intellectual product expected at the termination of the project.  No later than in their junior year, Honors Students should consult faculty with whom they have an interest in working to develop a plan for the scholarly experience.  Prior to beginning the study, the project plan must be approved by the Director of the Honors Program.  Students should contact the Director for more information, including specific guidelines, examples of past projects, and advice on designing projects.

Todd Earl rep photo
Todd Earl
Director of Admissions
402-872-2313
tearl@peru.edu