Since the Honors Program was created, in part, to give motivated and accomplished students more flexibility in designing an academic program, we try to avoid creating additional requirements. Instead, we aim to tailor the Honors Program to meet your needs. Here are the basics of our requirements:

A. 3.2 Grade Point Average.

You are expected to maintain a 3.2 grade point average throughout your academic career. Occasionally students dip below that and may petition for an extension to meet this requirement. At two points, however, the grade point average requirement is firm: at the end of your second year, when you apply for full membership in the Program (see Sophomore Honors Portfolio below); and at the end of your junior year, if you apply for senior thesis approval (see Senior Thesis below). In addition, students with tuition waivers must maintain this grade point average every semester.

B. 24 Credits of Honors Coursework

Most Honors students take an average of one Honors course a semester, but you have the flexibility to meet the 24-credit requirement in whatever way best suits your needs, so long as you complete at least 9 credits by the end of your second year at the University of North Dakota, if you entered the Program in your first semester. (Students who enter the Honors Program after the first year will have a portion of their Honors requirements waived, as recommended by their Honors advisor and approved by the Honors Committee.) Note, however, that to be eligible for early registration or to maintain a tuition waiver, you must register for an approved Honors course.

To fulfill this 24-credit requirement, you may take:

1. Inquiry classes. The Inquiry classes (in the social sciences, humanities, and sciences) are aimed primarily at beginning students, both to give them the exposure mentioned above and to introduce them to the style of learning that lies at the heart of the Honors Program. These courses allow you to hone writing skills, read broadly, discuss freely, forge independent ideas, and create friendships with like-minded students. We encourage first year students to take at least one inquiry class.

2. Honors sections. We offer Honors sections of several basic general education courses including Comp I, Comp II, American Government, Introduction to Psychology, and Biology Lab. These special sections have limited enrollment so you have more opportunities to explore your own ideas than in a typical section. Students generally take 3-9 credits in Honors sections, but there is no specific requirement.

3. Colloquia. Every semester at least 5-6 Honors colloquia are offered, including some from the social sciences, the sciences, and the humanities. Honors students often provide considerable input on the colloquia topics. Students are required to take at least 8 credits of colloquia; generally students average about a colloquium a semester during their sophomore and junior years. The colloquia are the academic heart of the Program; we take great pride in the range and quality of the courses we offer. If, however, your academic goals conflict with the colloquia requirement, other Honors credits may substitute for the colloquia credits, as recommended by your Honors advisor and approved by the Honors Committee.

4. Independent studies/Honors modes/senior thesis. Honors credits earned through approved independent projects also count towards fulfilling the 24-credit requirement. We strongly encourage you to take the initiative in identifying what you want to learn, and as you do so, we will work with you to see how you might accomplish your goals within UND. Honors has many opportunities for independent and interdisciplinary studies including the 1 credit Honors Mode option which permits you to develop a independent project within a regular course offering.

C. General Education Requirements Substitution

For students who graduate through Honors, Honors Program coursework takes the place of University General Education Requirements; the GERs are, therefore, replaced by Honors Program requirements--but only for students who complete all Honors Program requirements including the senior thesis. (Any GER courses, however, that are required as part of your major are not waived. For example, if the History major calls for American Government, you must still take American Government.)

What this means is that you have a freer hand in deciding what courses you want to take beyond the requirements of your major. In place of the GERs, we determine an individual program of study that includes exposure to the thinking and methodology of the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Since all of our courses are, to a greater or lesser extent, interdisciplinary, this exposure can occur within colloquia or other courses.

Note: If you decide not to continue in the Honors Program through graduation, the University GERs kick back into place. Honors coursework will, however, count towards fulfilling GERs for most students.

D. Sophomore Honors Portfolio

By the end of the sophomore year (or as soon as they have completed 9 Honors credits), students submit a Sophomore Honors Portfolio consisting of 2-3 samples of work to date and a brief personal essay. No credit is given for this portfolio unless you wish to write a new paper or substantially revise a previous work, in which case you may sign up for the 1 credit Sophomore Honors Essay course that will help you prepare your work for submission. Guidelines are available on how to go about preparing a Sophomore Honors Portfolio. Basically, the Portfolio gives both you and the Program a chance to reflect on your educational experiences up to that time and determine a plan for the rest of your academic career.

E. Honors Thesis

The capstone project of the Honors Program, the thesis is usually undertaken in the senior year. Students work on a lengthy independent project of their own choosing--but with lots of support from a faculty committee and, often, other students as well. Although they sometimes approach the thesis with some trepidation, most Honors graduates look back on this accomplishment as the most valued experience of their academic career. Students take 9 credits of Honors thesis.

    Through these options, students generally can fulfill their 24 credit requirement with no difficulty, often by using an Honors course to fulfill a major requirement at the same time. In fact, many of our students choose to take far more than 24 credits. Again, we put the emphasis on meeting your interests and goals, assuming that they match the objectives of the Honors Program, rather than simply checking off a list of requirements.