Selection for Honors Program

The Honors Program is looking for:

  1. Current BSU students who have a grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 or higher, with at least 15 credits;
  2. Transfer students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, with at least 15 credits; and/or
  3. High school seniors who have a GPA of 3.3 and an SAT score of 1100. Students must be highly recommended by at least two academic instructors. Students also are given credit for Advanced Placement courses.

General Requirements

Students entering the program as freshmen and sophomores are required to take at least 24 credits of honors general education courses. Upper-level students entering the program (juniors or seniors still requiring more than 30 credits to graduate) shall complete 12 credits in honors, selecting the courses from their major or using an honors contract to earn credits in electives. A grade of B or better is mandatory in courses in which honors credit is claimed.

Freshmen and sophomores in the program are required to complete honors general education courses in areas where they are offered. Freshmen selected for the program are required to take honors core courses unless placement tests militate against the enrollment. All students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.3 to stay in the program as well as maintain their scholarships.

Academic Requirements

Students must take 24 honors credits to have "Honors Scholar" indicated on their transcripts. Most of these credits should be completed in the freshman and sophomore years through general education requirements.

Upper-level students entering the program (as juniors, or seniors still requiring more than 30 credits to graduate) shall complete 12 credits in honors, selecting courses in their major or using an honors contract to earn credits in electives. A grade of B or better is mandatory in courses in which honors credit is claimed. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.3 and fulfill all other requirements of the program to graduate with "Honors Scholar" on their transcripts.

Other Requirements

  • Perform 150 hours of documented community service, OR complete two director-approved service projects, one of which must have been adopted by the Honors Program
  • Write and defend an honors thesis in their major
  • Take at least one graduate or professional school examination
  • Attend honors activities, such as Presidential and Honors lectures series, the Honors Induction Ceremony, all convocations, and meetings of the Honors Student Organization

Honors Learning Goals

Our students have diverse skills, interests, and aspirations, and as a program, we attempt to accommodate this diversity as much as possible. We understand learning goals as descriptive rather than prescriptive markers that guide our effort to realize the highest and broadest possible level of education, personal growth, and achievement for our outstanding students. As a whole, the Honors Program at BSU advocates:

  • interdisciplinary education
  • interactive, discussion-oriented inquiry
  • personal as well as collaborative learning through individual and group work
  • research and creativity
  • excellent oral and writing skills
  • willingness to explore new areas of knowledge
  • innovative methods of learning (different, not more, work)
  • close faculty-student collaboration