Honors

Allow me to be the latest in a long line of well-wishers congratulating you on your fine academic record and upcoming entrance to Brigham Young University. This website contains information that could make your experience at BYU much more exciting and enriching than you--in these heady days of graduation or preparing to transfer to a new school--might otherwise anticipate.

I am referring, of course, to this invitation to participate in the Honors Program. Perhaps you already know something about Honors at BYU; maybe a sibling, or a parent, took Honors courses or graduated with University Honors. If you are new to the Honors concept, I invite you to browse our website, which describes the goals and requirements of Honors at BYU. Also, let me dispel a few myths that may find their way into your first days at BYU:

 

• Myth #1: Honors courses are harder than others. Honors classes are, by definition, smaller than regular classes, so you are more likely to be called upon to participate, asked to share your thoughts or ideas, and interact with the professor. On average, students report that they get better grades in Honors courses than in their non-Honors courses.
• Myth #2: Honors students are bookworms. One of the goals of Honors is to ensure a well-rounded liberal arts education in the midst of a large university full of narrow specialized majors. Because of their commitment to an enriched education, Honors students tend to be tolerant, well-read, and possess eclectic interests.
• Myth #3: Honors graduation requires lots of extra work. Actually, since Honors courses count towards General Education requirements, and many majors require a senior thesis anyway, graduating with Honors is not as much extra work as you may think. Rather, Honors is a way to satisfy general university requirements and enjoy studying with some of the best BYU professors at the same time.

 

If you are serious about learning and squeezing the most from your BYU undergraduate experience, I invite you to seriously consider taking advantage of at least one of the following opportunities:

• Late Summer Honors: This one-week program allows you to earn your first Honors course credit under the stimulating guidance of some of BYU's finest professors, enjoy exciting out-of-class activities and familiarize yourself with campus before fall semester begins.
• Honors NSO: Honors activities during New Student Orientation will give you a chance to meet other like-minded students and to help acquaint you with the Honors Program.
• Freshman Academy Honors Envelopes: Consider signing up for an Honors envelope or supplementing your schedule with Honors elective courses. For a downloadable brochure on how Freshman Academy integrates with the Honors Program, click here.
• Honors Housing: This optional arrangement groups Honors students in on-campus housing.
• The Honors Experience: This first block, one credit orientation course (Honrs 100) is designed to introduce you to one of our best professors and a small class of fellow Honors students while you read and discuss secular and spiritual texts.

If you are still wondering about whether or not you wish to graduate with University Honors, don't feel pressure to commit now, but do consider one of the other upcoming Honors experiences. As someone who entered BYU as an Honors student myself, I speak from personal experience when I say that Honors can make all the difference between a generic, mass education and one that is personal, tailored and rewarding. Give Honors a try; we'll do our best to expand your mind, strengthen your faith, and help you make the most of the next significant learning phase of your life.

Best wishes,

Madison U. Sowell
Associate Dean, Undergraduate Education
Honors Program Director