Overview
The Brigham Young University Honors Program complements the University’s expansive educational agenda by providing the benefits of a small liberal arts learning community to all interested students. These benefits include offering small classes with high-quality teaching and learning that challenge students to reach their highest potential; fostering a spirit of ongoing inquiry that includes undergraduate research in a mentored environment; and underscoring the importance of combining personal excellence, faithful discipleship, and meaningful service.
The Honors Program invites all BYU students who possess an unquenchable thirst for knowledge to enjoy any or all program activities.
Requirements Summary
- Enroll in the Honors Program
- Fill out an enrollment form
- Attend an orientation with an advisor in 102A MSRB
- Complete the Honors curriculum requirement.
- 22 total Honors credits, at least 10 HONRS credits
- Transfer and late joining students (see transfer/late joining students page)
- Complete the Honors Great Works requirement.
Record experiences (12/16) and write responses (2) for each of the following categories and submit them with your portfolio.- Science & Technology
- Literature
- Film
- Music & Dance
- Film
- Art
- Complete the Honors advanced languages requirement (math & foreign language)
- Math: Choose one of the following classes (Honrs 250; Math 112(H), 113(H), 119; Stat 221(H); Phil 305(H); Pl Sc 328; or Psych 301)
- Foreign language: complete the prerequisite courses for a 200- level course (usually 2 semesters)
- Complete the Honors service requirement
- Complete the Honors thesis requirement
- Attend Thesis Orientation (junior year)
- Submit Honors Thesis Proposal (junior year)
- Submit one copy of Honors Thesis final draft
- Complete Thesis Defense (last semester)
- Submit a pdf file and four final thesis copies and for binding (month before graduation)
- Graduate with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5
- Submit a graduation portfolio that summarizes the student’s Honors experiences
- Summary of undergraduate experience (1 paragraph per semester)
- Evaluation of service experience (1 page)
- Current Transcript (Record Summary)
- List of 3 faculty familiar with your academic work
- Collection of samples of academic work (papers, exams, etc.)
- List of 72 Great Works Completed (Great Works log)
- 12 or 10 Great Works response papers
Enrollment
Students may commit to graduate with University Honors at any time during their undergraduate years by completing a form available at the Honors Advisement Center (102A MSRB). Students who are entering BYU this year should plan to attend our orientation meeting during New Student Orientation or contact our advisement center if they'd like to find out more about how to commit to graduate with University Honors (honors@byu.edu). We request that students attend an orientation meeting, then enroll in the program in person once they arrive on campus. Students can attend an orientation with an advisor in the Honors Advisement Center at any time in order to join the program.
Students who have formally committed to graduate with University Honors have certain privileges, among them the opportunity to pre-register for honors courses in future semesters and to receive reduced-rate admission to certain musical and theatre performances and films.
To keep the commitment current, students are encouraged to enroll in at least one Honors course per semester for the first two years in the program and consult with an Honors Advisement Center representative once each semester. Consultation with the advisement center allows the Honors Program to know your plans, help you register for the correct classes, and keep you informed of Honors activities. Advisors can also help students prepare Honors Progress Reports, which make students eligible for the full benefits of the program and summarize the students' remaining Honors requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Remember, if you can't find the answer here, call our Honors Advisement Center at 422-5497 or email them at honors@byu.edu.
Isn't Honors mainly for students majoring in the humanities and the fine arts?
No. About forty percent of Honors students major in the sciences and engineering. Honors is for any student who wishes to pursue an enriched education and to seek learning beyond a narrow specialty. Honors students are found in every college in the University. Many of the best Honors students choose the most demanding professional and pre-professional majors, yet they are linked by a common desire for a superior university experience.
Will Honors classes make it harder to maintain a high GPA?
No. Honors Program classes ("Honrs" type) are not graded on a curve. Honors classes are typically stimulating, demanding, and fulfilling, and if you respond to the challenge, your grades in these classes will probably be higher, not lower. Departmental Honors courses usually offer a similar experience.
Should I wait a semester or two and get used to college before I register for Honors courses?
No. Honors courses are designed to help you make the most of your college experience: you will want to take Honors courses as soon as possible. We recommend you register for at least one Honors course each semester for the first two years and complete the Honors First-Year Writing requirement within the first two semesters. As you begin your college career, counseling provided by the Honors Advisement Center will help you plan efficiently.
Will it take me longer to graduate with University Honors?
Not generally. Since most Honors courses also fulfill BYU General Education requirements, you do not need to take extra classes in order to graduate with Honors. It is true, though, that requirements for some majors are so demanding that it is difficult to fit everything into eight semesters; thus there is a need to plan carefully, and begin your Honors experience as soon as possible.
If I don't intend to graduate with University Honors, does it make sense to take Honors courses?
Yes! We encourage students to take Honors courses regardless of intention to graduate with University Honors. The important point is that you participate in the experience of Honors education.
What is the difference between "Honrs" and departmental Honors classes?
"Honrs" classes are classes offered through the Honors Program, whereas departmental Honors courses are Honors sections for courses taught in their respective departments. Professors often propose new creative and innovative classes to be taught through the Honors Program as "Honrs" courses; some of these are interdisciplinary with multiple teachers contributing to the experience.
What is the Honors Program policy on transferring honors credits from another university?
The Honors Program does not transfer individual Honors credits from another university. However, the number of Honors credits and Great Works experiences required are reduced according to the number of credits you have when you transfer to BYU. Contact the Honors Advisement Center or visit our website for more detailed information.
Transfer Students
Students who join the Honors program as a transfer student can have their curriculum and Great Works requirements considered for reduction. All other requirements remain the same (advanced math, foreign language, service, thesis, portfolio, etc.). Contact the Honors Advisement Center for more information.
Other questions you might have about transferring:
If I'm a transfer student, are the requirements different for graduating with honors?
An Honors advisor can consult with you to help tailor the program so it will be feasible to complete in the time you will be at BYU.
Do I have to take honors first-year writing?
As a transfer student, we realize that you have probably already taken a first-year writing course. We encourage you to take an Honors advanced writing course, if possible.
Do I have to have a certain GPA as a transfer student to join the program?
No--just as we let freshman in without reference to their GPA or ACT, we let any newly admitted transfer students commit to Honors graduation.
What honors courses should I take?
Transfer students usually have to take at least their advanced writing, advanced math, and religion courses. If you transferred without an associate's degree, you'll probably need to complete your civilization sequence as well. We have Honors options for all of these requirements, and you can take up to four credits of Honors religion courses and have them count towards your requirements. Plan carefully-you'll need to take the opportunity to fit in Honors courses wherever possible in order to complete your curriculum requirement in the time you'll be here.
We also encourage you to enroll in one of our Honors Experience (Honrs 100) courses. There are specifically designed sections for transfer students who are new to the Honors Program and these will be a great introduction to the Honors community.
What if I don't have any GE courses left?
Completing GE doesn't necessarily mean that you can't still take Honors courses. Many students equate their Honors courses with simply a way of fulfilling GE requirements, which is not the case. Although many of them will count for both, Honors is a way of enriching your educational experience. We would encourage you to use your Honors courses in this way. Since you won't feel you need to take specific types of courses to fulfill GE at the same time, you will be free to explore some topics that you may not have considered before.
You can also take up to three credits of non-GE Honors courses that can help you work on your Great Works and portfolio requirements. See the current class schedule for more information.