Who is eligible to join the Honors Program?

In judging applications, the Honors Program considers the student's high school academic record (including grades and courses taken), standardized test scores, extracurricular activities and leadership record, and writing ability (as demonstrated in a brief essay on one of several assigned topics). Normally a high school grade point average of 3.50 or higher is required, as well as an ACT composite score of 27 or above, or SAT composite of 1200 or above.

Will I automatically be admitted to the Honors Program if I'm accepted by BGSU and meet Honors admission criteria?

No. Acceptance into the Honors Program is not automatic. You must submit an Honors application. The Honors Program routinely sends applications to students accepted to BGSU who meet admission criteria. The application deadline is May 1 of each year, but the Program offers rolling admission prior to this deadline. If you submit your application at an earlier date, you will be notified of your status within a few weeks of our receipt of your application. If you haven't received an application and would like to receive one, simply contact the Honors Program, and give us your name and address.

Should I schedule a personal interview with a member of the Honors staff prior to submitting my application?

Such an interview isn't required for admission to the Program. However, if you're interested in the Program and would like to find out more about it, we encourage you to visit campus after scheduling an appointment with a member of our staff. If you visit us during the academic year, we can arrange for you to sit in on Honors classes in which you're interested. The Admissions Office offers daily tours of campus throughout the year.

How many students are in the Program?

There are approximately 800 students in the Program (out of a total undergraduate population of 17,000). Approximately 250 first-year students enter the program each year.

What are Honors courses like?

Except in rare cases, enrollment in Honors courses is limited to 25 students. Honors classes typically involve more discussion and less lecturing/note-taking, more critical and analytical thinking and less simple memorization, and more writing and less objective testing than regular classes. The six general aims of the Honors Program are to promote student's abilities to recognize and draw interdisciplinary connections, to engage in critical thinking, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to promote student self-confidence and intellectual independence, to enhance students' abilities to work collaboratively with others and to enhance students' multicultural and international awareness. Through its Service Learning Program, the Program also encourages Honors students to become better citizens and more active and responsiblemembers of their communities.

Must I take extra courses to be in the Honors Program?

No. Most Honors courses can be used to meet either the BG Perspective Core Curriculum requirements which apply to all students at the University, the Group Requirements which apply to students in the College of Arts and Sciences, or both. Although HNRS 201 and A&S 250H are required by the Honors Program, they are also BG Perspective classes.

What criteria must I meet in order to remain in the Honors Program?

You must complete a minimum of 15 graded semester hours of Honors coursework by the end of your fourth semester in the program. You must also maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average and attend three co-curricular events annually.

Will my GPA be lowered by my participation in the Honors Program?

Not likely. Because Honors students are typically bright, mature, and well-motivated-- and because the environment in Honors classes is especially conducive to learning-- Honors students tend to make higher grades in their Honors classes. Each year over 90% of first-year Honors students earn a 3.0 GPA or higher. The average first-year Honors student earns a GPA of 3.5 in his/her Honors classes-- and an identical 3.5 in her/his non-Honors classes.

What academic honors may be earned by Honors students at graduation?

BGSU Honors students are able to graduate with three kinds of Honors: departmental honors (which are awarded by individual departments to their outstanding graduates); "Latin" honors such as cum laude and magna cum laude (which are based strictly on a formula emphasizing grade point average); and University Honors (which are awarded by the Honors Program). The primary requirements for Graduation with University Honors are a University grade point average of 3.5 or above, a minimum 23 hours of Honors coursework in a range of fields (including at least one Honors seminar), and the completion of an Honors Project. Each year, a number of BGSU Honors students are also initiated into distinguished academic fraternities, including Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Golden Key Honor Society.

Are Honors courses more difficult than non-Honors courses?

Honors courses tend to require more writing, thinking and class participation than non-Honors courses. However, most Honors students come to appreciate and enjoy the special challenges posed by Honors courses--and take as many Honors courses as they can.

What enrichment activities are offered by the Honors Program?

The Honors Program offers a wide range of enlightenment activities, including guest speakers, a Service Learning Program, discussions led by Honors faculty, informal reading groups, special programs of personal interest to students, a cultural conversation program featuring students from other countries, and excursions off-campus to museums, musical and theatrical productions, and other sites and events. All events are open to the entire campus community.

What are Honors faculty like?

Though they have very different personalities and academic interests, Honors faculty all enjoy working with bright and well-motivated students, prefer interactive teaching methods to traditional lecturing, and enjoy conveying the excitement of intellectual discovery to their students. Over 70 different faculty offer Honors courses each semester.

Do I have to take all Honors courses?

No. Most Honors students take a mixture of Honors and non-Honors courses each semester.

Is there an education (study-abroad) Program for Honors students?

The Honors Program sponsors education program with the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England, a university with special strengths in the humanities and social sciences. BGSU's Honors students also participate in other study-abroad programs, which carry them to countries around the world.

What other benefits are available to Honors students?

Honors students receive priority scheduling for both their Honors and non-Honors classes. Honors students have special critical thinking labs available for use when they are enrolled in HNRS 201: Intro to Critical Thinking. They also have access to academic advising every day in the Honors office, a place where students are warmly welcomed and encouraged to feel at home. Honors students receive the personal attention and enjoy the sense of community which are normally available only at small liberal arts colleges. For many students, these benefits ease the process of adjustment to college life.

Is there a student organization for Honors students?

Yes. The Honors Student Association (HSA) is one of the largest student organizations on the BGSU campus. Led by an elected Roundtable, it offers Honors students informative programs, social events, and leadership and service opportunities. Honors students are also involved as Ambassadors, Peer Facilitators, Resident Assistants, and leaders within a variety of campus and community organizations.

Is special housing available for Honors students?

Yes, the Honors Community, located in the Harshman Quadrangle, is designated as Honors housing. Reserved for Honors students and their non-Honors roommates, Honors housing offers students a strong sense of community; regular opportunities for fun, relaxation and socializing; special programs of interest to students; and an environment in which the need to study is appreciated. The mission of the Honors Community is to create a seamless educational environment that supports the goals of the University Honors Program.

Will having been in the Honors Program benefit me after graduation?

Honors students have access to special educational opportunities designed to foster their long-term intellectual and personal growth. Their participation in the Honors Program is also likely to enhance their postgraduate job prospects and/or application to graduate and professional schools.