Honors Program

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Honors courses are open to students formally admitted to the University Honors Program. Designed for talented and motivated students, the Honors curriculum complements both the Liberal Arts Core and the student’s major curriculum. Honors sections of many LAC courses such as LANG 120, Humanities and ARTS 310 are regularly offered, and these courses count toward program requirements.

Requirements for the Honors Program:

Students who successfully complete the University Honors Program, detailed below, will graduate with Distinction as a University Scholar. Students must complete at least of 21 hours of Honors credit with a minimum overall GPA of 3.25, and a 3.50 GPA in Honors courses.

I.

As part of the 21 hours, first-year students entering the program are required to take an Honors section of the Liberal Arts Core First-Year Colloquium, HON 178, during their first semester. Transfer students with 25 or more hours of credit are not required to complete HON 178, but must take an additional 3-hour Honors course in order to have 21 hours of Honors credits.

II.

Students must complete at least two, 3- or 4-credit-hour Special Topics Honors courses at the 300-level or higher. Such courses may be designated by an Honors (HON) prefix or by a departmental prefix with Honors designation indicated in the section number

III.

No more than 9 combined credit hours in Readings for Honors courses and HON 499 may count toward the 21 hours.

IV.

As the capstone course for both the Liberal Arts Core and the Honors Program, students must complete an Honors section of LA 478. Centered on civic engagement and culminating in a service-learning experience, LA 478 will bring together students from several disciplines for research, discussion and a group project.

Note:

Students wanting to enroll in an Honors section of LA 478 must meet with the Honors Program director no later than the end of preregistration of the semester prior to the one in which the student plans to enroll in the course.

Good Standing

To remain in good standing with the Honors Program, students must meet the criteria listed below. Students not meeting these requirements will have one semester after falling below the standards to comply. If they do not, they will be suspended from the program and will have to reapply for admission through the Honors Program Office.

First-year Students
Students entering the program as first-year students must complete at least 6 hours of Honors credit as part of their first 60 hours and maintain an overall GPA of 3.25.

Transfer Students
Students transferring with 30 or more hours of credit must complete at least 3 hours of Honors credit as part of their first 30 hours at UNC Asheville and maintain an overall GPA of 3.25.

Honors Credit for Courses Taken at Schools Other than UNC Asheville

Students may receive Honors credit for courses taken at other institutions, either through transfer or through Study Abroad. Credit for at most one Honors Special Topics course may be granted for courses taken at other institutions.

Transfer students who were in Honors programs at other institutions may petition the Honors Program director for up to 9 credit hours for Honors-designated classes taken at previous institutions.

Study Abroad students may be granted up to 6 credit-hours for one term or semester of Study Abroad and up to 9 credit-hours for one year of Study Abroad. Honors credit will only be given for Study Abroad courses taken at the 300-level or higher. Students wishing to receive Honors credit for courses taken through a UNC Asheville approved Study Abroad program should review the Honors Program website, http://honors.unca.edu/, for specific details on what is required to have a Study Abroad course count for Honors. Students must contact the Honors Program office prior to departing on the trip.