University Honors Program

University Honors Requirements

Eligibility

All students enrolled at Iowa State University, who have an Iowa State University GPA of 3.35 or above, and have more than 48 credit hours remaining until graduation, are eligible to apply to the University Honors Program. Once accepted to the University Honors Program, students will automatically be a part of their college's Honors Program.

Membership

To become a member of the Honors Program, students must complete the Application for Membership and will retain membership in the Program so long as he or she maintains good standing.

"Good standing" status will be defined as follows:

1. Students in FHP will be in good standing and will become members of their College Honors Program if, during the second semester of their freshman year, they satisfy the following conditions:
1. Have an ISU GPA of 3.35 or above;
2. Submit, and receive approval for, a Statement of Honors Purpose;
3. Attend an Honors orientation session in their college
2. Students who have not participated in FHP, or who have left Honors after FHP without progressing into their College Honors Program, can become members of their College Honors Program if, at any point prior to having 48-credits remaining until graduation, they satisfy all of the following:
1. Have an ISU GPA of 3.35 or above
2. Complete an Honors application
3. Submit, and receive approval for, a Statement of Honors Purpose
4. Attend an Honors orientation session in their college
3. To retain good standing status, members who have completed 60 credit hours (generally, end of sophomore/beginning of junior year) must submit and have approved by their College Honors Committee, an individualized Program of Study that describes educational and career goals, and documents the challenge and rigor of their curriculum in addition to applicable university, college, major or Honors requirements. (Students who apply to Honors after they have completed 60 credit hours must submit the Program of Study at the time of application.)
4. To remain in good standing, when reaching 30 credits remaining to graduation (generally end of junior year/beginning of senior year), members must submit and receive approval for an Honors Project Proposal (subject to pertinent rules set forth by the corresponding College Honors Committee.)

*At all points, members must maintain an ISU GPA of at least 3.35 to remain in good standing.

Eligible students are encouraged to enter the University Honors Program as early as possible to gain maximum benefits from the program.

Graduating

Each college at Iowa state has slightly different requirements for graduating in the University Honors Program. The required number of honors seminars and courses may vary depending on your college. To fulfill the University Honors Program requirements you must:

1. Be a member of the Honors Program
2. Complete an Honors project prior to graduation
3. Complete the number of Honors courses and Honors seminars required by the college

See your college Honors Program page for more specific information:

• Agriculture
• Business
• Design
• Engineering
• Human Sciences (check the information on the forms)
• Liberal Arts and Sciences

All students who have graduated in the University Honors Program receive this designation on their diplomas and permanent records. In addition, students are awarded white cords to wear at graduation and the Honors Program designation is noted by their name in the commencement program.