What is the Honors College curriculum?
The Honors College curriculum is designed to complement and enhance a student’s major degree, to promote interdisciplinary awareness, and to support undergraduate research. The majority of the required credits may double count towards the student’s major and the foundational core. Students in the Honors College must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher and have completed all Honors College requirements to graduate with honors.
All Honors College students take an introductory course series, HONR 19901/02, during their first year. HONR 19901/2 is a 2-credit introductory experience designed to prepare first-year honors students for academic success. The course uses innovative pedagogical techniques and engaged learning practices to develop students’ critical thinking ability, interdisciplinary awareness, collaborative skills, and research skills. The intentional course design is to build interdisciplinary community and to develop both independent and lateral learning practices.
Honors students take numerous kinds of honors courses during their time at Purdue: small, honors-only seminars, honors classes within their disciplines, and research work that leads to the production of a culminating honors thesis or scholarly project.
| Requirement | Description | Ways to Earn | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 HONR Credits | 2 credits from first year seminar* | 3 credits of HONR designated courses | |
| 19 Honors Elective Credits | HONR courses beyond the first 5 HONR credits | H designated courses and/or honors contract courses | Non-required grad level courses and/or research** |
| Thesis or Scholarly Project | Research or other scholarly activity that leads to a culminating thesis/ comparable scholarly project.*** |
*Continuing students must take 5 credits of HONR designated courses.
**Graduate-level courses refers to “selectives” allowed by the undergraduate plan of study, but not required by the plan of study (please confirm with your honors advisor). Supervised research courses (e.g., undergraduate research, directed study, independent research, honors thesis)—can fulfill a maximum of 12 credits towards a student’s total of 24.
***A student must engage in a sustained project, either on or off campus, in which the student creates new knowledge.
Click here to download a PDF version of the curriculum.