All honors students must maintain a 3.30 or higher cumulative grade point average and must make satisfactory progress toward the completion of honors credit requirements.
Honors Credit Requirements:
12 SCH of Organized Honors Courses *
9 SCH of Contracts, Graduate-Level Courses, or Additional Organized Honors Courses *
3 SCH Minimum of Honors Capstone Credit *
Maintain a 3.3 or Higher Cumulative GPA
* Students Must Earn an A or B in Courses to Receive Honors Credit
24 Total Honors Credits
An organized honors class is one that is:
Usually at least 3 credit hours, with the exception of UNIV 1231 and KINS 1902
Taught by an Honors faculty member
In a classroom with other Honors students
Make sure you select the Honors section: organized Honors courses are usually designated by section numbers 90, 91, or 92.
An honors contract is:
An agreement between a student and a faculty member designed to supplement and enhance the regular course experience by involving the student in special academic opportunities
Taught by a full-time faculty member and not already offered as Honors
Contract proposals are submitted for approval by September 15 (fall) and February 1 (spring)
Click here to learn more about Contracts!
An honors capstone is:
A upper-level project completed in connection with an upper-level course in your major (usually completed in the junior or senior year)
Proposed by the end of the semester in which you'll earn your 90th credit hour
At least three credit hours
Taught by a full-time faculty member
A research project of some nature and involves a written component
If you are coming in with any AP or dual credit, most of these classes and scores will be processed on your transcript over the summer. Your academic advisor will know what has transferred and when that will be reflected in the system.
One important thing to remember is that coming in with credit is totally possible with honors, but you'll have to be aware of how that impacts your progression through the program.
To Consider:
You'll move through the program a bit faster than the minimum required rate. You've got a head start!
Earning your credits faster is necessary because you need to complete all 12 organized hours by the semester in which you earn your 90th credit hour. For some students, that could be within the first two semesters.
In order to earn honors credit faster, you'll need to prioritize any remaining classes we offer that fit your degree plan. Some students might need to take an elective or two as well.
The closer you are to graduation, the sooner you’ll need to get your honors credits completed.
You can always meet with an honors staff member to determine your honors plan and how you can break everything down per semester.
To remain on track, students need to complete, on average, 6 hours of honors credits for every 30 hours of college coursework completed.
While it is highly advised that students earn as many honors credits, and particularly as many organized honors credits, as possible in the first two semesters in the program, the following MINIMUM standards with respect to completion of honors credits applies to all students:
All 12 hours of organized honors credit by the 75th college credit hour
All honors credits, except the capstone, earned by the 100th college credit hour
Pre-nursing majors must complete all required honors coursework except the capstone prior to beginning their upper-division nursing program in Dallas or Houston.
An Honors liaison or the Honors staff will work with you to assist you in planning/completing your honors credits, including the capstone project. Do not hesitate to reach out - you don't have to figure it all out on your own!
Transfer students entering the program may apply up to 12 hours of honors credits from their previous honors program or honors college towards the 12 hours of organized honors course work as part of the HSP course requirements.
Transfer students must complete at least 3 organized honors hours at TWU.
Click here to learn more about the Touchstone Honors Program!