Honors

The Ina E. Gordy Honors College offers both a four-year curriculum and a residential program that allows students to live, as well as learn, together.

Honors provides intensive faculty-student interaction that challenges students and offers exceptional opportunities such as honor societies for specific academic programs.

The Honors College also assists qualified students who want to apply for distinguished graduate scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, and Rotary Foundation scholarships.

Other benefits of the Gordy Honors College

  • Completion of the honors curriculum is the only way to receive your college degree with the prestigious designation "with honors."
  • Members may apply for grants to support their undergraduate research and help pay for travel to conferences and professional events.
  • The Honors College pays for students to attend regional and national honors conferences.
  • Members take part in the Forum Series, which is one of the premier speakers series in the Southeast. Members often get to meet privately with distinguished speakers while they are on campus.

Gordy Honors College

Students in a classroom

Residential Honors Program

If selected, you will participate in a Residential Honors Program that includes:

  • Set freshman and sophomore honors curriculum consisting of courses in literature and history which are open only to students in the RHP
  • Live in the Honors Residence Hall, where residents will learn from two upper-level honors mentors and will participate in weekly programming
  • Study abroad program after the sophomore year during which students complete two section of the junior level honors seminars (HO 303)
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Group of students with The W flag in Scotland

Freshman Honors

Freshmen students interested in applying to the Gordy Honors College must have at least a 24 ACT or 1090 SAT score.

To apply, students must submit:

  • A letter requesting admission to the honors college
  • A résumé with your name, contact information, high school GPA, test scores, and any honors and extracurricular activities
  • A letter of recommendation from someone at your high school showing your academic capabilities
  • Indicate whether or not you are interested in the Residential Honors Program

Transfer Honors

Transfer students can apply for the Gordy Honors College after their sophomore year.

To apply, students must submit:

  • A letter requesting admission to the honors college
  • A résumé with your name, contact information, prior colleges attended, GPA, hours transferring in, and any honors and extracurricular activities
  • A letter of recommendation from someone at your prior college showing your academic capabilities
  • Participating in the Gordy Honors College as a transfer student allows you to take two special topic seminar courses and culminates in a year long independent study project intended to prepare you to undertake an independent research and complete a research project. If you're planning to go on to graduate school, this project provides great experience and will get you ready for the next level!
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