Program, Departmental, and College Honors Programs

The following guidelines were developed by the Honors Implementation Committee during 1989-1990 after consultation with departments and colleges across campus. They represent the committee's view of the minimum requirements. Individual programs may, of course, impose additional requirements or tailor their Honors programs to reflect the distinctive characteristics of their disciplines. The full text of the guidelines, including discussion of the various options, is available from the Honors College office.

Although the original guidance from 1989-1990 only referred to departmental and college Honors programs, individual undergraduate degree programs (referred to in this guidance as “programs”) are also eligible to have Honors programs. This allows interdisciplinary degree programs and degree programs within individual departments to develop their own Honors programs. In this guidance, “Honors programs” refers only to program, departmental, and college Honors programs associated with undergraduate degree programs.

Honors programs should appoint an Honors Director or Coordinator, and possibly a standing faculty committee on Honors to advise students; supervise and coordinate faculty/student research; review policy; and act as a liaison to the Honors College.

Two options have been approved. Honors programs need not offer both, but the thesis option should always be made available to interested students.

Thesis Option: 12 credit minimum 

1. At least two upper-division (numbered 300 or above) Honors courses, seminars, or workshops in the program, department, or college, or (with the permission of the Honors program) in any academic unit on campus. Graduate courses (numbered 600 or above) may be substituted for all or part of this requirement.

2. At least 6 credits of research and thesis writing under the direction of a regular UMD faculty member, followed by an oral defense of the thesis before two or more faculty members.

Non-thesis Option: 12 credit minimum 

1. At least four upper-division Honors courses or seminars taken in the program, department, or college, or (with the permission of the Honors program) in any academic unit on campus. Graduate courses may be substituted for all or part of this requirement.

2. A three-hour written comprehensive examination in the major field, evaluated by at least two faculty members in the department or college.

Honors programs have the responsibility for identifying, recruiting, and admitting students to their Honors programs. Admission should normally occur at the end of the sophomore year, although Honors versions of courses should be available to all interested students. The minimum GPA is 3.0; individual programs may choose to set a higher standard. To graduate with Program, Departmental, or College Honors, students must earn an overall GPA of at least 3.0; Honors programs may specify higher grade point standards, or develop criteria to permit the additional designation of "High Honors."

New Honors programs should be developed by a faculty Honors committee, and submitted for review and comment to the Director of the Honors College and the Senate PCC. Once approved by the appropriate department, college, and campus authorities, the guidelines should be published for the information of students and faculty, and provided to the Honors College for use in student advising. The Honors College should also be notified of any changes or modifications to keep its advising up-to-date.

All students enrolled in an Honors program are by definition members of the Honors College, and may register for Honors (HONR) seminars and H-Version courses, whether or not they were admitted to the Honors College at the time of matriculation. They are eligible to participate in all Honors College-wide sponsored activities and organizations. Honors programs, therefore, are responsible for sending a current list of all students enrolled in their Honors program, preferably shortly after the beginning of each semester.

To encourage students to complete their Honors requirements, academic units should consider extending privileges or incentives, such as priority registration in departmental courses, library privileges equivalent to those afforded to graduate students, access to graduate-level courses, awards for best thesis or best project, special Honors faculty/student activities, and the like.