Honors College Requirements

The Curriculum for Students Graduating in Fall 2024 and Beyond

For current and incoming Honors College students who will graduate in fall 2024 and beyond, there are now three pathways to choose from to complete your Upper Division Honors requirements. Upper Division Honors will replace what was called College Departmental Honors in the old requirements. Students will be required to enroll in an honors section of CORE 2000 or take HONS 2000. The newly revised requirements are:

1. Core Courses: Students entering with 0-14 hours need four honors core courses; students entering with 15-29 hours need three honors core courses; students entering with 30-44 hours need two honors core courses; students entering with 45-59 hours need one honors core course; students entering with 60+ hours are not required to take honors core courses. The number of credits earned will be determined based on the calculation of hours earned prior to matriculation in the Honors College as they appear in a student’s DegreeWorks audit.
2. CORE 2000 (honors section) or HONS 2000 (1 credit hour), which will begin fall 2023-onward.
3. Experiential Learning: One Experiential Learning Activity per academic year.
4. Upper Division Honors (choose one pathway):
   • Honors Thesis: Completion of at least 3 credits of research. Includes submission of honors thesis and presentation. 
   • Capstone Experience: Completion of an Honors College approved capstone of at least three credit hours.  Includes submission of capstone project and presentation. 
   • Graduate Coursework: Acceptance into an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program and completion of at least 6 credit hours of graduate credit OR completion of at least 6 credit hours of graduate credit (6000 level or higher).  Includes submission and presentation. 
5. Grade Point Average: Must maintain a minimum 3.3 cumulative Georgia Southern University grade point average.

The Curriculum for Students Graduating Prior to Fall 2024

Traditional first-year students entering the College with fewer than 15 credit hours of earned college credit have the following requirements:

1. Core: Four Honors Core Courses*
2. Experiential Learning: One Experiential Learning Activity per year (four total)
3. College Departmental Honors: Completion of College and/or Departmental Honors Courses
4. Honors Thesis: includes proposal submitted one year before graduation and presentation at the Honors Research Symposium prior to graduation

* Note on Honors Core Courses for incoming first-year students with credit hours:

• Students entering with 15-29 hours need three honors core courses.
• Students entering with 30-44 hours need two honors core courses.
• Students entering with 45-59 hours need one honors core course.
• Students entering with 60+ hours are not required to take honors core courses.
  • The number of credits earned will be determined based on the calculation of hours earned prior to matriculation at Georgia Southern as they appear in a student’s DegreeWorks audit.

Current students and transfer students who join the College will have the following requirements based on their credit hours:

1. Core: Students entering with 15-29 hours need three honors core courses; Students entering with 30-44 hours need two honors core courses; Students entering with 45-59 hours need one honors core course; Students entering with 60+ hours are not required to take honors core courses. (The number of credits earned will be determined based on the calculation of hours earned prior to matriculation at Georgia Southern as they appear in a student’s DegreeWorks audit.)
2. Experiential Learning: One Experiential Learning Activity per year: three for those entering as sophomores, two for those entering as juniors, one for those entering as seniors
3. College Departmental Honors: Completion of College and/or Departmental Honors Courses
4. Honors Thesis: Includes proposal submitted one year before graduation and presentation at the Honors Research Symposium prior to graduation

College/Departmental Honors Requirements and Thesis Details for Students Graduating Prior to Fall 2024

The College/Departmental requirements vary by major. Find your major by clicking on your college below for links to your particular requirements.

See the Undergraduate Research and Honors Thesis page for more details on the thesis requirement, including links for the Honors Thesis Proposal and the Honors Thesis Handbook.

Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing

Computer Science

Information Technology

Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Construction Management

Mechanical Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

College of Arts and Humanities

Art – All majors

Communication Arts – All majors

History

Literature (English)

Music – Composition and Performance

Music – Education

Philosophy and Religious Studies

World Languages and Cultures – All majors

Writing and Linguistics

College of Behavioral Health and Social Sciences

Criminal Justice and Criminology

Sociology and Anthropology

Political Science and International Studies

Psychology

School of Human Ecology

College of Education

College of Education – All majors

College of Science and Mathematics

Biology

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Geology

Geography

Mathematical Sciences

Physics

Jiann-Pin Hsu College of Public Health

College of Public Health – All majors

Parker College of Business

College of Business – All majors

Waters College of Health Professions

Nursing

Athletic Training, Exercise Science, & Sport Management

Nutrition & Food Science

Health Sciences – Armstrong Campus

Communication Sciences and Disorders – Armstrong Campus

Radiologic Sciences – Armstrong Campus (Info coming soon!)

Respiratory Therapy – Armstrong Campus (Info coming soon!)

Medical Laboratory Sciences – Armstrong Campus (Info coming soon!)

Rehabilitation Sciences – Armstrong Campus (Info coming soon!)