Honors Program
You excel. Let’s make the most of it.
Your work hard, and your academic record proves it. Now it’s time for the Honors Program to show you some of the benefits of all that hard work. What can you look forward to? A richer, more powerful academic experience and a headstart on post-college success.
The mission of the Honors Program is to help students become inquisitive thinkers who possess the skills necessary to ask profound questions, to recognize and respect diverse perspectives, to solve complex problems, and to express their vision creatively and persuasively to others. Honors courses, therefore, emphasize inquiry, interdisciplinary problem solving, and the effective expression of ideas. The program culminates in the honors thesis, a year-long research, service, or creative project on a question or problem chosen by the student. Every graduate of the Honors Program will have thus demonstrated the ability to work independently in their chosen field.
Be part of a community that understands, challenges, and inspires you.
The Honors Program brings together a very special group of students — highly motivated, intellectually curious, and eager to talk about what they’re learning. You’ll have plenty of stimulation in talking with your fellow honors students, both in class and after class. The Honors Program also sponsors events throughout the academic year, when you’ll go far afield and broaden your cultural horizons together.
First-year honors students can become even more immersed in the honors community because they are eligible to live in the Honors Living Learning Community, where they have their own floor in one of our on-campus residences. Long talks into the night, help with homework just a few steps away, and shared trips and activities are just some of what you can look forward to.
Students with exceptional academic qualifications will receive an application to the Honors Program after their admission to the university. Additionally students may request an application from the Admissions Office.
In addition, students who achieve a minimum GPA of 3.3 in their first semester at the University may apply to the Honors Program. Transfer students who have 32 credit hours or less may also apply, provided they have a minimum GPA of 3.5 from their previous institution.
To graduate as an Honors Scholar, students matriculating prior to Fall 2019 must maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA and complete
- Four honors courses of their choice
- The honors thesis
- HNRS 1112 “Introduction to Academic Inquiry and Writing” (3 credits)
- HNRS 4459 “Developing and Honors Thesis Proposal (1 credit)
- Four other honors courses of their choice, two of which must be 2000-level or higher (at least 12 credits)
- The honors thesis (3 credits)
The Honors Thesis Spotlight section highlights Honors Program senior thesis researchers. Please check out their profiles below and learn about their fascinating projects!
Class of 2023
**COMING SOON**
PAST YEARS
Academic Year 2021-2022< < Click here to see last year’s Thesis Spotlights!
The Honors Program has an Enhanced Learning Community open to a small number of incoming first-year honors students. Residents in the ELC benefit from a rich array of activities and programs. All residents of the Honors Program ELC will have the opportunity to participate in special events. In the past residents of the ELC have toured museums in downtown New Haven, gotten lost in the corn maze at Lyman Orchards, hiked up Sleeping Giant, visited the Museum of Tolerance in New York, and seen the musical Peter and the Starcatcher on Broadway.
Dr. Matt Wranovix
Honors Program Director
Lynne Resnick, MS
Honors Program Coordinator
Gate House 201/209
University of New Haven
300 Boston Post Rd
West Haven, CT 06516
Voice: 203.931.2921 or 203.931.2990
Fax: 203.931.6066
Email: honors@newhaven.edu
Honors Facebook: HonorsUNH
| Make sure your Degree Audit has a section for your honors courses and requirements |
| Register for HNRS 1112 in place of ENGL 1112 |
| Look for possible core curriculum courses to fulfill honors requirements |
| Find unique and special topic honors courses using the Class Schedule feature in Banner |
| Register for HNRS 4459 in the second semester of your third year, when you have 2 semester remaining after completion |
| Enroll in your honors thesis using the 4593 course in your major in your final year of study |
Student Resources – All program guidelines, including honors thesis information and forms found here.
Honors Courses – Fall 2023 Courses found here
Honors Thesis – Current and Past Projects
Honors Program Scholarship
Every student who is selected to participate in the Honors Program will receive an annual $1,000 scholarship in addition to any other merit-based awards received.
John D. Hatfield Scholarship
In their sophomore and junior years, honors students may also apply for one of six prestigious Hatfield Scholar Awards, which are granted on the basis of academic excellence, campus involvement and community service. Hatfield scholars receive an additional $3,000 scholarship and a bronze medallion at graduation.