Honors College

The Honors College

A select group of entering first-year students is invited to become part of the University Scholars Program, a community of learners and leaders who receive Mason's most competitive merit-based scholarships.  

Admissions

Admission to the Honors College is based on a holistic review of each student's academic performance as well as any other information included in the general application, such as rigor of coursework, standardized test scores, class rank, essay response, teacher recommendations, outstanding leadership, and commitment to community service. Space is limited in each class, and admissions criteria may vary according to the applicant pool in any given year.

Admission to the Honors College requires an application and is open to both incoming first-year and transfer students.

Policies

Continuation in Honors

A student whose GPA falls below 2.00 (1.80 in the first or second semester) will be placed on academic warning and may be ineligible to continue in the Honors College. Students are required to take and pass with a grade of "C" or higher either HNRS 110 Principles of Research and Inquiry or HNRS 302 Principles of Research and Inquiry for Transfer Students  in their first semester in the Honors College to maintain their Honors College status.

Honors students are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity and personal conduct. Students may be asked to withdraw from the program for a violation of the University Honor Code or any other conduct that reflects adversely on the Honors College.

Students who leave the Honors College before completion of the curriculum must meet Mason Core requirements and college-level requirements for their particular degree programs. On leaving the college and before registering for Mason Core courses, students should be advised on equivalencies between the honors courses they have completed and Mason Core requirements.

Transfer of Honors Credits

Because of the sequential and integrated nature of the program, honors courses may not correspond exactly to courses used to fulfill Mason Core requirements. A list of equivalencies is available in the Honors College office.

Honors Curriculum

Starting in their first semesters on campus, Honors College students are challenged to identify, articulate, and evaluate multiple perspectives on questions of cultural, scientific, or global significance and to consider evidence that broadens their understanding and challenges their beliefs.

The Honors College inquiry-driven curriculum provides exceptionally motivated students with an alternative to the Mason Core. The Honors College curriculum allows students increased opportunities to pursue minors and other individual interests such as extended research. Students may also take honors sections of selected major courses as well as upper division courses offered by the Honors College. Beyond the Honors College requirements, students must satisfy all requirements of their college and major and Mason undergraduate program requirements for admissions, residency, credit hours, quality, and upper level credits.

Students who complete the Honors College curriculum will receive a designation of Honors College Requirements Completed on their transcripts.

Students must take a minimum of 12 credits of HNRS courses from the Honors College at Mason. Students must also complete the Foundations; Inquiry in the Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences; Civic Engagement; Multi-Disciplinary Challenges requirements. Students must earn a grade of C or higher in the Honors College Foundations and Civic Engagement requirements.

Foundations

Introduction to Inquiry and Research: Honors students are introduced to methods for formulating, articulating, pursuing, and communicating research questions and the subsequent findings. Students must take one of the following during their first semester as an Honors College student:

Inquiry in the Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

Students will pursue answers to focused questions in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Specific topics will vary by semester and section.  (12 credits)

Civic Engagement

Students will explore their roles and responsibilities in society and/or identify and address issues of public or community concern. Specific topics will vary by semester and section (3 credits).

Multi-Disciplinary Challenges

Students will address complex challenges through scholarly research (HNRS 360) or experiential learning (HNRS 361). Specific topics will vary by semester and section. (3 credits)

Honors College Electives

Students are encouraged to explore fields in more depth through approved departmental honors courses.

Additional Requirements

• Quantitative Reasoning:  The Honors College quantitative reasoning requirement mirrors the quantitative reasoning requirement of a student's college and major.

• Science: The Honors College science requirement mirrors the science requirement of a student's college and major.

• Foreign Language: Students pursuing BA degrees may have a foreign language requirement.

• Beyond the Honors College requirements, students must satisfy all requirements of their college and major and Mason undergraduate program requirements for admissions, residency, credit hours, quality, and upper-level credits.

Honors College (HNRS)

Honors College (Science/Math) (HNRT)