F.A.Q.'s
Frequently Asked Questions for the Honors College
- What is so special about being in the Honors College?
- Some say that I will not have a life once I get into the Honors College and that it will be too hard. Is that true?
- What are the requirements to remain in the Honors College?
- To graduate with honors, what requirements must I fulfill?
- If I have a friend who is currently not in the Honors College and would like to apply, what should he or she do?
Frequently Asked Questions for the Senior Honors Project
- Where do I start?
- Who can be my sponsor in my department?
- How many credits do I take?
- What format should be used?
- When should I begin the project?
What is so special about being in the Honors College?
There are so many special benefits that you will receive as an Honors student at The University of Akron. Academically, you will have special Honors sections of many courses and will take three (2-credit) colloquium courses. The topics vary, but the classes are small and are just for Honors students. You will have personal advising from the beginning of your program with a designated advisor from your major area of study. (Undecided? – no problem…special advising for that, also).
In place of your general studies university requirements, you will be able to substitute honors distribution requirements. You and your Honors advisor will design these requirements to allow you to study selected courses based on your interest. You can explore new topics, or study a known area at a much higher level. The honors distribution requirements will open up opportunities for you to use the many areas of study offered at a major university.
Your final year on campus will include an undergraduate research experience. The Senior Honors Project is a chance to complete a research project with a faculty member in your chosen area of study. Many students describe this as one of the best experiences of the entire Honors requirements. If graduate school is your next goal, then this research provides a particularly strong foundation for your moving to the next academic step.
Special housing is another benefit. The Honors/Orr Complex residential and academic center houses nearly 420 Honors students, and includes the Honors computer lab, classrooms, as well as the Honors College offices. You can work with other students in the many rooms available for group study, or relaxing.
Many of the students in the program receive some form of scholarship as they pursue their degree. A wide range of scholarships is available.
Some say that I will not have a life once I get into the Honors College and that it will be too hard. Is that true?
Many students say that the courses are more interesting, even if more challenging. For several of your courses, you will be with like-minded students who want the opportunity to learn in an environment that supports self-motivation. Honors courses typically involve more discussion and, perhaps, more reading and group interaction. You will be given opportunities to refine your writing and verbal skills while learning a variety of topics.
The Honors Colloquia are good examples. A small class format, an unusual topic, a great teacher, and other Honors students give you a special academic experience. Faculty members select topics that are of special interest to them. The class discusses, reads, and learns together about this area of study. Why not go to the web page about the curriculum and check out some of the upcoming colloquia topics?
In terms of life…we think that you’ll find that Honors students are some of the most active on campus. They are leaders in student government, athletics, honoraries, and social fraternities and sororities. Many of the students have jobs, while many participate in intramural sports, or go to plays and lectures. One thing is for sure, Honors students seem to realize the value of the many activities available to them on campus and take advantage of these opportunities.
What are the requirements of remaining in the Honors College?
There are gpa and some course requirements. The gpa requirement is on a sliding scale. The cumulative gpa should be 3.25 after two semesters of study (or at least 32 credits toward graduation), 3.30 after four semesters of study (or at least 64 credits toward graduation), 3.40 after six semesters of study (or at least 96 credits toward graduation). The sliding scale allows students time to find a major they like and become established in it.
While completing your major and college requirements, an honors student files a senior honors project proposal by the end of their junior year, registers for the senior honors project in the senior year, and completes the honors distribution requirements before graduation.