A Rewarding Course of Study

Most honors classes are small, and honors students thus benefit from close intellectual contact with their instructors and fellow students. Through honors core courses in general education, as well as innovative seminars, honors faculty work to enhance each student's knowledge, initiative, and creativity. As part of a dynamic, broad-based education, members are also encouraged to participate in domestic or international exchange programs, and to take advantage of opportunities to engage in laboratory or field-based research programs as well as internships and other forms of cooperative education.

Moreover, learning experiences at the University of Idaho are intended to engage students in curricular and co-curricular education across all majors and programs of study. The university's Faculty Council agrees upon expectations that guide learning in five areas of undergraduate education.

For continuing UHP students enrolled prior to the start of fall 2008, criteria for membership is as follows: A member in good standing of the University Honors Program must be registered at UI, average one honors course every second semester, and maintain a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA. For new UHP students whose first semester enrollment begins fall 2008 or later, criteria for retaining membership is as follows: A member in good standing of the University Honors Program must be registered at the UI, maintain a University of Idaho 3.3 cumulative/institutional GPA, and complete a minimum of three graded honors credits in the first semester, and at least six graded honors credits by the end of the second semester; thereafter, students must complete, on average, one honors course every second semester.*

Entering freshman who are not enrolled in a fall 2008 semester honors course as of September 2 will become inactive and will no longer be listed as members of the program (and no longer eligible to enroll in honors courses and to receive other program benefits). An inactive freshman, or a student admitted to the program after the start of fall semester, may register for a spring 2009 honors course if he or she contacts the UHP in the third or fourth week of October--by October 31st (honors@uidaho.edu)--so that the student's registration status may be made 'active' to enable enrollment in honors courses, and eligiblity to receive other program benefits to commence spring 2009.

Students who do not meet the GPA criteria for remaining in good standing will have permission to enroll in honors courses for one additional semester. Upon completing the additional 'probationary' semester, students who do not raise their cumulative GPA to attain the required minimum for good standing will no longer be eligible to enroll, or to remain enrolled, in honors courses and to participate in the other extracurricular benefits of the program.

Students who are making satisfactory progress toward an honors certificate may also take advantage of priority registration privileges, allowing them to arrange their schedules with the greatest degree of flexibility and choice. Depending on which courses students select, as many as 26 honors credits also satisfy the general university core requirements that all students must complete to graduate. Such credentials confer distinction upon those seeking employment or admission to graduate studies.

The great majority of the over 500 students currently active in the program are able to participate without adding to the total number of credits needed for graduation. Students who receive the "Honors Core Award" and the "University Honors Program Certificate" shall also have these distinctions noted on their official transcripts.

Course Offerings

*Curriculum Policy and Adjustment (Domestic exchange and study abroad, scheduling conflicts, internships, student teaching)