Honors College Graduation Requirements
The Honors College accommodates entering freshmen, transfer students, and students who join Honors after their first year at UAF by recognizing multiple levels of Honors accomplishment at graduation. Minimum qualifications for each level of Honors accomplishment and details on individual requirements can be found below.
Honors Scholar (HS) Graduation Requirements
Honors Scholar
12 Honors Credits
No Engagement Hours
Capstone Required
3.25 GPA
HS: Distinction
18 Honors Credits
40 Engagement Hours
Capstone Required
3.50 GPA
HS: Highest Distinction
18 Honors Credits
40 Engagement Hours
Capstone Required
3.50 GPA
Honors Climate Scholar (HCS) Graduation Requirements
Honors Climate Scholar
12 Honors Credits
1 Climate Intensive
No Engagement Hours
Climate Themed Capstone Required
3.25 GPA
HCS: Distinction
18 Honors Credits
2 Climate Intensives
40 Engagement Hours
Climate Themed Capstone Required
3.50 GPA
HCS: Highest Distinction
24 Honors Credits
2 Climate Intensives
80 Engagement Hours
Climate Themed Capstone Required
3.50 GPA
Earning Honors Credit
In order to most efficiently complete the required courses, it is recommended that all Honors students reference the following schedule when planning their degree paths. To make good progress, students should complete a minimum of 6 Honors credits a year. Below is a recommended outline to follow to help you stay on track:
Year 1
- HONR F101: Introduction to Honors (1 credit)
- HONR F290: Honors reading seminar (2 credits)
- Student's choice of honors seminars, honors contracts, or sections of core general classes that meet major requirements (3 credits)
- For Climate Scholars:
- HONR F125, Our Changing Climate: Past, Present, Future (3 credits)
- Climate Intensive (2 credits)
Year 2
- HONR F201: Methods of Inquiry (3 credits)
- Student's choice of honors seminars, honors contracts, or sections of core general classes that meet major requirements (3 credits)
- For Climate Scholars:
- HONR F301: Climate Scholars Interdisciplinary Seminar (3 credits)
- Climate Intensive (2 credits)
Year 3
- Study Away (optional: 6 - 12 credits)
- HONR F498: Research (optional: 1 - 6 credits)
- Student's choice of honors seminars, honors contracts, or sections of core general classes that meet major requirements (3 credits)
- For Climate Scholars:
- Climate Intensive (2 credits)
Year 4
- HONR F499, Capstone Development (1 - 6 credits)
- Student's choice of honors seminars, honors contracts, or sections of core general classes that meet major requirements (3 credits)
Note: This is only a recommendation. Always work with your advisor to personalize your academic plan.
Honors Sections: Many core curriculum courses have honors sections. Students are encouraged to complete as many core courses in honors sections as their schedules permit.
Honors Contracting: Students are also welcome to work with individual professors to contract other upper division courses for honors credit. Contracting a course involves creating alternate or additional assignments in the regular course that extend the student’s learning and provide greater challenge.
Other Opportunities: The Honors College will recognize all graduate level courses as Honors credit. Students can also earn up to half of their Honors credits through study away programming.
Service hours are required for Honors students graduating with Distinction (40) or Highest Distinction (80). Engagement hours include unpaid volunteer opportunities at community nonprofit organizations, participation in campus clubs and student groups, and attendance of campus-wide events.
Example Opportunities
- Stone Soup Café
- ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Children’s Museum
- ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Community Food Bank
- ÐßÐßÊÓƵ Rescue Mission
- Access Alaska
- Interior Alaska Land Trust
- Fireweed Collective
- Honors Student Advisory Council (HSAC)
- Associated Students of UAF (ASUAF)
- Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA)
- Math Club
- Students of Color Association (SCA)
- Tau Beta Pi
- UAF Gaming Society
- Guest lectures
- Candidate forums
- Student presentations and thesis defense
- Registration events
- Research speaker series
- Residence hall activities
For all Honors Students:
A capstone project or research-based thesis must be completed by all Honors students by graduation. Capstone projects represent the culmination of a student's time and learning experiences at the ÐßÐßÊÓƵ. We encourage all students to find a format for this project that best fits their interests, degree path, and goals after graduation.
Students required to complete a capstone project through their degree path may tailor their project to meet Honors requirements. Students interested in developing a capstone project or research-based thesis outside of their degree requirements are highly encouraged to enroll in HONR 499: Honors Thesis Development their senior year. This course provides time, credit, and support to thoroughly develop a project that meets Honors standards.
All Honors students are required to present their capstone work at the Honors College Capstone Showcase in April. If a student is graduating in summer or fall, they are required to present in the spring preceding their final semester.
For Climate Scholars:
A climate-themed capstone project or research-based thesis must be completed by all Climate Scholars by graduation. The project follows the same steps as above, but with a climate lens to your project. This is NOT an additional capstone, this is simply the version of the above that applies to Climate Scholars.
To remain in good standing in the Honors College, and be eligible for all program benefits, students must maintain a GPA above 3.00 and be completing honors courses. Honors students are expected to take at least 6 credits of Honors courses each year. Accumulating more than 6 credits throughout freshman and sophomore years will allow for more flexibility junior and senior years.
Intervention
Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 will receive intervention and strong support from Honors staff. We will work with students individually to help them return to good standing.