Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of the USI Honors Program?
Who is eligible for the USI Honors Program?
How do I earn Honors credit?
What are Honors courses like?
Will all of my courses be Honors courses?
What are the Honors faculty like?
What do I need to complete to graduate as a University Honors Scholar?
I’m thinking about coming to USI, but I’m also looking at “Big Name University.” Why USI and why Honors?
What academic recognition do I earn by participating in the USI Honors Program?
Are student organizations affiliated with the USI Honors Program?
Is special housing available for USI Honors Program participants?
How do I sign up?

What are the benefits of the USI Honors Program?

• Stimulating and challenging courses. Honors courses are more in depth. Students enjoy lively discussion and greater interaction with faculty and other motivated students.
• Small classes. Top faculty. Honors sections are smaller than non-Honors classes. The University’s most accomplished faculty are selected to teach in the Honors Program.
• Honors Living-Learning Community. Freshmen may live on an Honors-only floor of the residence hall. They take courses together and have opportunities to collaborate and socialize.
• Study Abroad Scholarships. Special scholarships to help with study-abroad expenses are available for Honors students.
• Honors student organizations. The Honors Student Council and Assembly build community and offer leadership and service opportunities.
• Priority registration. Honors students register on the first day of early registration when they are most likely to get the courses and professors they want.
• Enrichment. Honors students have access to upclose sessions with interesting people, like visiting scholars, actors, and artists.
• Research. Because of the quality of their work, Honors students have a competitive advantage when applying for grants that support faculty-mentored research and creative work as well as grants that assist with travel expenses to present research at regional and national meetings.
• Retreats. The Honors Program hosts on-campus retreats and overnight retreats to Historic New Harmony.
• Social events. Social events, ranging from a Halloween party to a spring hike in the woods, are organized for Honors students throughout the year.
• Peer mentors. Honors freshmen are paired with juniors who share similar majors and interests to provide support and advice.
• Honors cords ceremony. Before Commencement, University Honors Scholars attend a ceremony where Honors cords are presented by a special person chosen by each student.

Who is eligible for the USI Honors Program?
Students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply to the Honors Program.
    Incoming freshmen

• SAT score of 1200 or higher on the Math and Critical Reading sections or ACT composite of 27 or higher, and
• High school grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher
  

Incoming freshmen who have slightly lower SAT scores, ACT scores, or high school GPAs also may apply. These candidates will be evaluated on their overall profile of qualifications, including standardized test scores, high school GPA, class rank, academic background, and extracurricular activities.

    Transfer students and current USI students

• Completion of a minimum of 15 credit hours at USI or elsewhere with a cumulative 3.25 GPA
  

How do I earn Honors credit?

• Enroll in a “stand-alone” Honors section (for example, HONS 101 or ENG 101H). All students are taking the course for Honors credit.
• Enroll in an Honors “contract” section. Students taking the course for Honors credit complete an additional component which is outlined in the Honors contract.
• Develop an Honors component in a course not scheduled for Honors credit by talking with the professor. This is known as an “ad hoc” Honors course. As in the above “contract” section, the student signs a contract to complete the additional component agreed upon by the student and professor.Honors Contract Form

What are Honors courses like?

• Smaller
• Independent work
• Collaboration with other students
• Active
• Intensive
• They are not evaluated tougher on the grading scale

Will all of my courses be Honors courses?

• Smaller
• Interactive with instructorss
• Independent work
• Collaboration with other students
• Active
• Intensive
• They are not evaluated tougher on the grading scale

What are the Honors faculty like?

• All USI faculty are selected for their dedication to teaching undergraduates. Honors faculty are specially chosen to teach highly motivated students.
• Faculty enjoy and appreciate the stimulation and enthusiasm that Honors students bring to the classroom.
• Faculty are friendly and provide individual attention.
• Faculty challenge Honors students to reach their highest levels of academic excellence

What academic recognition do I earn by participating in the USI Honors Program?

• Each course for which Honors credit is earned is noted on the transcript. The Honors designation is highly regarded by potential employers and graduate or professional schools where students may want to continue their education beyond the bachelor’s degree.
• Students fulfilling the Honors Program requirements will graduate as a University Honors Scholar with recognition at Commencement and on the diploma.

What do I need to complete to graduate as a University Honors Scholar?

• Complete undergraduate work with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
• Complete at least 21 credit hours of Honors courses with an A or B grade.
• Complete HONS 101: Issues for the 21st Century. This one-hour course is one of the first Honors courses students take. It helps participants build friendships within the Honors community and develop the critical-thinking skills needed for college work.
• Complete an Honors component to their senior synthesis course or an approved substitute.

I’m thinking about coming to USI, but I’m also looking at “Big Name University.”Why USI and why Honors?
Actually, economists (at Princeton, no less) have looked at the question of the economic payoff of pursuing a college degree at an “elite” college or university, and they found that the selectivity of the school in terms of admission criteria doesn’t pay off in higher income over one's career — “[S]tudents’ motivation, ambition, and desire to learn have a much stronger effect on their subsequent success than the average academic ability of their classmates.” (National Bureau of Economic Research) What appears to be as important or more important than where you go to college is what you do when you’re there. Participating in things such as Honors is a great way to distinguish yourself.

Are student organizations affiliated with the USI Honors Program?
Most Honors Program members are active in activities and organizations such as student government, AMIGOs (orientation assistants), Student Ambassadors, resident assistants, fraternities, sororities, and many more. The Honors Student Assembly is an organization especially for Honors students. Participants elect an eight-member Honors Student Council to lead the organization.

Is special housing available for USI Honors Program participants?
Yes, special housing is available for freshmen in the Honors Program. Participants in the Honors living learning community (LLC) live on the same floor of Ruston Hall, one of the University’s popular suite-style residence halls for freshmen only. The Honors students take a cluster of courses together.

How do I sign up?
Request an application:
USI Honors Program
Education Center 0114
8600 University Blvd., Evansville, IN 47712
812/464-1833
Download Application

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