Honors Degrees
Honors in the Liberal Arts (HLA)
Honors in the Major (HM)
Senior Honors Thesis
Comprehensive Honors
Admission to the Honors Program
Admission to Honors in the Liberal Arts (HLA)
Admission to Honors in the Major (HM)
Honors Courses, Credit, and Enrollment
Special Honors Services and Opportunities
Honors Study Abroad Programs
420 South Hall, 1055 Bascom Mall, Madison, WI 53706; 608/262-2984; www.honors.ls.wisc.edu
Faculty Director: Charles Snowdon
Undergraduate Honors Advisors: honors@honors.ls.wisc.edu; 608/262-2984
The L&S Honors Program attracts more than 1,700 of the most talented undergraduates in the College of Letters and Science. Students in the program pursue Honors in the Liberal Arts, Honors in the Major, and/or Comprehensive Honors—the highest degree offered by the college. In addition to an enhanced curriculum, the program offers academic advising services; grants, scholarships, and awards; and numerous professional development and co-curricular opportunities.
Honors may be earned for the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Journalism Bachelor of Arts, Journalism Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Music. For students who complete the requirements, Honors will appear on diplomas and transcripts (for example, B.A. with Honors in the Liberal Arts or B.S. with Honors in the Major).
Honors in the Liberal Arts is often the primary focus for most first- and second-year honors students. It requires students to earn honors credits in broadly distributed subjects. Students who complete this demanding but exciting curriculum are assured of an especially fine and wide-ranging exposure to many fields of knowledge. The specific requirements for the HLA degree are: (1) completion of the L&S general degree requirements; (2) a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3; (3) completion of at least 24 credits in honors courses with grades of B or better; (4) of the 24 honors credits, at least 6 must be in the humanities, 6 in the social sciences, and 6 in the natural sciences; and (5) of the 24 honors credits, at least 15 must be "automatic honors" credits (that is, in courses that carry the "H" or "!" honors designations in the Timetable).
After formally declaring a major in the College of Letters and Science, students may opt to pursue honors in that major. Honors in the Major requirements can be completed independently from Honors in the Liberal Arts; they may also be completed in conjunction with Honors in the Liberal Arts (see section below on Comprehensive Honors). Each academic department and program in the college, in conjunction with the Faculty Honors Committee, establishes its own requirements for the Honors in the Major degree. These requirements are intended to provide the best possible undergraduate education in the discipline. For this reason, students intending to do graduate or professional training or work in their fields are strongly encouraged to consider completing Honors in the Major.
Although many of the specific requirements for HM vary by department, all students pursuing Honors in the Major must: (1) complete the L&S general degree requirements; (2) complete the regular major requirements; (3) obtain an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3; and (4) successfully complete a two-semester capstone experience during their senior year, typically a Senior Honors Thesis (see below for more information).
In addition to these collegewide requirements, HM students may be required to complete additional upper-level, honors and/or graduate course work; participate in department research colloquia; and meet a minimum grade point average in all classes in the major (typically between 3.4 and 3.6).
Most departments require a Senior Honors Thesis as the culmination of their Honors in the Major curriculum. In departments for which a research thesis is not the most appropriate capstone, an alternative such as a performance, a professional practicum, or a major piece of creative writing may be required instead. The two-semester thesis or capstone project is often the most challenging part of the honors experience, and for most students it also proves to be the most rewarding. The Senior Honors Thesis is a two semester (or summer and semester) effort; students first enroll in Senior Honors Thesis 681, followed the next term by Senior Honors Thesis 682 (some departments may use different numeric designations for Senior Honors Thesis options). These two courses may not be taken concurrently. The final grade for the entire thesis is assigned after 682 has been completed.
Students who intend to complete Honors in the Major and write a Senior Honors Thesis should consult with department advisors as early as possible. They are also strongly encouraged to begin working with a faculty advisor no later than the beginning of the junior year in order to formulate a research topic, which will enhance the student's potential for success in funding cycles for their senior year. Some departments offer special courses designed to facilitate the organization, planning, and execution of student thesis projects (for example, Psychology 686, Political Science 683/684, and History 680). Other departments encourage (and some require) students to take a directed study or tutorial course with the thesis advisor sometime during the junior year. Students who receive funding from the L&S Honors Program for their thesis research should submit a copy of their thesis to the Honors Office.
Students who complete the requirements for both Honors in the Liberal Arts and Honors in the Major in at least one department or program earn Comprehensive Honors, the highest degree awarded by the college.
Students may apply to enter the L&S Honors Program in any semester of their undergraduate careers. Any UW-Madison honors credits earned before admission to the Honors Program may be applied toward honors degree requirements. Eligibility criteria and admissions procedures differ for the different honors degrees.
To become a candidate for the Honors in the Liberal Arts degree, a student must apply directly to the L&S Honors Program. Students may apply at any point in their undergraduate careers, provided they meet the eligibility requirements described below.
Incoming First-Year Students. Once admitted to the College of Letters and Science, students having either a core high school cumulative grade point average of at least 3.6 (on a 4.0 scale) or students in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class will receive an invitation to apply to the L&S Honors Program. Application materials include a completed application form and a 500-word essay. The Honors Program reviews completed applications on a rolling basis beginning in January and sends admission status letters to applicants beginning in mid-February. The deadline for application to the program generally falls in late March. Students are encouraged to send in their materials early.
Because space in the program is limited and the quality of applicants has been rising in recent years, the Honors Program staff carefully considers all aspects of an applicant's record, including the application essay, academic record, extracurricular and community service activities, and leadership roles. It is not possible to identify any one criterion that ensures admission to the program. In recent years, the average incoming first-year student in the L& S Honors program ranked in the 96th percentile of his or her high school class, had a grade point average of 3.9 on a 4.0 scale, and had standardized test scores of 30 on the ACT and 1340 on the SAT (math and verbal). Please note that these values are averages—not criteria for either invitation to or admission to the program.
Continuing and Transfer Students. Students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above who are currently enrolled at UW-Madison or who are transferring to the UW-Madison from another institution are invited to apply to the L&S Honors Program. Application materials, which can be obtained from the Honors Program Office, include a completed application form, a 500-word essay, and a letter of recommendation from a professor or teaching assistant. The Honors Program staff reviews and responds to applications on a rolling basis. Applications are evaluated on an individual basis and admission decisions are usually made within two weeks of submission of the completed application and supporting materials. While continuing or transfer students having 60 or more credits at the time of application to the Honors Program are eligible to participate in the Honors in the Liberal Arts (HLA) degree track, they are encouraged to consider Honors in the Major (HM) as an option (see below). Students may find it difficult to complete the HLA degree requirements if beginning that program in the junior or senior year.
Criteria for Remaining in Good Standing. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.3 or higher to continue as Honors in the Liberal Arts degree candidates. First-year students have until the end of the second semester on campus to achieve the 3.3 minimum grade point average. Any student may withdraw from HLA at any time by submitting a completed Honors in the Liberal Arts Withdrawal Form, available from the Honors Program office.
Students interested in pursuing an Honors in the Major degree are encouraged to consult the department listings in this catalog and speak with the department's academic advisors, who will be able to explain admissions procedures and requirements for the degree. After officially declaring the major and receiving authorization from the department to declare HM, students must submit a completed Honors in the Major Declaration Form to the Honors Program office. These forms may be obtained from either the department advisor or the Honors Program office. Incoming first-year students may not apply for Honors in the Major.
Criteria for Remaining in Good Standing. Because each department sets its own criteria for the HM degree program, students are encouraged to work closely with department advisors. In addition to the criteria established by individual departments, all students must obtain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in UW-Madison course work to be eligible for an Honors in the Major degree. Any student may withdraw from HM at any time by submitting a completed Honors in the Major Withdrawal Form, available from either the department advisor or the Honors Program office.
The College of Letters and Science offers several types of honors courses. Each is designated with a special symbol in the UW-Madison Timetable, as follows:
Honors candidates may also earn honors credit through the following methods:
In addition to honors classes and degree programs, the L&S Honors Program offers a wide variety of other services and opportunities.
Academic Advising. The UW-Madison can often seem overwhelming because of its size and the complexity of its policies and procedures. Academic advisors help students get (and maintain) their bearings on campus. The L&S Honors Program has a team of specially trained academic and peer advisors who accompany and support honors candidates as they pursue diverse educational and co-curricular experiences compatible with their long-term goals. Advising occurs through a variety of formats including e-mail, small group workshops, walk-in hours, and appointments. Additional information is available on the Honors Web site.
Common Book Program. Each summer, the L&S Honors Program sends incoming, first-year honors students a book written by a UW-Madison faculty member. At the beginning of the academic year, these new students are invited to attend a dinner at which the author gives a brief presentation and discusses the book with students. Upper-class honors candidates serve as discussion facilitators at each table. In recent years, the Common Book Program has provided community service when honors student volunteers facilitate discussions about the book in Madison area retirement communities and other venues.
Sophomore Summer Honors Research Apprenticeships. These competitively awarded grants provide stipends for honors sophomores who work as research apprentices with UW-Madison faculty. Students may not earn course credit for this work. For past students, these apprenticeships have often evolved into paid research positions and/or senior honors thesis projects.
Grants, Scholarships and Awards. The L&S Honors Program currently offers or administers eleven different grants, scholarships, and awards for introductory and senior thesis research, study abroad and research-related travel, community and university service projects, and merit-based awards acknowledging outstanding scholarship. The amounts of the awards range from relatively small supplies-and-expense funds to stipends equivalent to two semesters of in-state tuition. For additional information, see the Honors Web site.
Honors Student Organization (HSO). This student-run group focuses its efforts in four main areas: community service, extracurricular social events, community-building outreach, and professional development. The HSO provides students with an opportunity to extend what they are learning beyond the walls of the classroom to the larger world and, in the process, build a strong sense of community with their peers, faculty, and staff members. All UW students may join the HSO to create the best undergraduate experience possible. For details see the HSO pages on the Honors Web site.
Academic Sponsorship of Student Organizations, Teams, and Projects. The Honors Program sponsors a number of groups on campus, including the nationally recognized UW-Madison forensics team, which strives to bring a better understanding of public speech to students through intercollegiate competitions. Other sponsorships include two student-initiated and -managed journals, the Journal of Undergraduate International Studies and the Wisconsin Undergraduate Journal of Science (www.wisci.com).
Professional Development. The Honors Program helps students prepare for life after college while they are still on campus. Each year, for example, the program, in collaboration with HSO and other campus offices, organizes a series of panels designed to address some concerns among honors students and to raise awareness of the variety of career opportunities that exist in today's world. Examples include: how to get started on (and how to finish) a senior thesis; how to write cover letters, resumes, and CVs; interviewing skills; career opportunities in government and nonprofits; and using foreign languages after college. Through the HSO, students gain valuable volunteer, service, and leadership experience. Honors candidates have worked with honors advisors, staff, and faculty to organize and host national conferences and competitions, and to prepare for public presentations at conferences around the globe. In spring 2006, the Honors Program began providing access to eRecruiting.com at no cost to honors students. The service allows employers to find a pool of multitalented, motivated, and accomplished students.
The Honors Program, in conjunction with International Academic Programs, currently offers three special "honors abroad" programs: in Florence (summer), Utrecht (academic year), and Beijing (spring semester). The oldest of these programs is conducted each year in Florence, in the residential villa shared with the University of Michigan, for four weeks shortly after the end of the spring semester. Students take two courses in Florence, one taught by a member of the University of Michigan faculty and one by a member of the UW-Madison faculty. Students must also enroll in a preparatory, 2-credit reading and discussion course during the spring semester preceding the summer program. Six total automatic honors credits are awarded—2 each for the summer courses and 2 for the spring reading course. Topics for the courses vary. Italian is not a prerequisite. Fifteen students from the honors program of each university are admitted on a competitive basis in the fall semester preceding the summer program. For additional information, consult the Study Abroad Web site at www.studyabroad.wisc.edu. Members of the Honors Program may participate in special honors semesters conducted by the National Collegiate Honors Council, of which the L&S Honors Program is a member. These semesters are designed to emphasize experiential learning. Past programs have been held in Washington, D.C., the Grand Canyon, the United Nations, Czechoslovakia, and Appalachia. Contact the Honors Office for more information about these opportunities.