Students pursuing associate or bachelor's degrees at Utah State University have the option to apply to the University Honors Program. Admitted Honors students seeking a bachelor's degree can earn both the Honors Experience and the University Honors transcript designations, which are stackable and appear on the graduate’s transcript and diploma. Students can also earn other USU transcript designations.
Students completing the requirements for the University Honors transcript designation earn a total of 28 Honors points and maintain a 3.25 USU/overall GPA. The first part of the Honors journey involves a structured path (Honors Experience) that guides students toward the completion of 14 Honors points, while allowing some flexibility for students to pursue their own interests and goals. Students who earn these first 14 points and meet all Honors Experience requirements, will earn the Honors Experience transcript designation when they graduate. They are also prepared to decide more freely how to earn the additional 14 Honors points required for the University Honors transcript designation.
How Do Students Earn Points?
Honors points track each student's progress toward completing program requirements and meeting Honors Learning Outcomes. Honors points give students credit for developing mentoring relationships with professors, completing independent project-based work, and articulating the value of a USU education.
To earn the first 14 Honors points for the Honors Experience designation, students complete a series of modules in Canvas over 3-4 semesters. Students then move on to more flexible, individualized experiences, including the Honors Capstone Project, as they earn their remaining 14 Honors points. Because this curriculum is carefully tailored to each student’s goals and personal graduation timeline, all Honors students must schedule an Honors advising appointment before they begin their work in the University Honors Program.
Year 1
Earn First 5-10 Points
Student complete Modules 1 & 2 plus additional points aligned with their personal interests and goals. Students bring their point total to 5-10 points.
Year 2
Earn 10-15 Points
Students complete Modules 3-5 plus additional points aligned with personal interests and goals. Students bring their point total to at least 10-15 points.
Year 3
Earn 15-20 Points
By the end of year 3, a student’s point total should be between 15-20 points. During this year, students continue earning points aligned with their personal interests and goals while also preparing for their Honors Capstone Project by completing and submitting an Honors Capstone Proposal.
Year 4
Earn 28 Points
Students need 28 points to graduate with University Honors. During this year, students continue earning points aligned with their personal interests and goals while also completing and submitting the Honors Capstone Project.
University Honors Requirements
The following elements are required for the University Honors transcript designation.
Module 1 and Module 2
Module 1: Pre-Program Preparation is designed to help students develop an understanding of how the University Honors Program works. Students are required to 1) review pages in the module, 2) complete a short quiz, 3) draft an initial Honors plan, and 4) meet with their Honors Academic Advisor. This module must be completed before students can move on to other modules. This module should be completed when students begin work in the Honors Experience Canvas course.
Module 2: Engaging with Honors & Beyond includes foundational Honors experiences that help students build their Honors and USU community and create the framework for their required Honors Portfolio. Students are required to meet with their faculty Departmental Honors Advisor, attend Honors and USU events, and learn about the Honors Portfolio requirements. This module must be completed before students can move on to other modules. This module should be completed during a student’s first semester.
Completion of Modules 1 and 2 earns 3.5 points.
Module 3: Required Honors Course
Honors students are required to take at least one Honors Experiential Learning course. Students should work closely with their Honors and Major Academic Advisors to determine when to enroll and which Honors course is most interesting and relevant to their academic and personal goals. Completion of this module earns 1-3 Honors points.
This module should be completed during the first or second year in Honors.
Module 4: Honors Mentoring Agreement
This module takes students through the steps of completing an Honors Mentoring Agreement (HMA). These agreements allow students to work closely with faculty and begin to pursue their own academic interests. Students must complete at least one HMA. Completion of the HMA earns 3 Honors points.
Students should complete this module during their third or fourth semester in Honors.
Module 5: Honors Portfolio
Designed to showcase the value of an Honors education, the Honors Portfolio provides evidence of a student’s progress on four Honors Learning Outcomes. The goal of the portfolio is to allow students to reflect on the experiences they had in the University Honors Program and understand how those experiences impacted their overall undergraduate experience at USU.
The Honors Portfolio:
- Involves active mentorship from the student’s Honors Academic Advisor and faculty Departmental Honors Advisor;
- Features and highlights the student’s Honors learning, projects, and reflective writing;
- Curates a selection of the student’s best academic work; and
- Includes a reflection on the personal and professional value of the student’s time in the University Honors Program.
Completion of the Honors Portfolio earns 2 Honors points and happens in the fourth semester or as the student is finishing all Honors Experience requirements.
Additional Opportunities to Earn Points
Students who successfully complete Modules 1-5 will earn between 9.5 and 11.5 points, depending on which Honors course they take. Additionally, students earn 5 points by completing the Honors Capstone Project. The remaining 11.5-13.5 points required for the University Honors transcript designation can be earned by completing additional Honors assignments that align with the student's interests and goals.
Students earn these points by completing Honors in Practice (HIP) experiences which allow them to apply their academic knowledge outside the classroom; attending and reflecting on campus, community, or virtual co-curricular events that enrich their college experience; and completing additional Honors Experiential Learning course(s). These various experiences earn between 0.5-3 Honors points.
Students may begin completing most additional HIP and co-curricular activities at any time. Students are encouraged to take additional Honors courses whenever possible.
Honors Capstone Project
The ultimate “Dare to Know,” the Honors Capstone empowers students to follow their curiosity, express their passions, and demonstrate their growth by managing a long-term project on the topic of their choice. Honors Capstones offer professional training, opportunities to shape graduate school essays and publications, and evidence of independent initiative. Capstone mentors provide students with detailed recommendation letters, reliable advice about how to structure and complete their projects, connections to other professionals in their fields, and insight into the pursuit of professional goals. All Honors students complete an Honors Capstone Project, earning a total of 5 Honors points (1 point each for the proposal and work plan, and 3 points for the capstone itself).