Honors Program

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The Honors Program

The Honors Program is Judson’s special degree plan for higher achievers who enjoy advanced academic work. During your four years of undergraduate studies at Judson as an Honors student, you’ll take at least 12 credits of enriched courses. You may also do independent research under faculty direction. The successful completion of these requirements distinguishes you as an Honors scholar at Judson.

Being an educated person involves all of life. More than simply a collection of required courses, The Honors Program at Judson seeks to draw on your experiences in and out of the classroom. As part of The Honors Program, you will be challenged to make connections among your coursework, social and cultural activities, vocation and work, all in the context of your faith commitment. You will also be part of a growing Honors community on campus, providing servant leadership in a variety of areas of campus and community life.

If you are a high-achieving student with the ambition to take your education to the next level, consider joining The Honors Program at Judson.

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Achieve Your Highest Potential

Our Vision

The vision for The Honors Program is to help exceptional students achieve their highest potential as scholar citizens through advanced academic and co-curricular activities, building a community that inspires engaged faith life and service.

Your work already makes you stand out among your peers. Your school and national tests commend you as capable of higher academic challenges. Take the next step in your pursuit of academic and personal excellence. Become an Honors Scholar at Judson University.

Eligibility and Requirements

Program Requirements

To Graduate From the Honors Program, You Will Need to:

  • Take at least twelve (12) credit hours of Honors courses (course numbers tagged with an H). Your courses will generally be split between major and general education requirements. This provides broad exposure to honors work across academic disciplines, particularly in the liberal arts. It also provides ongoing interaction with honors students in other disciplines.
  • Complete a project of original research or its equivalent for your discipline. This may be satisfied as a regular part of your coursework or as an independent project. You will also participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities.
  • Maintain a cumulative Judson GPA of 3.3 or higher. If the cumulative GPA falls below 3.3, you will have one semester to bring the cumulative GPA back up to at least 3.3. Two consecutive semesters of a cumulative GPA below 3.3 will make you ineligible to graduate from The Honors Program.

Tracking your Progress

Honors course activity is recorded at the top of your Degree Audit in the Student Web. In addition, the Honors Program Checklist may be used to track your progress through your academic career. Please contact Dr. Jim Halverson, Director of The Honors Program, with any questions about your progress through the program.

Eligibility

  • A minimum high school Grade Point Average of 4.0.
  • A minimum ACT score of 28 (1250 SAT)
  • Current Judson students wishing to enter the program must have a minimum GPA at Judson of 3.3

Ready to Learn More?

Honors Program Director

Frequently Asked Questions

Students coming with an ACT score of 28 or SAT 1250 and a GPA of 3.3 minimum are automatically selected. The prime criterion, however, is your passion for quality.

Once again, if you strongly desire to be in the program, we want to have you on board. The program welcomes your appeal for provisional admission. We realize that sometimes the best of your labor or quality may not be reflected in test scores. Talk with us about your extracurricular interests and leadership experience that we may consider as make up strengths.

The Honors program does not lengthen or shorten your degree time. To earn the degree, you must earn 12 Honors credits from a list of “H-tagged” courses. The final 3 hrs in the major may be a capstone course or a research project under faculty supervision. If you plan it carefully, one Honors course per semester should be enough to help you complete the program smoothly.

You can join the program or take Honors courses anytime you would like. You must maintain a 3.3 GPA to enter and to continue in the program.

Yes. You can start taking Honors courses if you are entering with a 3.3 GPA on your transcript, which also overrides the test scores required for those coming straight out of high school. Please note that you must have enough program time left in your Judson degree plan to complete the 24 Honors credits.

Certainly. You can switch to the regular degree plan if you wish to discontinue taking Honors courses. The courses for which you earned Honors credit will appear as such in your diploma.

No. The credits required for a regular degree and an Honors degree are the same. The Honors difference is only in the category of courses that student takes. The Honors program does not add extra coursework to the degree plan.

No. The cost is the same for Honors and the regular degree.

No. The Dean’s List is an official recognition of students who attain or surpass a certain merit level, not a program. In order to earn the Honors degree, you must be in the program, completing all its requirements. However, successful Honors students tend to appear in the Dean’s List almost consistently.

Judson University offers you a number of Honors courses that inspire and challenge your capabilities:

  • You will work with dedicated faculty eager to invest their time and talent in you.
  • You can do research projects with faculty supervision. You can study abroad on any continent of your choice.
  • You can showcase your creativity on campus and at regional or national forums.
  • Numerous guest lectures, social events, entertainment outings, etc., await you throughout the year.
  • Your transcript and diploma bear Honors mention.
  • You graduate in Honors regalia.

Honors work distinguishes you as a motivated scholar capable of higher level work. The Honors mention in your transcript and diploma gives you competitive advantages in graduate school, research, or career pursuits.

More questions? Please contact Dr. Jim Halveson, Honors Program Director.