Ways to Earn Honors Credit
“This above all, Honors credit is earned by intent.”
Jack Dudley, Director Emeritus
University Honors asks you to think hard about how you will form your honors diploma with the various ways to earn credit. Seek variety; seek intensity; seek innovation; seek individualized experiences.
If you came in to the university as a freshman in fall 2008 or later:
- You must use no more than six (6) credits from any individual number in this list
- Your credits must come from at least two (2) of the three categories.
Students who entered the university prior to fall 2008 have the option of following the above requirements but are not bound to them. Students who transferred to Virginia Tech fall 2008 or earlier may also follow the older system if they wish.
Important note: A grade of “B” or better must be earned in any course used toward requirements for any Honors degree.
Category A: Coursework
1. Lower Division Departmental Courses (1000/2000) designated in the timetable as honors (e.g. ENGL 1204H).
2. Upper Division Departmental Courses (3000/4000) designated in the timetable as honors (e.g. MKTG 3104H).
3. UH 3004 (Honors Colloquia).
4. UH 4984 (Honors Reading Seminar/Colloquium Magnum). You may take up to two 1 credit hour Reading Seminars per semester. [Colloquium Magnum open only to Honors House members]
5. 4000 level course outside your major. This course cannot count towards your major or minor.*
- Download the form here (.doc)
6. Graduate Courses (5000/6000-level) that do not count toward the Master’s degree (e.g. Combined degree program or other) or the degree requirements in your major or minor.
- Download the form here (.doc)
Category B: Individualized Learning
7. Honors Tutorial/Honors Independent Study (UH 2974 or UH4974).*
8. Honors Research (UH 4994).*
9. Faculty-Student Honors Agreement. Take a regular course for Honors credit by going “above and beyond” the designated requirements of the course. The extra requirements are to be negotiated with the professor in the first week of class.*
- Download the agreement form here (.doc) (to be completed at the beginning of the semester)
- Download the approval form here (.doc) (to be completed at the end of the semester)
Category C: Non-classroom Experiences
10. Spend a term abroad for at least 3 credits. The study abroad experience must be documented on the transcript or equivalent (3 credit hours maximum towards your Honors diploma per experience/country)*
11. Internship or Co-Op Experience (3 credit maximum per experience/company/unit).*
*Note: These options require approval, in writing, no later than the fifth day of the semster in which they are experienced. Approval forms can be found on the honors web page.
Exceptions to honors credit or distribution must be approved by the Honors Director and only after meeting with the director before any relevant experience.