FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question below or scroll down to view the questions and answers together.
1. Why is there an Honors Program at the University of Miami?
2. What are the benefits for qualified students to participate in the Honors Program?
3. What are the entrance requirements for a freshman?
4. I was not initially invited into the Honors Program or have transferred into the University of Miami. Can I join the program later?
5. What courses do I take to satisfy the General Honors requirements?
6. What about the 'B' minimum grade?
7. What if I get a 'B-', 'C+', 'C' , etc. in my Honors course?
8. What recognition do I receive for participating in the program?
9. I am confused about the difference between General Honors and Departmental Honors; how are they different?
10. Are there any direct scholarships available through the Honors Program?
11. How are Honors courses (designated 'H') selected at UM?
12. Who chooses the professors who teach the 'H' courses?
13. What does the Honors Program offer to those of us who want to be involved in student activities?
14. I plan to study abroad next year; may I receive 'H' credit for courses I take there?
15. If I cannot take a course designated 'H' this semester, will it jeopardize my standing in the Program?
16. What happens if I am put on an inactive status in the Program?
17. I finally completed that “I” (“Incomplete”) in an 'H' course last semester; do I need to do anything else?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
| 1. | Why is there an Honors Program at the University of Miami? The General Honors Program was established to encourage and challenge our outstanding students with an academically challenging course of study. Through smaller classes taught by tenured faculty the General Honors Program seeks to develop in our best students their natural gifts and abilities. back to top |
|||||||||
| 2. | What are the benefits for qualified students to participate in the Honors Program? Honors classes are smaller and focused more on why something is rather than what it is. As a rule the classes are taught by tenured faculty who are interested in seeing that Honors students' additional academic needs are met. These same professors also tend to have greater experience with hands-on research, and often serve as mentors for those who wish to get involved in research. Other advantages include participation in the social branch of the Honors Program, the Honors Students’ Association, HSA, which enables Honors students to express themselves outside the classroom environment. Finally, if you complete the required number of courses to remain active in the Program, you will graduate with the notation “General Honors” on both your diploma and your transcript. back to top |
|||||||||
| 3. | What are the entrance requirements for a freshman? The University of Miami Honors Programs takes the initiative to invite the entering freshman class to join the General Honors Program. back to top |
|||||||||
| 4. | I was not initially invited into the Honors Program or have transferred into the University of Miami. Can I join the program later? Admission is highly selective, and is at the discretion of the director.Please review the entrance requirements. back to top |
|||||||||
| 5. | What courses do I take to satisfy the General Honors requirements? You are required to take a minimum of 24 semester hours of credit in order to complete the requirement. This applies to all students who joined the Program. Of the 24 credits, at least 12 must be outside your major (this is our way of encouraging you to challenge yourself outside your primary area of interest). If you should have two or more majors, then you may use no more than 9 credits in each major. Of the 24 credits, at least 12 credits must be at the 200 level or higher (regardless of major). Finally, you must earn a grade of 'B' or better in order to receive credit toward the 24 credit requirement. back to top |
|||||||||
| 6. | What about the 'B' minimum grade? All students who joined the program must earn a grade of 'B' or better in your 'H' course in order for it to satisfy the 24 Honors credit requirement. back to top |
|||||||||
| 7. | What if I get a 'B-', 'C+', 'C' , etc. in my Honors course? You will receive credit toward your overall graduation requirement, but you may not apply the credits in that course toward your 24 Honors credit requirement. back to top |
|||||||||
| 8. | What recognition do I receive for participating in the program? There are three direct forms of recognition for students who complete the General Honors Program:
back to top |
|||||||||
| 9. | I am confused about the difference betweenGeneral Honors and Departmental Honors; how are they different? The General Honors distinction is administered by the Honors Program Office. One receives General Honors by taking certain courses designated as 'H.' The Honors Program Office keeps a detailed record of your progress toward General Honors. By contrast, the Departmental Honors distinction is administered by the respective departments (see the Undergraduate Studies Bulletin for a list of the participating departments). The departments are responsible for informing the Honors Program Office that a student is to receive Departmental Honors. Thus, the Honors Program Office is not directly involved in Departmental Honors. back to top |
|||||||||
| 10. | Are there any direct scholarships available through the Honors Program? No. However, the Honors Program Office coordinates and promotes nationally advertised prestigious awards such as the Truman, Marshall, Rhodes and Fulbright. back to top |
|||||||||
| 11. | How are Honors courses (designated 'H') selected at UM? Each undergraduate department selects the courses to be designated 'H.' The undergraduate department then informs the Honors Program Office what will be offered in a given semester. back to top |
|||||||||
| 12. | Who chooses the professors who teach the 'H' courses? The selection of professors for all undergraduate courses at UM is made by the respective departments. After the department has made its choice, the Honors Program Office is informed of the assignment. back to top |
|||||||||
| 13. | What does the Honors Program offer to those of us who want to be involved in student activities? There are two ways for an Honors student to become involved in student activities:
back to top |
|||||||||
| 14. | I plan to study abroad next year; may I receive 'H' credit for courses I take there? Honors students who participate in the UM Study Abroad Program can designate one course per semester as honors. back to top |
|||||||||
| 15. | If I cannot take a course designated 'H' this semester, will it jeopardize my standing in the Program? Not necessarily. You may simply take two 'H' courses next semester to compensate. As a rule, you are expected to take at least two 'H' courses (6 credits) per academic year so that you have a total of 24 'H' credits by the time you expect to be graduated. If you fail to take 6 'H' credits in any given year, you may be placed on an inactive status. back to top |
|||||||||
| 16. | What happens if I am put on an inactive status in the Program? First, do not panic! Second, come to theHonors Program Office and find out the reason for the inactive status. For example if it is because you failed to receive 6 'H' credits in an academic year, you may be reinstated by planning to double up on your Honors courses for the next two semesters. The important thing is to contact us as soon as you have received a notice of your inactive status and work out a plan to catch up. back to top |
|||||||||
| 17. | I finally completed that “I” (“Incomplete”) in an 'H' course last semester; do I need to do anything else? Yes. You have the responsibility to notify the Honors Program Office of the satisfactory completion of the “I.” This Office does not automatically receive such information. back to top |