With special permission in cases of academic relevance, students may study abroad during the first semester of their participation in the Honors Program. All students are required to be in residence during the final semester of participation in the Honors Program.

Admission to the Emory College Honors Program requires a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above, and students must maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA through graduation to be eligible to graduate with Honors. Only Emory grades (including Emory sponsored study abroad programs and courses offered at Emory but outside the College, such as those offered by the Goizueta Business School) are calculated as part of a student’s Emory GPA.

At the beginning of every academic year, the Honors Committee considers petitions to be admitted to Honors from students who do not meet the 3.5 cumulative GPA requirement. Students who have a GPA of at least 3.45, and the support of their departmental honors coordinator and potential thesis advisor are eligible to petition. Students who are admitted by petition must earn at least a 3.5 semester GPA in every subsequent semester to be eligible to continue in the Honors Program.

The College requires honors students to be in residence and enrolled in at least one hour of honors credit during the semester in which they are completing the Honors Program. Many departments have additional requirements for coursework for Honors students; be sure to check with your Departmental Honors Coordinator for more information.

Your committee must include at least three “core” Emory University faculty members (Emory faculty outside the College may serve in this capacity, including Oxford College faculty). At least one member must be inside your department, and at least one member must be outside your department. You may have additional committee members, including faculty from other universities, beyond the required three core members. Only core members vote on level of honors. Your advisor counts as one of the three “core” members.

All core committee members must be Emory faculty. Lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors, research professors, full professors, and emeritus professors are eligible. Adjunct and visiting faculty are eligible as long as they are teaching at Emory during both semesters of the academic year during which you are writing your thesis. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows may serve on your committee, but not as core members.

Your advisor must be on campus during both semesters in which you are pursuing honors, and must be present in person at your thesis defense. Only one of your core committee members may hold an appointment outside Emory during the academic year in which you are pursuing honors; she/ he may attend your thesis defense via Skype (or other remote method). Electronic signatures are permissible for committee members outside Emory.

Students who are graduating in the fall may participate in the Honors Ceremony that follows their graduation. Contact the Honors Program Administrator for more information.

No. Students may pursue honors in only one major, though students who are double majoring may design an interdisciplinary project that draws on both majors

No. Honors may only be pursued in the student’s major.

If you have decided to drop the Honors Program, you must notify both the College Honors Program Administrator and your Departmental Honors Coordinator in writing. If dropping after College withdrawal deadlines, you must work with your advisor and/or honors coordinator to finish the honors course in which you are enrolled.

Yes. Students may pursue Honors on an alternative timeline, with permission from their department and in coordination with the College Honors Program Administrator, but must pursue honors for at least two semesters (not including summer semester).

If you are struggling academically, have petitioned a college standing committee for special circumstances, or there is an extraordinary experience that is affecting your academic path, please get in touch with the honors coordinator in your department and the honors program immediately so your best options for honors can be determined.