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.

In May and August, 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. However, many departments have additional requirements for honors coursework, which typically includes two semesters of honors research/writing and sometimes an additional graduate course or seminar; be sure to check with your Departmental Honors Coordinator for more information.

Committees must consist of at least three core members. Core committee members must be regular Emory University faculty members from any school or unit. One member must be from the student’s honors major and at least one member must be from Emory College. Your advisor counts as one of the three core members. You may have additional core committee members from the faculty of Emory University. You may also have additional non-core committee members from the faculty of other universities, but only core committee members vote on the level of honors. 

Regular faculty titles typically include professor, associate professor, assistant professor, teaching professor (professor of pedagogy), associate teaching professor (senior lecturer), assistant teaching professor (lecturer), but might also include titles such as Instructor or Research Associate. 

Adjunct, visiting, emeritus, and post-doctoral fellows must petition to the Honors Committee to be permitted to serve on committees as core committee members.

Members of the staff are not eligible to serve on committees. 

If you have questions about someone’s eligibility or about the petition process, contact ec.honorsprogram@emory.edu. 

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 of their declared majors (or in an official joint major that they have declared). Students who are double majoring may design an interdisciplinary project that draws on both majors with the approval of the department in which they are seeking honors, but they will only receive honors in one major.  

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

Students will receive credit for the continued writing/continued communication GER credit in the second semester of the Honors Program only. The Honors 495BW course will satisfy the continued writing/continued communication GER even if the student enrolls for less than three credits. 

If you have decided to drop the Honors Program, you must notify both the College Honors Program Administrator (ec.honorsprogram@emory.edu) and your Departmental Honors Coordinator by email. 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 two consecutive 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.