Honors Programs

Potential Students

Would you like to be part of a select group of students chosen on the basis of demonstrated excellence in academics as well as leadership, service, and a capacity for intellectual inquiry? Do you have a strong desire to further your education, not only toward the end of job security or professional advancement but with the goals of developing your mind, increasing your knowledge, and benefiting society?

If you are an academically talented student with a commitment to excellence, one of Tarleton’s two Honors programs may be a good fit for you. In either program, the Presidential Honors Program or the Honors Degree Program, you’ll be part of an Honors community that combines the advantages of a small liberal arts college with the diversity of a comprehensive state university.

Although the requirements for the two programs differ, much of the Honors curriculum is the same. Students in both programs take Honors sections of core curriculum courses.

What is different about honors classes?

• limited to 25 students
• offer intellectually challenging material
• offer innovative approaches to the subject
• offer increased opportunities for honing critical thinking and writing skills
• offer the opportunity to interact closely with similarly motivated students
• emphasize discussion and student participation
• use primary sources and monographs over textbooks
• use special lab equipment that would not be available to most undergraduate students
• emphasize student projects and research
• emphasize essay exams over multiple choice

What honors classes are offered?

Presidential Honors (PHP)

Beginning freshmen are considered based on high school class rank (generall top 10 percent); ACT/SAT (generally minimum ACT of 27 and SAT of 1190 for the verbal and math); participation in high school Honors, AP, IB, or Gifted and Talented classes; quality of essays; extracurricular activities; service to school and community; letters of recommendation; and for those selected as finalists an on-campus interview.  To remain in the program, students must maintain a 3.4 Tarleton GPA and provide leadership and service to the University and the community.  They must also complete 15 hours of solid academic work each semester, take as many Honors core courses as possible, take a one-hour Freshman Honors Seminar, take two three-hour Honors Seminars, and complete a senior research project.  In return for these requirements, the students will receive an annual Scholarship of $7,000, early registration each semester, funding to attend a conference or to participate in summer study abroad and opportunities for cultural enrichment activities.  Presidential Honors students also receive priority housing is the Honors Residence Hall (Centennial Hall).

Honors Degree (HDP)

Honors Degree Program participants will choose to participate in either the lower-level or upper-level honors component or both, and they will receive an appropriate recognition for those components they have completed.

HONORS CORE
Students will apply for admission to the Honors Core.  Incoming freshmen who graduate in the top quarter or who graduate in the second quarter and score 1100 or higher on the SAT (math and verbal) or 24 or higher on the ACT will be admitted.  Returning students and transfer student with a 3.0 or higher GPA are eligible to apply for admission.

The Honors Core will consist of 15 hours of lower-level honors classes.  Students will either complete 15 hours of honors core courses or 12 hours of honors core courses and a sophomore three-hour honors seminar.  Students who complete the 15 hours with a 3.0 or higher GPA, in their honors classes and overall, will receive credit and recognition for the Honors Core.  Students who complete less than 15 hours of honors core courses will receive credit and recognition for the courses they have completed.

UPPER-LEVEL HONORS

Students must apply to the Honors Programs for admission to upper-level honors.  Eligible students include:  students who have completed Tarleton's Honors Core, students who have completed a lower-division honors component comparable to Tarleton's Honors Core at a community college or another four-year institution, students with a 3.2 or higher overall GPA (transfer students or continuing Tarleton students).  Individual departments may institute additional requirements for admission to Departmental Honors.

Upper-Level Honors involves three options that eligible students may choose from:

Upper-Level Departmental Honors will be developed by individual departments to fit the individual disciplines.  Upper-Level Departmental Honors will include a junior-level component and a senior-level component.  Upper-Level Seminar Honors consists of two upper-level Honors Seminars, Honors 385 taken under two different topics.  Generally, one seminar would be taken during the junior year and one during the senior year.  Upper-Level Seminar and Independent Research Honors consists of a junior-level three-hour Honors Seminar and a three-hour senior research project.

How do I apply for admission to one of the Honors Programs and how do I apply for an Honors scholarship?

Presidential Honors Program

Click here to download a scholarship application form. Make sure to provide the special materials that are required for consideration for the Presidential Honors Program. All students admitted to the Presidential Honors Program receive the $7,000/year scholarship.

Honors Degree Program

Click here to complete the Honors Core application. To be considered for the Honors Degree Program scholarship, you must also fill out a scholarship application form.  Click here to complete the Upper-Level Honors application.