Honors Program

The Honors Program at Graceland is powered by your creativity and enthusiasm.

Your honors classes will help you build communication, research, and critical thinking skills that will serve you throughout your life. You’ll also develop individual studies with faculty mentors where you can pursue the ideas and projects you’re most passionate about. Plus, you’ll also enjoy extra benefits, like the freedom to register for up to 21 credits each semester. In order to recognize your scholastic excellence, Graceland also awards all Honors Program members a $500 Honors Award that is renewable for up to four years (excluding recipients of the Prestigious Honors Scholarship).

Graduate with Honors

In addition the regular university graduation requirements of the university, Honors Program graduates must:

• Participate in the program for a minimum of two complete academic years (4 semesters).
• Graduate with at least a 3.5 GPA.
• Complete a minimum of 21 semester hours of honors credit including:
  • HONR1010 Honors 101
  • HONR2010 Honors 201
  • HONR2300 Intellectual Curiosity
  • HONR3800 Junior Honors Seminar
  • HONR4800 Senior Honors Seminar
  • Add an Honors Contract to one of your classes
  • Senior Honors Thesis project

• Currently-offered Honors classes include:

  HONR1010 Honors 101 (3 s.h.) Interdisciplinary first-year seminar provides a common intellectual experience for new Honors students and introduces them to the culture and opportunities of a small liberal arts institution. Designed to help exceptional students produce, deliver and analyze written and oral texts and learn how written and oral performances function together in specific discourse communities.

  HONR2010 Honors 201 (3 s.h.) The second of two sequenced interdisciplinary Honors seminars focused on developing the skills of written and oral communication, critical inquiry and research. Students produce, deliver and analyze college-level written and oral texts based on sustained academic research and continue to develop their understanding of critical discourse analysis and critical language awareness in the context of a range of discursive forms (written, oral, visual and/or multimedia). Reinforces the common intellectual experience of the Honors program and further exposes students to the culture and opportunities of a small liberal arts institution. Admission by selection only.

  HONR2300 Intellectual Curiosity (3 s.h.). Student-driven course designed to explore and develop the unique skill of curiosity. Students who are intellectually curious ask big question, explore diverse topics, and value learning for its own sake, always seeking to understand how and why things are the way they are. Also a predictor of academic success, curiosity is an important trait that employers seek, since exploring alternatives and being adaptable best prepares someone for a rapidly changing world

  HONR3800 Junior Honors Seminar (3 s.h.) A series of weekly discussions of topics selected by seminar participants for a broad cross section of intellectual disciplines. Each participant is required to prepare specified readings in advance of weekly sessions and to share in planning and conducting discussions. Offered in the fall semester only. Prerequisites: Admission to the Honors Program and junior or senior standing.

  HONR4800 Senior Honors Seminar (3 s.h.) A series of weekly discussions of topics selected by seminar participants for a broad cross section of intellectual disciplines. Each participant is required to prepare specified readings in advance of weekly sessions and to share in planning and conducting discussions. Offered in the fall semester only. Prerequisites: Admission to the Honors Program and junior or senior standing.

Does the Honors Program sound right for you? Apply today!

We’re looking for students with a record of academic excellence that includes:

• Earning a 3.25 or higher high school GPA
• Scoring a 25 or higher on your ACT (or a 1200 or higher on the SAT). In lieu of test scores, the applicant may also answer one of two 250 word Alternative to Testing questions on the honors application.
• Demonstrating outstanding writing skills

We also know that there are many different ways to measure success. If you’re interested in being a part of the honors program, but you don’t meet these exact requirements, please contact our Admissions Office.

The Honors Program will also accept applications from current Graceland students—especially current first- and second-year students—who have established a record of academic success. The application process is the same: just tick the “current Graceland student” box.

All applications to become a part of the Honors Program must be received no later than February 28 prior to the Fall semester in which you want to begin the program (for example, you must apply no later than Feb. 28, 2024 to be considered for the Fall 2024 Honors Program). If you wish to be considered for the Prestigious Honors Scholarship, you must apply to the Honors Program at least one week prior to the Academic Honors Day in which you will compete for the award.