You Belong Here
Our rigorous curriculum will help you as you pursue advanced studies in graduate school, make meaningful contributions to public life, and launch careers in your chosen field.
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 $1,000 Honors Award that is renewable for up to four years (excluding recipients of the Prestigious Honors Scholarship).
In addition the regular university graduation requirements of the university, Honors Program graduates must:
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.
HONR2330 Honors Humanities: Ways of Seeing (3 s.h.). An interdisciplinary foundation course in the shared and unique approaches to human experience of the visual artist, musician, creative writer, and philosopher. Course content draws freely on major cultural landmarks from each discipline. Prerequisite: Honors Program or instructor consent. Goal 2B
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.
We know that some of your most powerful learning experiences will take place outside the classroom. Graceland’s Honors Program sponsors social events and field trips that will help you expand your cultural horizons and build lifelong friendships. From Shakespeare and deep dish pizza in Chicago to Irish folk dancing in Des Moines to abstract art in Kansas City, you’ll get to enjoy the best the Midwest has to offer.
Incoming students with a 3.75 GPA or higher and an ACT score of 27 (or SAT of 1280) or higher can interview for our Prestigious Honors Scholarship, which offers a full tuition benefit that’s renewable for up to four years. For more information on the Prestigious Honors Scholarship, visit the Academic Honors Day page. Note, in lieu of test scores, the applicant may also answer one of two 250 word Alternative to Testing questions on the honors application.
If you have any other questions, please contact the Graceland Honors Program at honorscouncil@graceland.edu or 641.784.5150.
We’re looking for students with a record of academic excellence that includes:
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, 2023 to be considered for the Fall 2023 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.
Apply to the Honors Program
