Honors at Wayne State University
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Honors?
Honors at Wayne State is a place where students can receive recognition for scholastic achievement and involvement at the university. Beyond academic excellence, there is a sense of community at work – like-minded students, faculty and staff working to raise expectations and to represent the best that Wayne State has to offer.
How do I become a Wayne State Honors student?
Selected incoming freshmen are invited into the program each Fall semester through Scholars Day. All other incoming freshmen may take honors courses if they have a minimum 3.50 high school grade point average or comparable ACT or SAT scores. Current Wayne State students need to have had a need a minimum cumulative 3.30 grade point average for 24 consecutive college credits before taking honors courses or applying to the program.
Visit our offices on the second floor of the Adamany Undergraduate Library, suite 2100 or call us at (313) 577-3030. You will need to maintain a 3.30 grade point average overall and in your Honors courses.
What are Honors courses?
Honors courses are designated in three different ways:
| Special sections of a course Some sections of a class, such as P S 1010, are marked “Only open to Honors Students,” or “Must have a 3.30 or higher.” Sometimes earns additional credit for Honors students. |
Honors option Courses 2000-level or above that are taught by full-time faculty may be enhanced and count as Honors credit. |
Honors courses These have a subject area code of HON. Examples include HON 4998, Honors Thesis, HON 4990, Directed Study and Honors Program Seminars, (HON 42XX). |
Are Honors classes more difficult?
Honors classes are not more difficult in the sense that Honors students are able to handle the work. Honors classes are always taught by full-time faculty, which means that the professor is a respected authority in their field and has a vested interest in Wayne State students. The difference between Honors classes and non-Honors classes generally is the type of work that you are expected to complete in the courses. The classes tend to have more in-class discussion and more in-depth reading assignments. Strong reading and writing skills are critical.
When can I register for Honors courses?
You will need to contact the Honors office for clearance to register for Honors courses. E-mail us at honors@wayne.edu with your Student ID and the five-digit course reference numbers. We will check to make sure you have the prerequisite GPA and reply to you by e-mail. After you have been accepted to the program, you will have the advantage of Honors Priority Registration. You will receive notice through a special Honors students e-mail that registration will be open to Honors students two business days before everyone else is allowed to register.
When are Honors courses offered?
Honors sections of regular courses and HON courses are generally offered in the fall and winter semesters. Honors option and Honors directed study are available fall, winter and spring/summer provided that you are working with a full-time faculty member.
How do I graduate with Honors?
Honors on the Wayne State transcript
All Honors courses and bachelor’s degrees are noted as Honors on your transcript – graduate programs and prospective employers will know you went the extra mile!
College and Departmental Honors
Many departments have honors tracks within their majors. Check the Undergraduate Bulletin or ask your department for details. For most college departmental honors, you need to complete a minimum of 12 credits in Honors courses, which includes at least one Honors Program Seminar and an Honors Thesis (minimum of 20 pages) with a full-time faculty member from your department. A list of college and department honors is also available on honors.wayne.edu.
University Honors Co-Major
Students may declare the University Honors Co-Major after being admitted to their professional program or in addition to their departmental major (Honors or regular). The University Honors Co-Major requires a minimum of 24 credits in Honors courses, including at least one Honors Program Seminar and an Honors Thesis. Students who are not also completing Departmental Honors may complete their Honors Thesis with a full-time faculty member of their choosing.
How do I declare my Honors Departmental major and/or University Honors co-major?
Once you have completed at least one semester at Wayne State, you may schedule an appointment to meet with the Honors adviser, Liza Lagman Sperl (ab8898@wayne.edu or call the Honors main number). You will need a copy of your unofficial Wayne State transcript. If you are applying to a professional program, you must first be admitted to that program before adding the University Honors co-major.
Are transfer students welcome in the Honors Program?
Absolutely! If you have Honors credits from another school, you can bring in an unofficial copy of your other institution(s)’s transcript and we will see if we can use it toward your Honors degree. The Honors Program Seminar and Thesis must be completed at Wayne State. Most transfer students will use the Honors Directed Study or Honors Option to accrue Honors credits. Departmental Honors students will need to consult with their department regarding using Honors credits towards the major.
What if I have a question that isn’t on this page?
Contact us at honors@wayne.edu. Remember, if you have a question, maybe others have the same one too!