1. University Honors Program
  2. Academics in the Honors Program
  3. Requirements for Honors Students

Requirements for Honors Students

Honors is designed to fit your journey.

Honors students love the community—our events, study spaces, and lounges in Judice-Rickels Hall are favorite spots to connect. But at the heart of it all, the Honors Program is about creating engaging, challenging, and meaningful academic opportunities.

We’re committed to making Honors accessible to students at different stages of their college journey. Whether you’re starting as a first-year student, transferring from another university, or applying after completing several semesters at ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ Lafayette, there’s a place for you here. To support that, we’ve outlined flexible requirements based on the number of credit hours you’ve earned when you join the program.

Enrolled in Honors before Fall 2026? Your requirements are based on when you joined the program. 

Jump to prior requirements ↓

The Honors Interdisciplinary Discovery Minor

All First-Time Freshmen Honors Students will be enrolled in the Honors Interdisciplinary Discovery Minor. 

Transfer and current ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ students with at least 6 semesters remaining are also welcome to enroll in the minor! Current ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ students should be aware that adding the minor will involve updating their catalog to the 2026-2027 version.

In order to complete the Honors Interdisciplinary Discovery Minor—and graduate from the Honors Program—students will be required to: 

  • Maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher
  • Earn 18 Honors Credit Hours
  • Earn 6 credits of Honors Seminar
  • Complete the Senior Poster Symposium

The Core Track

The Core Track is an abbreviated version of Honors requirements intended to allow students entering the program with 60 or more college credit hours to still participate in Honors. 

Transfer and current ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ students with 60 or more credit hours can enroll in the Core Track. 

First-Time Freshmen who entered the program with more than 60 credit hours may switch from the Honors Interdisciplinary Discovery Minor to the Core Track after one semester in Honors. 

In order to complete the Core Track—and graduate from the Honors Program—students will be required to: 

  • Maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher
  • Earn 12 Honors Credit Hours
  • Earn 4 credits of Honors Seminar
  • Complete the Senior Poster Symposium

Requirements for Students Enrolled Before Fall 2026

Students who entered the Honors program before Fall 2026 will be responsible for completing the requirements that were in effect when they joined. 

Students Enrolled in Fall 2025 - Spring 2026

Entered with less than 60 college credit hours

  • Maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher
  • Earn 18 Honors Credit Hours
  • Earn 6 credits of Honors Seminar
  • Complete the Senior Poster Symposium

Entered with 60 or more college credit hours

  • Maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher
  • Earn 12 Honors Credit Hours
  • Earn 2 credits of Honors Seminar
  • Complete the Senior Poster Symposium

Students Enrolled Fall 2025 or Earlier

Entered with less than 60 college credit hours

  • Maintain a 3.2 GPA or higher
  • Earn 18 Honors Credit Hours
  • Earn 6 credits of Honors Seminar
  • Complete the Senior Poster Symposium

Entered with 60 or more college credit hours

  • Maintain a 3.2 GPA or higher
  • Earn 12 Honors Credit Hours
  • Earn 2 credits of Honors Seminar
  • Complete the Senior Poster Symposium