Find Your Honors Pathway

The following template serves as a guideline as you chart your W.A. Franke Honors College requirements and progress to graduation. Be sure to consult your home department’s academic advisor to see how these plans will work with your degree requirements. Email your Franke Honors Advisor for additional questions. 

Semester 1: _______________  = __ units 

Required:  UNIV 101 – 1 credit 

Semester 2: _______________  = __ units 

Required: Honors Seminar – 1 credit 

Semester 3: _______________  = __ units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course. 

Semester 4: _______________  = __ units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course. 

Semester 5: _______________  = __ units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course, such as
HNRS 321 as a thesis prep option. 

Semester 6: _______________  = __ units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course, such as
HNRS 321 as a thesis prep option. 

Semester 7: _______________  = __ units 

- Required: 3 Capstone/Thesis Units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course. 

Semester 8: _______________  = __ units 

- Required: 3 Capstone/Thesis Units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course. 

USE IF 5TH YEAR NEEDED
Semester 9: _______________  = __ units 

Required: Capstone/Thesis Units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course. 

Semester 10: _______________  = __ units 

Required: Capstone/Thesis Units 

*Note: Consider taking at least one other Honors-credit bearing course. 

*Note: This template is designed for a four to five year Honors experience. Your own experience may require fewer or more years. Use this as a guide to map out your own Honors experience, and know that you can always talk with your Franke Honors Advisor for support or questions.  

We recommend that students take at least 3 Honors units per semester to stay on track. Check your Advisement Report or contact your Franke Honors Advisor to learn how many Honors units you will need to earn in order to fill out this Four Year Plan. Most students need to earn 30 Honors units, but check with your advisor to verify. 

 

STUDENT #1: GENERAL STUDENT PLAN   

Semester 1: UNIV 101 = 1 unit 

                     Honors Class = 3 units 

Semester 2: Honors Seminar = 1 unit 

                     Honors Class = 3 units 

Semester 3: Honors Class = 3 units 

                     Honors Contract = 3 units 

 Semester 4: Honors Class = 3 units 
Semester 5: Honors Class = 3 units 

Semester 6: Honors Class = 3 units 

                     HNRS 321 = 1 unit 
Semester 7: Thesis = 3 units  Semester 8: Thesis = 3 units 
TOTAL: 30 Units   
STUDENT #2: STUDYING ABROAD   

Semester 1: UNIV 101 = 1 unit 

                     Honors Contract = 3 units 

Semester 2: Honors Seminar = 1 unit 

                     Honors Contract = 3 units 

                     Apply for Study Away 

Semester 3: Study Abroad for full semester 

                    Study Away 7wk course = 9 units 

 

Semester 4: Honors Contract = 3 units 

                     Honors Contract = 3 units 
Semester 5:

Semester 6: HNRS 321 = 1 unit 

 
Semester 7: Thesis = 3 units  Semester 8: Thesis = 3 units  
TOTAL: 30 Units   

 

STUDENT #3: TRANSFER STUDENT WITH 18 REQUIRED HONORS UNITS   

Semester 1: Honors Class = 3 units 

                     Honors Contract = 3 units 

Semester 2: Honors Class = 3 units 

                     Honors Contract = 3 units 
Semester 3: Thesis = 3 units  Semester 4: Thesis = 3 units 
TOTAL: 18 Units   

 

As you plan your Honors experience, it is helpful to keep in mind the three requirements to graduate with Honors. 

  1. Earn and maintain at least a cumulative 3.4 GPA* 
  2. Complete and submit an Honors Thesis/Capstone 
  3. Complete your Honors units (Either 18, 24, or 30) 

*If you would like to predict your semester grades to better understand your estimated GPA, check out the GPA Calculator.  

It's recommended that they take an honors section of UNIV 101.

The two ways to earn Honors units are through Honors Courses and Honors Experiences. Through a combination of these two pathways, you can create an Honors experience that fits your goals. 

 

REQUIRED HONORS COURSES

Required: All students must complete a one unit Honors Seminar and six units of Capstone/Thesis coursework. 

The remaining units can be general education courses, major electives, requirements, directed research, internship units, classes designated for Honors-students only, or classes with break-out discussion sections for Honors students. *Exception for transfer students or students who joined Honors as Current Wildcats. 

Find Honors Courses.  
 

HONORS CONTRACTS

Students can turn a non-honors course into an honors-credit bearing course through an arrangement with the course’s instructor and the Honors College. Proposals are submitted early in the semester and updated on the students’ account when approved. *Exceptions to this policy exist, so please review the Honors Contract Proposal form for up-to-date policies and procedures. 

Find your Franke Honors Advisor. 

 

  

HONORS DESIGNATED SECTIONS OF COURSES IN YOUR MAJOR/MINOR

Discuss upcoming opportunities to earn Honors units within your major/minor with your Academic Advisor. 

Search for courses with the Honors designation on the Class Search.
 

UNDERGRADUATES ENROLLED IN GRADUATE COURSEWORK 

Many 400-level course are co-convened with a 500-level section. Honors students with junior or senior academic standing and at least a 3.0 GPA can enroll in the 500-level course for an equivalent number of Honors units.  

*Students will need to submit the following form to the Registrar’s Office.

 

 

 

FIRST YEAR HONORS TRIP
The First Year Honors Trip is an unforgettable experience to go abroad while earning General Education credits early in your collegiate career.

Honors units: Up to 6 units 
Contact: Dr. Lysette Davi  
 

FIRST YEAR PROJECT
The First Year Project provides first year Honors students research a topic or issue of interest with the guidance of a faculty mentor, which culminates in a final project, paper, artifact, or recorded performance.

Honors Units: 1-3 units
Contact: Dr. Cheree Meeks    
 

HONORS ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (HASB)

The HASB program allows students to have a chance to explore a location through service with W.A. Franke Honors College peers. This week-long service trip is paired with a 3-unit Spring course designed to inspire lifelong civic engagement through an enriched understanding of diverse perspectives on complex societal issues.

Honors Units: 3 units   
Contact: Dr. Lysette Davi   
 

IGNITE PROSEMINAR

The Ignite Proseminar is designed with students who have no clue where to start with the Honors Thesis process. Take HNRS 321 to gain knowledge in how to approach independent research, project design and portfolio creation.

Honors Units: 1 unit 
Contact: Your Franke Honors Advisor at frankehonors.arizona.edu/academics/advising   
 

INDEPENDENT STUDY

The independent study allows Honors students who are eligible to complete an Honors-level internship. An Honors internship should be qualitatively different from the non-Honors independent study normally undertaken in the department or discipline, resulting in a deeper and more challenging engagement with the subject matter.

Honors Units: Variable   
Contact: Your Franke Honors Advisor at frankehonors.arizona.edu/academics/advising   
 

INTERNSHIP

Franke Honors research and practicum internships are mentored educational experiences where you will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems, actively participate in research, collaborate with faculty, graduate students, and technical staff, and much more.

Honors Units: Variable
Contact: Sharon Overstreet  
 

PATH MENTORING

The PATH Mentoring program help ease the transition to UArizona and the W.A. Franke Honors College. Mentors accepted to this program have the opportunity to build partnerships across the Franke Honors College with incoming students, fellow PATH mentors, and Honors staff.

Honors Units: 2 units/1-year commitment 
Contact: Thomas Sullivan    
 

STUDY AWAY

Honors students who are enrolling in a Study Away credit-bearing experience outside of Pima County may apply or an Honors unit credit reduction. Approved experiences will receive credit reductions pending a completed Study Away 7-Week Course prior to the start of the next academic semester. 

Honors Units: Fall/Spring experiences will receive a maximum of 9 credit reduction units. Summer experiences will receive a maximum of 6 credit reduction units. Winter experiences will receive a maximum of 3 credit reduction units. 
Contact: Dr. Lysette Davi