Dean: Jeffrey T. Hopper, Ph.D.
Debbie Baird, B.A., Honors College Administrator
Harding offers two ways for qualified students to earn honors credits through its Honors College. The Honors Scholars curriculum and the Honors Students curriculum offer honors classes which will substitute for liberal arts courses and some discipline-specific honors courses. Qualified students can earn honors credits through contracts in upper-level courses. Honors courses challenge and stimulate outstanding students to develop their intellectual and leadership abilities to the fullest.
The Honors Students curriculum is open to all incoming freshmen who score 27 or higher on the ACT (sum score of 1220 or higher on the SAT verbal and math sections) and who complete an enrollment form to the College. These students will be notified of their eligibility by the Honors College, and may choose from among a variety of honors sections of liberal arts courses and from the discipline-specific honors sections listed in the class schedule each semester. Transfer students and other current students qualify for this tier of honors work by maintaining a 3.25 cumulative grade point average.
The Honors Scholars curriculum is open to incoming freshmen by invitation only. Students qualify by being named National Merit Finalists, Trustee Scholarship recipients, Arkansas Governor’s Distinguished Scholars, or by being selected from the pool of applicants scoring 31 or higher on the ACT (sum score of 1360 or higher on the SAT verbal and math portions). All Honors Scholars are required to take HNRS 201 and HNRS 202 in their first semester, and strongly recommended to include at least 2 courses from 100, 203, 204 and 205 in their academic plan. Credits earned in these courses apply to the liberal arts requirements as listed. Note: Some departments count these courses toward the liberal arts requirements but do not allow them to meet prerequisites in their majors. Students should consult their academic advisers. HNRS 203 , 204 and 205 are open to honors students on a space available basis.
Students who complete a minimum of four classes in either of these tiers qualify to earn honors credits in regular upper-level courses by negotiating new requirements that conform to Honors College guidelines.
The Honors Senior Capstone Project is a senior honors thesis or project suitable for the student’s major. Students present their project in a public forum and are evaluated by Honors College representatives.
A student who earns 10 or more hours of honors credit with a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 will be recognized upon graduation as an Honors College Participant. To graduate from the Honors College, students must earn a minimum of 20 hours of honors credits, including at least four (H) sections or four HNRS courses and four honors contracts with a minimum overall GPA of 3.25. Students who earn a minimum of 26 honors credits, complete a minimum of four (HNRS) courses or four honors (H) sections and a minimum of four honors contracts, successfully present an Honors Senior Capstone Project, and maintain an overall GPA of 3.50 will graduate from the Honors College with Distinction.
The Honors College is a co-enrollment program, allowing students from the other colleges of the University to participate. Additionally, some departments have developed honors sections that are specifically designed for those who are seeking this level of academic challenge. More information is available at www.harding.edu/honors.
For more information contact Jeffrey T. Hopper, dean of the Honors College, Box 10838, Harding University, Searcy, AR 72149, call (501) 279-4056, or e-mail honors@harding.edu.
Bachelor of Arts
Non-Degree
