Honors College Requirements

Each student receives a detailed requirements letter once their admission into the honors college has been processed.

Please note that requirements differ for incoming first-year and transfer students. If you entered the college prior to 2014, be sure to consult your specific requirements letter and/or student handbook. Contact the honors college if you have any questions. Please note that HNRS 4990 must be completed the semester you plan to defend your thesis.

*AUTOMATIC honors credit (no forms required) for representing the university in music ensembles (MUS 1070, 1080, 1090, 1100, 1110, 1120, 1130, 1180, 1190, 2100, and 2120), dance performance courses (DANC 1000, 4600, 4650), THEA 2900, varsity sports, study abroad, and foreign language and American Sign Language (ASL) courses.

HNRS 4980 and 4990 Approved Substitutions for Applicable Majors

Specific majors offer courses that cover content equivalent to HNRS 4980 and/or HNRS 4990. The following chart lists majors that have approved substitutions that will satisfy the HNRS 4980 and/or HNRS 4990 course requirements. There is no need to submit a form for the HNRS 4980 or HNRS 4990 substitutions listed below; honors academic advisors will account for the substitution(s) directly during the annual audit process.

Requirements for freshmen entering in 2014 or later

• Complete 18 honors credits including HNRS 4980: How and Why to Write an Undergraduate Thesis (one [1] online or hybrid credit hour). HNRS 4980 is a prerequisite for HNRS 4990: Honors Thesis.
• Complete one (1) credit hour of HNRS 4990: Honors Thesis or an honors college approved departmental substitute course. Any courses accepted for substitution will only be honored as one (1) credit hour regardless of amount of institutional credit given.
• Complete twenty (20) hours of approved community service each academic year and submit completed volunteer time log in ExperienceWMU (for more information please visit the community service page). Time logs should be submitted only upon completion of the full twenty (20) hours of service.
• Attend four (4) honors college sponsored events during the first academic year and two (2) during the second academic year. These events are listed in the weekly honors college newsletter. You can also find information on our events page.
• Complete and successfully defend an honors thesis before you graduate. You must file the appropriate paperwork (Thesis Declaration Form, Thesis Defense Certificate Request, approved thesis, etc.) according to honors college deadlines.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater.
• Attend Mandatory First-Year Advising (MFA) in the fall of the first academic year.
• Schedule and attend a minimum of one (1) academic advising appointment every year you are in the honors college.
• Complete both the graduation audit survey and graduation ceremony RSVP during the semester before your graduation from WMU. Links to these surveys will be emailed to all seniors each semester.

Requirements for transfer students entering in 2014 or later

• Complete the number of honors credits specified in your letter of admission to the honors college (minimum of 9) including HNRS 4980: How and Why to Write an Undergraduate Thesis (one [1] online or hybrid credit hour). HNRS 4980 is a prerequisite for HNRS 4990: Honors Thesis.
• Complete one (1) credit hour of HNRS 4990: Honors Thesis or an honors college approved departmental substitute course. Any courses accepted for substitution will only be honored as one (1) credit hour regardless of amount of institutional credit given.
• Complete 20 hours of community service each year.
• Attend two honors college sponsored events during your first year as an honors student.
• Complete and defend an honors thesis or senior capstone project.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater.
• Schedule and complete an advising appointment with an honors college advisor during your first semester in the honors college.
• Complete both the graduation audit survey and graduation ceremony RSVP during the semester before your graduation from WMU. Links to these surveys will be emailed to all seniors each semester.