HONORS COURSES FAQ

Is a student required to take any mandatory Honors courses?

All incoming freshmen are required to register for the University Honors Colloquium (HUM 2944), which is only offered in the fall. This course is a one hour seminar that features speakers from across the spectrum who will present on topics specific to their academic discipline. Successful completion of the course is required for retention in the Honors Program.

Is there a minimum/maximum number of Honors courses for which a student can register?

No. A student may tailor their course schedule to include as few or as many Honors courses as they are comfortable with.

What is required for retention in the Honors Program?

Students are required to complete successfully the University Honors Colloquium during their freshman year. A student must also maintain a 3.20 FSU GPA each semester to remain in good standing in the program.

How does a student complete the Honors Program?

Students who complete 18 hours of Honors credit will become Honors finishers. These 18 hours can be achieved several ways:

• by taking Honors courses
• by involvement in research, creative activity or community service

Nine hours of the 18 must be coursework credit. The remaining nine may be coursework or any combination of R/C/S credit.

How long does a student have to complete the Honors Program?

A student has until their graduation from FSU to complete the Honors Program requirements for finisher achievement.

If I finish the Honors Program requirements, will I graduate with Honors?

No. The only way to graduate with honors from Florida State is to complete successfully an Honors in the Major thesis project before graduation. Students graduating with Honors will have "with Honors" added next to their major description within their final transcript. Students will also have their major "with Honors" announced at the commencement exercises.

What recognition does a finisher of the Honors Program receive?

Finishers of the Honors Program receive a medallion during a special Medallion ceremony the semester they graduate. The medallion may be worn during the commencement exercises. Finishers also have the phrase "Completed Requirements of Liberal Studies Honors Program" noted on their transcripts.

What makes Honors courses different from other courses offered at FSU?

Honors classes have fewer students, provide more challenge, and allow more interaction with professors and top students. Every Honors student becomes part of the dialogue of learning. Honors seminars are courses designed especially for Honors students only; they limited to 15 students and explore special topics in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. Honors-only sections of courses that are offered to the general student population enroll a maximum of 25 students.

What are liberal studies requirements?

As one of its primary goals, a university education should foster in the student a spirit of free inquiry into humane values, while developing the mind as an instrument of analysis and synthesis. Essential to the student's quest for knowledge and to responsible participation in society is an understanding of one's self and of the natural and social environment. The Liberal Studies Program is intended, therefore, to provide a perspective on the qualities, accomplishments, and aspirations of human beings, the past and present civilizations they have created, and the natural and technological world they inhabit. The Liberal Studies Program, designed to ensure breadth in the student's academic experience, while at the same time affording flexibility in satisfying requirements, may be extended throughout the undergraduate years with the exception of Areas I and II. The five areas of liberal studies provide students with essential competencies and introduce the student to broad areas of knowledge.

Students are required to complete (or be exempted from with credit) a minimum of six (6) semester hours of mathematics and six (6) semester hours of English composition, six (6) to twelve (12) semester hours in social science/history, five (5) to eleven (11) semester hours in humanities/fine arts, and seven (7) semester hours in natural science (one course must be accompanied by a scheduled laboratory) for a total of thirty-six (36) semester hours. Please visit the Registrar's Office for more information on particular courses that satisfy liberal studies requirements.

Do Honors Courses count towards the University's liberal studies requirements?

Yes.

Am I required to have a declared major?

The Florida State University will allow students to remain undeclared until they have attempted seventy-five (75) semester hours; however, it is common for academic majors to require that specific courses be taken during the freshman and sophomore years. An advisor from the intended major is the best person with whom to discuss these requirements. Students should, therefore, declare their intended major as early as possible to ensure proper advisement.

Are Honors courses offered in my major?

No. The courses offered by the Honors Program count both towards Honors credit and for liberal studies credit. The Honors in the Major Program in the junior or senior years serves students in specific academic majors.

What is Priority Registration and do Honors Students receive it?

At Florida State University, the time at which a student is allowed to register for classes is based on the number of credits which the student has earned, with graduate students registering first and freshmen registering last. Priority Registration allows Honors students to register with graduate students, regardless of the number of credits a student has earned. Incoming Honors Freshmen will register for their first semester at FSU during Orientation, where they will be taught how to use the Telephone Registration System or the FSU World Wide Web Registration System. Honors students retain priority registration privileges as long as they remain in good standing in the Program.