Requirements and
Deadlines
Behrend Honors Program
Culminates in a Penn State Behrend Honors Certificate unique to Penn State Behrend.
Entry to Honors Program: First Semester Freshmen
Freshman admission by invitation based on high school GPA and SAT scores. No separate application is required.
Minimum Requirements: File an Annual Academic Plan. Maintain a 3.33 GPA each semester.
01-02 Semesters: At least one honors course per semester is required. A minimum of six honors credits is strongly recommended.
03-04 Semesters: At least one additional honors course is required. (Honors Options or Independent Study/Research with adviser permission only.) A minimum of three honors credits is recommended.
Honors Certificate: Students entering as first-semester freshmen must earn nine honors credits to receive an Honors Certificate at the end of 04 semester.
Entry to Honors Program:
Second Semester
Freshmen or Sophomores
Students are invited to join the Honors Program if they complete 01 semester or the freshman year with a 3.5 GPA.
Minimum Requirements: File an Annual Academic Plan. Maintain a 3.33 GPA each semester.
Students entering as second-semester freshmen or as sophomores must earn a minimum of six honors credits by the end of 04 semester, although more honors coursework is encouraged.
Honors Certificate: Students entering as second-semester freshmen or sophomores must earn a minimum of six honors credits to receive an Honors Certificate by the end of 04 semester.
In order to continue honors study at the junior/senior level, a student must apply to join the Schreyer Honors College.
SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE
Culminates in a Penn State Honors Degree. This is a University-wide program.
Annual Requirements
- Maintain a 3.40 GPA each semester.
- Take three honors courses for a minimum of seven credits each academic year.
- File an Annual Academic Plan.
Freshmen admission by invitation based on high school GPA and SAT scores. A separate application must be submitted by February 1. The application is available at the Schreyer Honors College website. Call the Schreyer Honors College at 814-863-2635 for more information.
Freshman Year (01-02 semesters): Complete ENGL 030 and at least two additional honors courses for a niminum of (9) nine honors credits by the end of the first year.
Invited to apply if complete freshman
year with a 3.7+ GPA.
Sophomore Year (03-04 semesters ): Complete a cumulative total (freshman and sophomore year) of at least six (6) honors courses (counting ENGL 030) for at least 18 honors credits.
Admission by application at end of 04 semester.
Scholars must complete a minimum of 14 honors credits over the junior and senior years including an honors thesis.
Junior Year (05-06 semesters): Honors options, independent study and research, thesis preparation.
Senior Year (07-08 semesters): Honors thesis work (up to six honors credits may be applied toward thesis research and writing) and additional honors options or independent study/research as needed to complete the minimum 14 honors credits.
DEADLINES
Annual Academic Plan: Honors and Scholars must submit their plans each spring semester. Exceptions to the requirements listed above must be explained and initialed by the honors advisor on the plan.
Honors Options, Honors Independent Study/Research: Forms are due by the end of the drop/add period of the semester in which honors study is taken.