1. To be eligible for Honors Contract Courses, students must have been admitted to the University Honors Program, must have completed the Honors Program Seminar plus two additional honors courses at the 100 or 200 level, and must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA on at least 45 hours of college work. Honors contracts are available for upper division only (300 or above level) courses, and may include independent study courses.

2. The contract form must be submitted for approval to the University Honors Program Director by the end of the third day of class for a 16-week course or by the end of the first day of class for courses of shorter duration. It is generally best if the contract form is submitted before the semester starts.

3. The Honors Contract allows a student to use upper-level courses to provide themselves with the kinds of preparation they want in their field of study. Students may choose to explore a subject in greater depth or to explore topics not normally covered, but related to, those generally covered in the course.

4. The type of activity outlined in the Honors Contract must go beyond the normal course content and requirements. It may include, but is not limited to, research, reading, preparation of materials, or other work that leads to a different learning experience beyond the regular classroom activities of the course. The student must demonstrate that he/she has developed additional knowledge and skills, above and beyond what students normally do in the course. The form in which students demonstrate their work is up to the student provided that it is approved by the professor of the course and the honors director. Students and professors are encouraged to be creative and to share their creativity with others through presentations on and off campus. While an additional paper may be appropriate, it is not the only or even the preferred additional activity.

5. The student's completion of or failure to complete the Honors Contract will not affect the grade earned in the course. A student must earn at least a B in the regular work of the course to earn a "pass" grade for the honors contract course. A grade of incomplete is not possible and will result in a "no credit" grade for the contract course. Upon completion of the Honors Contract, the professor and the student will submit the Honors Contract Completion Form to the Director of the Honors Program by the last day of the final exam period. The Honors Director will then notify the registrar that honors credit has been earned for the course.

Download the Honors Contract forms in PDF format.