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Honors College

The University Honors College is one of the most comprehensive and academically rich programs of its kind in the country. The Honors College emphasizes experiential learning, providing transforming life experiences inside and outside of the traditional classroom by encouraging study abroad, internships, and community service. The program fosters in-depth scholarship by encouraging multiple degrees in diverse subjects, undergraduate research, graduate work, capstone courses, and an Honors Thesis. With access to advanced educational opportunities, and special recognition and privileges, our Honors Scholars benefit from the best that a large research university can provide and from the personal attention you’d expect to find at an elite small college.

Each year, the University at Buffalo invites 325 exceptional incoming freshmen students to participate in the Honors College. Students admitted into the program benefit from unique academic opportunities and benefits including special seminar courses, faculty mentors, an undergraduate research and creative activities fund, scholarship support for Honors College scholars who study abroad, involvement in programs designed to connect our students with faculty across campus, early registration and priority housing. Admission to the Honors College is based on high school performance and standardized test scores. To be competitive for consideration, applicants should present an unweighted high school average of 93 and a combined SAT critical reading and math score of 1300 or ACT score of 29.

The Honors College provides two comprehensive, university-wide options for academically talented students: the Honors College for incoming freshmen students, and the Advanced Honors Program for upper-division current UB and transfer students. Students accepted to each program receive special benefits, allowing them to create educational experiences unique to their individual interests.

With globalization and the shifting economic, technological, and cultural landscape it is likely students will change jobs several times over the course of their career. As a result, they must be creative and nimble to succeed in the international marketplace of ideas. They must be scholars of the first order, be able to work effectively with people of virtually every background, all the while being sensitive to the needs of their community. The Honors College helps prepare students for the 21st century by:

• Emphasizing experiential learning and providing transforming life experiences both inside and outside the traditional classroom by encouraging study abroad, internships, and community service.
• Fostering in-depth scholarship by encouraging multiple degrees in diverse subjects, undergraduate research, graduate work, capstone courses, and an Honors thesis.
• Requiring a detailed annual review of career plans with our professional advisement staff, recognizing that the majority of students change their majors during their university years, often with unexpected opportunities.
• Conferring a strong Honors experience throughout all four years at UB, enhancing the interaction of students and faculty mentors, and producing a strong network of scholars for the future.

The responsibilities of an Honors Scholar include successfully completing 24 credits of honors coursework, including the Honors Colloquium in the fall semester freshman year and completing two Honors seminars, one each semester of the freshman year. Students should maintain a minimum semester and overall Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.3 during the first year and at least a 3.5 GPA in each successive year to graduate with an overall GPA of 3.5.

Beyond Colloquium (2 credits) and 2 Honors seminars (3 credits each), students select and complete 16 credit hours of Honors Experiences from the following list before graduation (to reach the required total of 24 honors credits):

• Undergraduate research*
• Independent study*
• Internship or practicum*
• Study abroad*
• Undergraduate supervised teaching*
• Graduate coursework
• Departmental Honors coursework
• Departmental Honors thesis or project*
• Senior Capstone coursework
• Contract Honors coursework
• Honors Experience Petition
• Additional Honors Seminar

* Denotes non-coursework category

Benchmarks

• 8 credits must be completed by the end of the Freshmen year (credits earned through the Honors Colloquium and two Honors Seminars) and 16 credits total must be completed by the end of the Junior year to maintain good standing in the Honors College.
• A maximum of 9 credit hours per category are allowable.
• At least 3 credits must come from non-coursework categories, denoted with *.
• A total of 3 Honors Seminars may be taken.
• Courses in a student’s major may be used to meet the Honors Experience requirements.

Advanced Honors Program

Each semester, highly qualified current university students are invited to apply for admission to the Advanced Honors Program. Students are eligible to apply once they have completed 45 credit hours and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 (including all transfer credit). The program provides an individualized honors opportunity for academically talented students, including those who may not have been eligible for the Honors College upon admission to the university. In addition to completing an application for admission to the program, students must also write a personal statement addressing their educational goals and aspirations, and must provide one faculty letter of recommendation. Application deadlines are October 1 for the fall semester and March 1 for the spring semester.

The Advanced Honors Program requires the completion of a senior thesis under the direction of two faculty advisors, the completion of three honors courses, and a breadth requirement (e.g., a second major, minor, overseas study, internship/co-op program, or community service). In return, Advanced Honors Scholars receive early registration privileges, opportunities for funding for research, thesis and study abroad experiences, special advisement, and commencement and transcript recognition of their excellence.

Presidential Scholarship Program

The Presidential Scholarship Program offers full scholarships for four years of undergraduate study at UB for a select group of the top entering freshmen students. These scholarships cover the cost of an undergraduate education at UB, including tuition, room and board, and fees. The value of the Presidential Scholarship increases as educational costs rise. Students awarded the Presidential Scholarship automatically receive admission to the Honors College, enjoying all of the special privileges accorded to Honors Scholars. Presidential Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit.

Competitive applicants should present a score of at least 1470 on the math and critical reading sections of the SAT or 33 composite score on the ACT and a minimum unweighted high school average of 95. Applicants must also submit the Presidential Scholarship application, which is available from the Honors College office and must be on file in the Honors College office by early-January. In addition, students must file the SUNY or the Common Application for admission to UB; this must be on file by December 1 and complete by December 31 of the application year. Offers are made beginning mid-February.

Performing and Creative Arts Scholarship Program

Scholarships are also available to students with outstanding talent in the Performing and Creative Arts. Students interested in majoring in Theatre (Performance, Technical, Design, Play writing, or Music Theatre), Visual Studies (Art), Dance, Media Study or Music (including Music Performance) are considered. Performing and Creative Arts Scholars are invited to join the Honors College and receive all the special privileges accorded to Honors Scholars. To be considered, students must have a minimum unweighted high school average of 90 and a minimum combined SAT critical reading and math score of 1230 (or minimum ACT score of 28). If you would like to be considered for this scholarship, you should apply to the university by December 31, as scholarship awards will be based on academic credentials received by this date. An audition or portfolio review, a personal interview and a separate scholarship application are also required. Some departments have specific additional application requirements and deadlines. These Scholarships are awarded beginning mid-February. Performing and Creative Arts Scholars are invited to join the Honors College beginning in March of each year. For more information contact the Honors College office.

Information concerning the Honors College, and applications for Presidential Honors Scholarships, Performing and Creative Arts Scholarships, and the Advanced Honors Program, are available from the Honors College, University at Buffalo, 106 Capen Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260-1670, 716-645-3020. Additional information can be found on the Honors College website.