Honors coursework provides students with an opportunity to customize their learning through eight Honors Learning Experience (HLE) options. Students choose HLEs that align with their interests, major, and career goals. HLEs range from 0-3 credit hours, allowing students to fully participate in KSU Journey Honors College without adding time or cost to degree. Honors students have the option to pursue one of four designations. Upon acceptance to KSU Journey Honors College, students meet with an Honors advisor to discuss which designation is right for them. 

Honors Designations

    • Announced at graduation
    • Special Honors cords are awarded and worn at graduation
    • Students are identified as Honors Research Scholar in transcript

    The Honors Research Scholar designation typically works well for students with fewer than 45 credit hours and requires completion of six Honors Learning Experiences (HLEs) and the Honors Senior Capstone (HON 4497 and HON 4499). 

    • Announced at graduation
    • Special Honors cords are awarded and worn at graduation
    • Students are identified as Honors Scholar in transcript

    The Honors Scholar designation typically works well for students with fewer than 45 credit hours and requires completion of eight Honors Learning Experiences (HLEs).

    • Announced at graduation
    • Recognized in the transcript
    • Potentially recognized in College and/or Department/School celebrations

    Honors in the Major, Pathway I is designed for students with more than 45 credit hours and involves successful completion of three HLEs (2 in the major as identified by the home department/major) and the Honors Senior Capstone. Departments/Schools may specify additional requirements for specific majors.

    Major requirements for departments that have specified additional requirements:

    Psychology (Required GPA is 3.75)

    • Announced at graduation
    • Recognized in the transcript
    • Potentially recognized in College and/or Department/School celebrations

    Honors in the Major, Pathway II is designed for students with more than 45 credit hours and involves successful completion of five HLEs (3 in the major as identified by the home department/major). Departments/Schools may specify additional requirements for specific majors.

    Major requirements for departments that have specified additional requirements:

    Psychology (Required GPA is 3.75)

Honors Learning Experience Options (HLEs)

    • These interactive courses emphasize deep exploration of content, as well as hands-on experiences that encourage application of course topics.

    • Honors sections typically have a smaller student-to-faculty ratio than other sections.

    • Honors faculty are discipline or subject specialists and take a participatory approach to learning.

    • Students must earn a "C" or better in the course for it to count as an HLE.

  • Honors Contract Handout

    • Students collaborate directly with an instructor to turn any course into an Honors Learning Experience.

    • Students can customize a project to further their understanding of the Foundations of Honors Learning.

    • Workshops are available through the Honors College to equip students with the skills and tools to develop, pursue, and fulfill meaningful Honors contracts.
    • Students experience learning in real-world settings beyond campus through programs organized and led by Honors faculty/staff.

    • Students join Honors faculty/staff as they follow the Honors City As Text model in special courses to investigate a country or region.  These learning experiences culminate in a short-term, faculty-led study abroad experience.

    • Equivalent domestic short-term Honors-led service experiences paired with a non-credit Honors Discovery designed to prepare students for the trip may be offered intermittently as an alternative option to Honors international travel experiences.

    • Students earn an HLE for travel through 1) Honors City as Text course, 2) Honors contract in a non-Honors study abroad course taught by a KSU instructor, or 3) HON 2800 Honors Applied Learning Experience related to the study abroad experience.

  • Students learn while they gain experience related to their majors by focusing on one of the Foundations of Honors Learning through a special project during an internship experience.

    This option is for when the internship is a KSU course. If you have a co-op or other internship that is NOT a KSU course, sign up for HON 2800 Honors Applied Learning (0 hours) and fill out the Applied Learning Experience Proposal.

  • Students serve as a research assistant in supervised inquiry in all disciplines. They hone investigative and critical thinking skills under the guidance of a faculty member.
  • Students develop teaching and leadership skills and document evidence of their Honors learning while working as a Teaching Assistant with one of their professors.
  • Students develop a special course of study that is directed by a faculty member. They learn project management skills while activating deep learning in an area of study.

  • Students examine special topics with an Honors instructor and other Honors students in a small group setting.
    Honors Discoveries are short-term, non-credit learning experiences that revolve around unique topics and offer content beyond the regular curriculum, often integrating current events or pop culture.
    Instructors are subject matter specialists invited by the Honors Program.
    Discoveries are guided by the Foundations of Honors Learning and typically meet weekly for five weeks at non-standard class times.
    Because of the non-credit nature of this Honors Learning Experience, students are limited to 2 Discoveries in a 4-year undergraduate program.

    Are you a faculty member interested in proposing an Honors Discovery? Please fill out the proposal form below and submit it to the Honors College for approval. Incentives are available for instructors.

    proposal form

Honors Minors

  • The minor in Honors Anceint and Modern Classics aims to draw students from all disciplines together for the opportunity to study ancient and modern classical literature. For more information, visit the course catalog.

  • The Honors Applied Professional Selling Minor provides high-achieving Honors Students the opportunity to further develop their Selling skills. For more information, visit the course catalog.

  • The Honors Computer Science and Applications Minor is designed to provide a credential to
    high-achieving Honors students seeking to develop a strong proficiency in data structures,
    computer architecture, and algorithm analysis. For more information, visit the course catalog.
  • The President’s Emerging Global Scholars [PEGS] minor includes Honors courses related to community engagement, global competence, leadership, and professional development. Only students in the President’s Emerging Global Scholars cohort may participate. For more information, visit the PEGS website.
  • The Honors Applied Marketing Minor provides high-achieving Honors Students the opportunity to further develop their marketing skills. For more information, visit the course catalog.