The Honors experience develops independent and creative thinking and high-level research skills; promotes interdisciplinary inquiry; and nurtures cultured and caring exchanges of ideas. The college's enhanced academic experience prepares students for success in graduate and professional school, career success, leadership responsibilities, community involvement, and overall personal growth.
Appalachian State’s Honors College supports approximately 550 students from diverse majors in their holistic development, encouraging engagement beyond themselves, across disciplinary boundaries, and in collaboration with others.
We strive to empower students to collaborate across differences, lead with integrity, and collectively address complex challenges. Participating in the Honors community equips students for advanced academic pursuits, career success, leadership responsibilities, community involvement, and overall personal growth.
Our Mission
In the Honors College at Appalachian State University, students, faculty, and staff from across campus explore, discover, create, innovate, learn, and grow together. We foster a shared enthusiasm for academic inquiry and support students’ holistic development, promoting engagement beyond themselves, across disciplinary boundaries, and in collaboration with others.
Our History
Appalachian State University began offering honors courses over 50 years ago. Dr. Tom McGowan and Dr. Tom McLaughlin spearheaded the creation of an honors program in the late 1960s, leading to the first departmental honors in English in 1970. Dr. O. Kenneth Webb led the initial Honors Program, with its first graduates in 1972. By the early 1980s, Dr. Helen Latour and Dr. Max Smith developed the General Honors curriculum. The University Honors Program was renamed the Heltzer Honors Program in 2004, following a significant bequest from Harry and Jerri Heltzer. In 2008, it was relocated to the newly formed University College and became the Honors College in 2010. The Chancellor's Scholarship, introduced in the late 1970s and now housed in the Honors College, remains the university's only full scholarship based on academic merit. Additionally, the Heltzer Honors Program for International Education became a scholarship supporting study abroad opportunities. Read more about the history of App State’s Honors College here.
Our Values and Vision
The Appalachian State Honors College values and embraces difference. We make it our shared responsibility to build a community and a world where everyone feels safe, heard, welcomed, and supported. We empower students to collaborate across differences, lead with integrity, and collectively and creatively address complex challenges.