At Appalachian State, you can pursue University Honors for a broad interdisciplinary experience, Departmental Honors for focused study within most majors, or both. Explore the details below to help decide which path—or combination—best fits your academic goals and interests.
Which Honors Path Is Right for Me?
University Honors
University Honors, offered by the Honors College, is ideal if you want a broad, interdisciplinary experience that spans your undergraduate career.
- It includes small seminars, a senior thesis, global opportunities, and an engaging Honors community.
- The most meaningful parts of the University Honors experience—mentoring relationships, research or creative work, and a vibrant community of peers—develop best over at least three years of active involvement.
- University Honors typically requires 24 credits of coursework (including a 3-credit Honors Thesis). This requirement can be reduced to 15 credits via the Upper Division University Honors path for students who enter App State with more than 45 earned credits.
Departmental Honors
Departmental Honors, offered by over 35 departments across campus, is a great fit if you prefer to focus deeply on your major.
- It includes Honors courses within your discipline and a thesis related to your field.
- Students often begin Departmental Honors programs in their sophomore or junior year. If you plan to spend fewer than three years at App State, Departmental Honors might better suit your timeline and academic goals.
- Requirements vary by department; on average departmental honors requires approximately 9 credit hours of coursework (including a 3-credit Honors Thesis).
Combining University and Departmental Honors
You don't have to choose between the two programs.
- You can pursue both University Honors and Departmental Honors simultaneously if you want the full interdisciplinary experience along with in-depth study in your major.
- This can often be completed by making specific choices in your University Honors program to obtain Departmental Honors with no additional coursework.
- A single 3-credit departmental thesis will meet the thesis requirements for both Departmental and University Honors, provided you obtain a second reader for your thesis who is positioned outside your major department to offer an interdisciplinary lens to your work.
If you’re unsure which path fits best, we’re here to help! Feel free to reach out to our Associate Vice Provost for the Honors College, Vicky Klima (klimavw@appstate.edu), for guidance.