Program Overview
What are the goals of the Honors Program?
Honors work in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is designed to foster intellectual curiosity and to provide a rich, diverse, and challenging educational experience. To that end, we bring professors and talented students together in a variety of ways: by offering a broad range of Honors courses on a regular basis (including some Honors courses with limited enrollments); by providing extensive opportunities for Honors students to participate in individual projects with professors; and by providing a wide range of supplementary activities through "The Honors Experience."
How do I enter the Honors Program?
After completing one full semester at Purdue with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better, you may apply to the Honors Program through this website.
If you are interested in taking Honors courses, you may do so whether or not you are a member of the Honors Program. Your academic advisor will be able to assist you in enrolling in them if you meet the basic requirements (for entering Freshmen: 1800 SAT, ACT 26, or upper 10% of your senior class; for current Purdue students, an overall GPA of 3.0 or better).
What are the major benefits of the Honors Program?
The Honors Program offers a host of benefits. Foremost, Honors courses offers students a wider range of possibilities for enriched and independent work than what is often available in regular courses. Through Honors Only courses, students are also offered, even in their first year, an opportunity to establish close relationships with professors and challenging opportunities to engage with other talented students in small classes. Because of the special relationships established in these courses and the unusual projects often pursued in them, Honors professors are frequently those to whom students later turn for recommendations for awards, internships, scholarships, and fellowships.
The Honors Program likewise offers students unique opportunities, including individualized counseling about graduate and professional schools, special counseling about fellowships, and the opportunity to participate in numerous activities on and off campus throughout the academic year. Students interested in contributing further to the program may volunteer to help in the Honors Office and to serve on the Honors Council, the student group which advises the Director. Honors students may also apply for Honors Scholarships and merit awards available only to students within the Honors Program.
How do Honors requirements relate to other Purdue requirements?
You can frequently use an Honors course to satisfy a CORE requirement or requirements for your major at the same time. Careful planning with your advisor and the Honors Office may make it possible to graduate with College Honors without having to take any extra courses. The earlier you enter the Honors Program, the easier it is to complete Honors requirements and requirements within your majors.
How do I remain in the program?
As long as you maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3/4.0 or better, you are a student in good standing in the Honors Program. You do not need to take an honors course every semester, although it is encouraged.
May I take Liberal Arts Honors courses if I am not a Liberal Arts major?
Yes. Liberal Arts Honors courses are open to any student who meets the grade-point criteria for the Honors Program, and in most cases non-Liberal Arts majors will find no difficulty in enrolling in them. However, on occasion enrollment may be restricted primarily to Liberal Arts majors for certain courses. Contact the Honors Office in case of difficulty.
What does it cost to belong to the Honors Program?
Nothing. Most of the events in the Honors Program are free. On occasion, however, usually for an event out of town, a small contribution may be requested to help offset expenses.
Contact Us
CLA Honors Program
Beering Hall, Rm. 1175
100 N. University St.
West Lafayette, IN 47907
(765) 496-3235
clahonors@purdue.edu