The Honors Program is an opportunity to enrich your college experience through research, creative thought and independent learning.
It is a challenge extended to our best students. The enriched course content also provides a closer association with professors and other honor students.
Students in the program felt they were better prepared for subsequent university work and able to complete a bachelor’s degree (with honors) at a four-year campus.
Who Qualifies?
The Honors Program is designed for highly motivated, above-average students attending UWM at Washington County or UWM at Waukesha. Entrance to the Honors Program is by invitation only. Those interested in the Honors College on the main campus should email honors@uwm.edu.
New students must have accomplished at least one of the following to participate:
- Graduated in the top 15% of their high school class.
- Scored 27 or higher on the ACT.
Transfer students from a college outside the UW System may participate in the Honors Program if their GPA is 3.4 or higher.
Continuing students can participate in the program after completing 12 credits or more with a minimum GPA of 3.5.
To remain in the program, students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 each semester. Failure to do so will result in students being an inactive member of the program.
Honors Awards
If you are in the Honors Program, you may earn an Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS) degree with honors if these additional requirements are met:
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.25.
- Complete the AAS degree requirements.
- Earn a grade of B or better in 12 of the degree credits earned in honors courses.
- Earn at least six of the 12 honors credits across the humanities, fine arts, social sciences and/or mathematics/natural sciences.
Those who have met the AAS degree with honors requirements must apply for graduation the semester prior to completion. Check with Enrollment Services for details.
UWM at Washington County students who successfully complete an honors course may be eligible to receive the Joseph F. Huber Scholarship ($250). The honors committee makes the final determination, based on course grade and faculty evaluations.
How to Apply
Apply online to the Honors Program after an invitation has been received from the Honors Program Director, Lisa Hager.
Courses for honors credit are generally reserved for Honors students, but students not in the Honors Program can request the consent of the class instructor. Students should make arrangements to take a course for Honors by the third week of the semester in order to give sufficient time to complete the work. No formal paperwork needs to be signed, but it is recommended that the professor and student draw up a contract of how Honors credit will be earned for that class and if there is a minimum grade requirement.
At the end of the semester, the professor will provide the names of all students who successfully earned Honors credit to the Honors Program Director. She will send the information to the UWM Registrar in order to have those courses appear on a student’s transcript under notes.
Don’t forget about scholarship options as well: