Honors College Frequently Asked Questions

The Honors College at West Georgia was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia in 1999 and was the first Honors College in the state system. The aim of the College has always been to provide the best environment for students to pursue academic excellence and to engage in the life of the mind for the enrichment of themselves and their communities.

What are the requirements to be in the Honors College?

First-Year Student Admission to the Honors College is based on a holistic evaluation of each applicant. Typically, students admitted to the Honors College have had at least a 3.5 high school GPA, have demonstrated extra-curricular engagement, and have submitted a personal statement. Admission is competitive.

Continuing UWG students and Transfer students who have completed at least 15 college credit hours with at least a 3.2 GPA are eligible to apply to the Honors College.

Can I be in the Honors College if I don't meet these requirements?

Yes! Any student who has completed 15 hours at UWG and has a GPA of at least 3.2 is eligible to apply to the Honors College as a continuing UWG student..

Are Honors classes harder?

Short answer: no. Long answer: a non-honors section of a course isn't transformed into an Honors course simply by doubling the amount of work required of students. Work smarter, not harder. The differences between an honors section and non-honors section of the same course are:

enrollment limited to 16 (20 for science lab courses)
seminar-style format, instead of lecture, with in class discussions and critical thinking skills emphasized over monologue lectures and memorization
due to greater emphasis on in-class participatory discussion, there is less need for 'busy-work' quizzes

What are the benefits to being in and graduating from the Honors College?

There are many benefits from participation in the Honors College. These include:

enrollment in more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating courses, with smaller class size augmented by the ability to learn along with and from classmates who are similarly skilled and motivated;
special access to merit-based scholarships, undergraduate research opportunities, as well as leadership positions on the Honors Council and community engagement events.

Students who complete the Honors College requirements receive special distinction on their diploma upon graduation. Along with their Honors course work on their transcripts, participation in undergraduate research provides strong evidence of being the kind of scholar who excels in graduate school. This explains why Honor College graduates are more likely to gain admission into top level law schools, medical schools, engineering schools, and other graduate programs, and greater access to financial assistance for graduate school.

Where is the Honors House?

The Wagner Honors House is named in honor of Dr. Donald Wagner, the first dean of the Honors College. The Wagner House is located at the corner of the West Entrance to Campus, on Maple Street.

Can I major in Honors?

No, graduating from the Honors College is not a degree program in itself. Students can complete any major at UWG and also graduate from the Honors College.

What does it take to graduate from the Honors College?

In order to graduate with Honors College distinction from UWG, students must:

UWG Honors College course requirements are based on credit hours completed or transferred in to UWG at the time of the student’s application and semester of entry into the program. See the Honors College Course requirements.
Participate in undergraduate research.
Submit and have approved an Honors Capstone Project Proposal in the second semester of your Junior year (between 75 and 90 credit hours).
Submit an Honors Capstone Project prior to the week of finals in the semester of your graduation (see Honors Student Handbook for specifics about the Honors Capstone Project).
Have at least a 3.2 Overall GPA

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