A number of Quinnipiac undergraduates are looking for a unique and particularly sophisticated academic experience. These students share a common desire to excel in their studies and to learn by discussing and sharing new ideas. Although they have different majors or career plans, they all possess a distinctive curiosity and personal initiative.
Quinnipiac offers a challenging and satisfying program for these talented students. The University Honors Program helps Quinnipiac’s most academically talented students get the most from their education—with special seminar courses, close relationships with professors, leadership opportunities and great opportunities for enrichment.
Read what current honors students have to say about the program.
Download the University Honors Program brochure.
Admission
Each year we welcome up to 80 incoming first-year students with strong academic records to the program. Entry to the program is either by invitation or application. Students learn if they have been invited in February. Students who are not invited but would like to join the program may apply for admission in March, and will learn of their status before May 1. After May 1, students still may apply and, if accepted, will be admitted on a wait-list basis. Interested students may inquire with the director or the Admissions Office at any time during the admissions process and into the summer. After their first or second semester, students with strong records of achievement and a demonstrated desire to share their intellectual curiosity and engagement with others may apply to join the program.
Requirements
Honors students take a minimum of 24 honors credits over four years, including honors section of the University seminars (QU 101, QU 201 and QU 301) and a senior-year honors capstone experience, and are expected to maintain a GPA of at least 3.3.
Honors Symposium
The annual Honors Symposium is a celebration of the hard work of our Honors students. During their senior year, students choose one research-oriented course in their major, and share their work in that class with other seniors in regular meeting over the course of a semester. This interdisciplinary experience allows students to share expertise in their major and learn from classmates in other fields. Students present their research at a symposium at the end of the semester. We treat this as a celebration, as well as an academic obligation, and invite parents, family, friends, colleagues and faculty. The symposium models an academic conference, allowing students to experience a professional environment just as they prepare to embark on the next stage of their lives.
View a sample program from a recent Honors Symposium (Adobe PDF)
Honors Housing
When first-year students join the University Honors Program, they are placed together in University housing. Two Honors students are assigned to a quad style room in The Ledges with two other students. They build community within the Honors program, but also meet students from across the University.
Honors Student Lounge
The Honors Student Lounge offers students a welcoming environment for studying, conversation, snacks, and Honors program committee meetings. Located on the second floor of the Echlin Center on the Mount Carmel Campus, the lounge features a book collection, informal seating, coffee and a kitchen.
Questions? Read the answers to our frequently asked questions.