Application & Requirements

Incoming freshmen

Incoming students are invited to apply to the Honors Program based on ACT or SAT scores.

  • A high school GPA of B or higher
  • An ACT composite score of at least 25 or SAT equivalent score
  • Admission to JSU
  • One letter of reference from a high school teacher (must be on school letterhead and physically signed by teacher)

Current JSU students

Any student who does not qualify based on ACT score as an entering freshman may reapply after completing a semester at JSU.

  • 3.5+ JSU GPA
  • One letter of reference from a JSU faculty member (must be on JSU letterhead and physically signed by faculty member)

Transfer students

Students transferring to JSU may apply after completing one semester at JSU.

  • 3.5+ JSU GPA
  • One letter of reference from a JSU faculty member (must be on JSU letterhead and physically signed by faculty member)
Submit JSU Honors Program Application

Requirements for Honors Program

A typical Honors student should present writing skills at least adequate to the demand of society at large and evidence of involvement in extracurricular and academic organizations.

In order to remain in good standing as a member of the Honors Program, and graduate with distinction of Honors Program Graduate, students must meet the following minimum criteria:

  1. Students must successfully complete one 3-hour Academic Honors course and one 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation course in the first semester of the program. 
  2. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors Program curriculum by successfully completing three 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation courses by the end of the fourth semester in the program.
  3. All students must maintain a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Students whose GPA falls below the minimum are given one semester to correct the deficiency or be suspended from the Honors Program.
  4. Students must successfully complete 24 or more hours of Honors credit by the time of graduation. These hours are not additional to your degree program. A grade of “B” or better in Honors courses is required to earn Honors credit.

Students who do not successfully maintain good standing (satisfactory progress and GPA) will be suspended from the Honors Program. Students may be reinstated after one semester upon attaining the minimum GPA. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Honors Program when good standing is attained.

Students that receive the JSU Honors Scholarship have alternative requirements for completing the Honors Program.

In order to remain in good standing as a recipient of the JSU Honors Scholarship, and graduate with distinction of JSU Honors Scholar Graduate, students must meet the following minimum criteria:

  1. Students must successfully complete two 3-hour Academic Honors course and one 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation course in the first and second semesters in the program. 
  2. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors Program curriculum by successfully completing three 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation courses by the end of the fourth semester in the program.
  3. All students must maintain a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Students whose GPA falls below the minimum are given one semester to correct the deficiency or be suspended from the Honors Program.
  4. Students must successfully complete 30 or more hours of Honors credit by the time of graduation. A grade of “B” or better in Honors courses is required to earn Honors credit.
  5. JSU Honors Scholarship recipients must attend two Honors Program meetings per month.
  6. JSU Honors Scholars must complete 7 service hours each semester.

The JSU Honors Scholarship is contingent upon maintaining membership in good standing in the Honors Program. Dismissal from the Honors Program will result in a loss of Honors scholarship funding.