Requirements for Honors Program

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

  • For incoming freshmen
    • A high school GPA of B or above
    • An ACT composite score of at least 25 or SAT equivalent score
  • Any student who does not qualify based on ACT score as an entering freshman may reapply after completing a semester with an overall GPA of 3.5+ at JSU.
  • Individual departments may have specific English and Math subscore requirements.

Successful completion of 24 hours or more of Honors credit.

Students with AP or dual enrollment credit will have the opportunity to earn the required Honors hours.  A wide variety of Honors courses in the general education curriculum along with Honors Participation courses are offered each semester.

A grade of “B” or better in Honors courses is required to earn Honors credit.

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

  1. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors Program curriculum. Satisfactory progress is defined by successfully completing the required one Academic Honors course and one University Honors course in the first semester of the program and completing a total of three University Honors Participation courses by the end of the Sophomore year. *JSU Honors Scholarship recipients must successfully complete two Academic Honors course and one University Honors course in the first and second semesters.
  2. All students must maintain a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Students whose GPA falls below the minimum is given one semester to correct the deficiency or be suspended from the Honors Program.
  3. All students must attend three program meetings each semester to remain in good standing with the Honors Program.
  4. To receive priority registration, students must attend two of the three required meetings before meeting with the Honors Advisor. Students must present their approved trial schedule and the Honors Program Registration Worksheet to the Honors Program Coordinator to receive priority registration for the succeeding semester. Any changes to the Honors Program Registration Worksheet after the meeting must be approved by the Honors Program Coordinator.
  5. JSU Honors Scholarship recipients must attend two meetings a month.
  6. Students who do not successfully maintain good standing (satisfactory progress, GPA, monthly meeting attendance) 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.
  7. Students meeting all the requirements of the Jacksonville State University Honors Program graduate as an Honors Program Graduate.
  8. 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.


Requirements for Honors Classes

Classes in the Honors Program are designed for outstanding, motivated students and are taught in small classes by some of JSU's most innovative and engaging faculty. Honors classes are small and are offered in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and mathematics. In fact, many Honors classes fulfill freshman and sophomore general education requirements in degree majors. Honors students are also eligible for special Honors Seminars and Honors by Contract classes.

Honors Program members are required to complete at least three hours from the following list of Honors Participation courses during their freshman and sophomore years. Students must enroll in one academic Honors class and one UH 1-hour Participation class their first freshman semester. All UH participation classes must be completed by the sophomore year. These participation courses count as part of the required 24 hours of Honors courses. Entering freshmen who have earned 31 or more credit hours may apply for a waiver of two of the three required UH courses.

University Honors (UH) Honors Lecture 101 1 hour course; Pass/Fail.  Students may take a maximum of two of these.  The topic of this course would vary each semester (service learning, education reform, poverty, tax reform, etc.).  This course would be an open forum for the discussion of ideas and submission of reflective papers and/or service learning projects.

University Honors (UH) Forum 201 1 hour course; Pass/Fail.  Students may take a maximum of two of these.  Students enrolled in these courses will be required to attend a certain number of campus events (pre-approved by Honors) and discuss and submit reflective papers for each event.

University Honors (UH) Book Club 202 1 hour course; Pass/Fail.  Students may take a maximum of two of these.  Students enrolled in this course will perform assigned reading and actively participate in class discussions.

Contact the Honors Program Coordinator for further information.