Honors Points Requirements

Number of Honors Points: Dependent on the Course (for example, a student would earn three (3) Honors points in a 3-credit course and only one (1) Honors credit in a 1-credit course)

SDES Unit: University Honors Program

• Honors Courses are one of the two main ways (the other being H-Option Projects) by which students can complete the University Honors Program's residency requirement. The residency requirement states that a minimum of nine (9) Honors points must be earned through Honors courses or H-Options.

• A course grade of a B or better is required to earn Honors points for the course.

View a complete list of Honors courses

Number of Honors Points: Dependent on the Course (for example, a student who successfully completes an H-Option in a 4-credit course would earn four (4) Honors points.

SDES Unit: University Honors Program

• H-Option Projects are one of the two main ways (the other being Honors Courses) by which students can complete the University Honors Program's residency requirement. The residency requirement states that a minimum of nine (9) Honors credits must be earned through Honors courses or H-Options.

• Honors students enrolled in a non-honors course may complete an H-Option Project designed in collaboration with an instructor to augment their learning in the course.

• A course grade of a B or better on a completed and approved H-Option Project is required.

More information about H-Options Projects.

Number of Honors Points: typically three (3) Honors Exchange Points

Cooperating SDES Unit: Office of Global Experiences

• Honors students who complete an international travel study course may apply to have their course converted to Global-Honors Exchange Points.

• For their successful completion of a credit-bearing travel study course, including a formal presentation at an Office of Global Experiences promotional event upon their return (if requested), Honors students will earn Global-Honors Exchanges equivalent to the number of course points of the travel study course.

• A formal reflection piece is required upon the conclusion of the travel study experience and should be emailed to the Director of the Honors Program at honors@uww.edu.  Your essay should address the following questions:
  • What is one cultural experience that you found impactful during your trip that changed your perspective on the country?
  • What is one piece of historical knowledge you gained during your trip that changed your perspective on the country?
  • How will you use the knowledge you gained during your trip to shape your future?

• A course grade of a B or better on a completed and approved H-Option Project is required.

• Up to nine (9) of the twenty-one (21) Honors points may be earned through Global-Honors Exchanges (this includes credits earned through travel studies and semesters abroad).

For more information on the international travel study opportunities available at UW-Whitewater, please visit the Center for Global Education.

Number of Honors Credits: 6 Honors exchange points per Semester Abroad

Cooperating SDES Unit: Office of Global Experiences

• Honors students who complete a semester abroad program may apply for Global-Honors exchange points.

• A formal reflection piece is required upon the conclusion of the study abroad experience and should be emailed to the Director of the Honors Program at honors@uww.edu.  Your essay should address the following questions:

  • What is one cultural experience that you found impactful during your trip that changed your perspective on the country?

  • What is one piece of historical knowledge you gained during your trip that changed your perspective on the country?

  • How will you use the knowledge you gained during your trip to shape your future?

• A formal presentation at an Office of Global Experiences promotional event after the study abroad experience may be required.
• Up to nine (9) of the twenty-one (21) Honors credits may be earned through Global-Honors Exchanges (this includes credits earned through travel studies and semesters abroad).

For more information on semester abroad opportunities available to students at UW-Whitewater, please visit the Center for Global Education.

Number of Honors Points: Three (3) Honors Exchange points per Year

The Forward Scholars Program supports exceptional incoming undergraduate students as they transition to college, build meaningful connections, and develop the skills to become future leaders and changemakers. Through faculty mentorship, peer support, leadership opportunities, and early exposure to undergraduate research, scholars gain valuable experiences that prepare them for academic success, graduate and professional study, and meaningful contributions to the campus community and beyond.

For more information, please see the Director of the Forward Scholars Program or email the Director of the University Honors Program at honors@uww.edu. 

Number of Honors Points: Six (6) Honors exchange points per Year

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program prepares academically talented undergraduate students, particularly those from first-generation college backgrounds, for success in doctoral studies through research and high-impact educational experiences. Scholars receive faculty mentorship, complete undergraduate research projects, and participate in summer research internships while developing the skills and experience needed to pursue graduate education and earn doctoral degrees.

Up to twelve (12) of the twenty-one (21) Honors points may be earned through McNair-Honors Exchanges.

For more information, visit the McNair Scholars Program website or email the Director of the University Honors Program at honors@uww.edu.

Number of Honors points: Three (3) Honors Exchange Points per Year

Cooperating SDES Unit: Undergraduate Research Innovative and Creative Activities (URiCA)

• Honors students in RAP are partnered with a faculty researcher in their chosen field and assist the faculty researcher with a research project.

• For their successful completion of online RAP training, a year of faculty-led research, and presentation at UW-Whitewater's Undergraduate Research Day, Honors students will earn three (3) URiCA Honors Exchange points.

• Up to nine (9) of the twenty-one (21) Honors points may be earned through URiCA Honors Exchanges (this includes points earned through RAP, Undergraduate Research Grants, and SURF).

For more information on the RAP-Honors Exchange, please email the Director of the University Honors Program at honors@uww.edu or visit the  Undergraduate Research Innovative and Creative Activities (URICA).

Number of Honors points: Three (3) Honors Exchange points per Undergraduate Research Project

Cooperating SDES Unit: Undergraduate Research Innovative and Creative Activities (URiCA)

• Honors students work with a faculty mentor to propose and conduct their own research project.

• For their successful completion of a URiCA Project, Honors students will earn three (3) URiCA Honors Exchange points.

• The URICA Program requires presentation of all URICA Grant projects at UW-Whitewater's Undergraduate Research Day, as well as one other conference (usually either the National Conference for Undergraduate Research or the UW-System Symposium).

• Up to nine (9) of the twenty-one (21) Honors points may be earned through URICA Honors Exchanges (this includes points earned through RAP, Undergraduate Research Grants, and SURF).

For more information on the Research-Honors Exchange, please email the Director of the University Honors Program at honors@uww.edu. For more information on the Undergraduate Research Grants, visit the Undergraduate Research Innovative and Creative Activities.

Number of Honors points: Three (3) Honors Exchange points per Project

Cooperating SDES Unit: Undergraduate Research Innovative and Creative Activities (URiCA)

• Honors students work with a faculty mentor to develop and conduct an extensive research project that begins during the summer and continues through the academic year.

• Upon successful completion of a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), Honors students are eligible to earn three (3) or four (4) URiCA – Honors Exchange points.

• To earn three (3) Honors Exchange points, students must present their research at UW-Whitewater's Undergraduate Research Day and one additional conference, typically the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) or the UW System Symposium.

• To earn four (4) Honors Exchange points, students must present their research at UW-Whitewater's Undergraduate Research Day, NCUR, or the UW System Symposium, as well as one additional professional conference.

• Students may earn up to nine (9) of the 21 required Honors points through URiCA – Honors Exchanges. This total includes points earned through RAP, Undergraduate Research Grants, and SURF.

For more information on the Research-Honors Exchange, please email the Director of the University Honors Program at honors@uww.edu. For more information on SURF, visit the Undergraduate Research Innovative and Creative Activities.

Number of Honors points: Dependent on the Course (for example, a student who successfully completes a 3-credit CBL course would earn three (3) Honors points)

Cooperating SDES Unit: Community-Based Learning Program

• Honors students complete fifteen (15) hours of direct, face-to-face contact with a partner community organization in a Community Based Learning course.

• Honors Students should note that training, prep, project work, and reflection are additional requirements and may not be recorded as part of the 15 required hours for the Honors Exchange portion of the CBL course.

• Up to nine (9) of the twenty-one (21) Honors points may be earned through CBL-Honors Exchanges.

For more information on the CBL-Honors Exchange, please visit Community-Based Learning.

 If you are a scholar-athlete who participated in an official collegiate (not intramural) sport at UW-Whitewater, then you may apply for a total of three Honors points.  You must also submit a well-written Academic Reflections paper (~1,200 words or 3-4 pages) in order to apply for these Exchange points, emailed to the Honors Program Director at honors@uww.edu.

Your reflection paper should be well-written and incorporate at least one scholarly source. 

If you have any questions, please contact honors@uww.edu.

• Reflect on how participation in (collegiate) sports has enhanced your life and development of self. You are welcome to use first-person singular in this paper, and you are encouraged to reflect personally on a sport that is meaningful to you.
• Connect your identity as an athlete to your identity as a scholar. That is, why did you decide to participate in both athletics and the Honors Program, and what did you learn by doing both?
• Consider how participation in collegiate athletics has enhanced, hampered, or balanced your participation in a challenging academic program like the Honors Program. What did you learn by participating in a rigorous academic program while also balancing a demanding athletic schedule?
• Incorporate a scholarly article. The Honors Student should incorporate a relevant scholarly source of their own choosing as long as the source is reputable. This component makes the Academic Reflection paper have more dimension and weight than a casual reflection paper.
• Reflect on the sociology of sports in some way. That is, how might your experience highlight the intersection of sports and another concept such as race, class, gender, or sexuality? Or, how might your participation in university athletics comment on concepts including but not limited to leadership/achievement; community or team building; growth mindset; the triad of physical, intellectual, and emotional health; self-discipline; self-improvement; and/or grit? Note: you should not try to cover all of the ideas mentioned. Focus on 1-3 key ideas that are relevant to your experience as a scholar-athlete.
• Have a title and correctly cite your scholarly source at the end of your paper. If you are not sure how to do so, you may want to consult a free citation maker such as EasyBib.com.