Each year students are in the honors program (HP), they must complete an experimental experience. These experiences are meant to help HP students engage the GSU and South Suburban Communities. These curricular and co-curricular experiences should help foster leadership skills and personal development for the student, university, and global community.

For HP Credit – Complete Experience

Honors courses are meant to provide high-impact, challenging learning experiences that encourage experimental and experiential learning techniques. These courses should take concepts students are working on in the regular curriculum and encourage advanced, enriched level application of these concepts. Honors courses are taught by faculty specifically selected to work with honors students who can help you with your development. Honors courses are worth 1 HP Point for a 1 or 2-unit course; 2 HP points for a 3 or 4-unit course.

For HP Points – Complete course with "C" or better. Submit transcript with final grade.

Honors contracts are designed to allow students to earn HP points in non-honors courses. These can be utilized in major courses, minor courses, or upper-division electives. A course contract involves the completion of a project, research paper, or similar equivalent that is designed to enrich the learning experience occurring in the classroom. These projects may provide opportunities for applying for undergraduate research grants, a presentation at the GSU Student Research Conference, or other regional and national events. Honors Students may complete up to two contracts for honors credit without special permission from the HP director. Honors courses are worth 1 or 2 HP points each depending on what is agreed to by the student and instructor. Students can earn a maximum of 4 HP points through research activities.

For HP Points – Contract approved by HP director prior to beginning, contract requirements completed.

Study abroad opportunities allow students to study abroad in short-term (a few weeks) and long-term (a semester or year) intervals. These programs are either offered directly through GSU or through enrolling in another university’s study abroad program. Students earn 1 HP point for any course completed abroad up to a maximum of 2 HP points.

For HP Points, please complete the study abroad verification form (COMING SOON)

HP Research opportunities encourage honors students to be involved in working on research presented beyond GSU. This can include research students complete in their own classes as well as research students work on with other faculty. Students earn 1 HP point for each paper authorship or presentation they are involved in at a regional level or the National Collegiate Honors Council. Students earn 2 HP points for each paper authorship or presentation they are involved in at a national level, the National Council for Undergraduate Research, or a scholarly journal. Students can earn a maximum of 4 HP points through research activities.

For HP Points – Complete HP Research Verification Form.

The GSU Honors Program encourages students to go beyond earning a bachelors degree by earning minors, teaching specializations, double majors and dual degrees (e.g., BA and BS). Students earn 1 HP point for completing a minor or teaching specialization and 2 HP points for completing a double major or dual degrees.

For HP Points – Provide a Degree Audit Report with evidence of program completion.

HP encourages students to participate in leadership activities across the GSU and South Suburban communities. The GSU Student Leadership Institute is designed to enhance your leadership skills, develop a leadership plan, and team you up with one of GSU’s community leaders to mentor you. You can also practice those skills in being a peer mentor for new freshman Honors Program students, as a Student Senator, Honors Student Advisory Board, or in other leadership capacities. Your first leadership experience satisfies your HP Leadership Experience Requirement. Subsequent leadership experiences earn 1 HP point for each leadership opportunity completed. Students can earn a maximum of 2 HP points through leadership activities.

For HP Points – Provide evidence of completing leadership role or program.

HP encourages students to apply for prestigious scholarships and fellowships. These are significant national and international scholarships with national application pools and rigorous application processes. It is an excellent opportunity to experience what it is like to apply for a high-stakes position. Several scholarships require campus endorsements. Scholarship winners often have life-changing learning opportunities domestically or abroad. One HP point is earned per campus endorsement or submitted applications for qualified scholarships valued at less than $10,000. Two HP points are earned per campus endorsed or submitted applications for qualified scholarships valued over $10,000. Students can earn a maximum of 4 HP points through prestigious scholarship opportunities.

For HP Points - Evidence of a qualified submitted or campus endorsed prestigious scholarship application.

The Honors Program encourages students to engage in professional development experiences beyond internship. These can include professional shadowing experiences, a professional organization membership, professional conference attendance related to a students’ field of study, student career focused organizations or other professional experiences approved by faculty in your degree of study. One HP point is earned per professional development experience of at least 10 hours in duration. Students can earn a maximum of 2 HP points through professional development experiences.

For HP Points — Provide evidence of involvement in the professional development experience and faculty support that the activity is a professional development experience.