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Program Requirements

We tailor honors studies to each discipline, so requirements for honors coursework and the honors thesis vary from college to college. Before deciding if the Honors College is right for you, please review the honors program graduation requirements.

Visit Academics to view the requirements for each of the Honors College Programs.

 

Application Instructions

New Freshman Students

Are you a high school senior? It’s a great time to apply to the Honors College! Once you’ve been admitted, you can sign up for honors orientation sessions and enjoy all the benefits we offer from day one on campus.

Questions?

Contact honors@uark.edu.

Two Steps to Apply:

  • Step 1: Apply to the University of Arkansas and Receive Notification of Admission to the University
    You must complete this step before applying to the Honors College.
  • Step 2: Apply to the Honors College
    There are two options, Automatic Admission and Application for Review.

Honors College Application Options:

Students must have at least a 28 ACT composite score on one exam (1310 SAT equivalent) AND the minimum high school GPA of 3.85.

Students who meet the Option #1 requirements will be invited to apply through their New Student Center after they have been admitted to the University of Arkansas. Students who complete the Option #1 application on their New Student Center will be automatically admitted to the Honors College.

Priority Application Deadline - December 15

Final Application Deadline - May 15

Students who have at least a 3.90 high school GPA but do not have the necessary ACT/SAT score for automatic admission will be invited to complete an application during their senior year. Students who qualify for the Option #2 application will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to complete the application soon after they are admitted to the University of Arkansas.

The Honors College will review the application and inform applicants whether or not they have been admitted to honors in late February of their senior year.

Components of Option #2 Application

1) Essay - Students will complete two essays:

Essay 1:

Please respond to the following prompt (400 words or less):

The Honors College values interdisciplinary education and exploring various academic themes that may be outside of a student’s major. Each year, the Honors College offers hundreds of honors courses, including some of our special topic seminars. Using our seminar course archive, identify a course that we have offered in the past or will offer in the future that you would be interested in taking as a college student. What about this topic interests you? What would you hope to learn? 

Essay 2: 

Select one (1) of the following three prompts and respond (400 words or less). To learn about what some of our current honors students are doing in these fields, we encourage you to visit our Honors Blog before preparing your essay. 

  1. Identify a study abroad program that you find interesting. What makes you interested in this program? What would you hope to learn about during your trip? To help you identify an available program offered to UA students, please visit the Hogs Abroad website.
  2. Undergraduate research is a key component of the honors experience at the university. Identify a topic in your intended academic field that you would like to research as an honors student at the university. What makes you interested in this topic? How might it connect to your post-graduate plans? 
  3. In some academic fields at the university, honors students will pursue a design or creative activity with the help of a faculty member. A student in music may create a piece of composition. A student in architecture, graphic design, or engineering may produce an original design that relates to their career goals. A student in creative writing may write a novel or a book of poetry while a student in apparel studies may design a piece of clothing. What design or creative activity would you like to pursue as an honors student?

2) Academic Resume - Applicants will upload a copy of their academic resume to the application. Please limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. For tips on how to prepare an academic resume, please visit the university's Academic Scholarship website.

Priority Application Deadline - December 15

Final Application Deadline - February 1

 

What’s Next

 

 

Application Instructions

Current & Transfer Students

If you’re a freshman or sophomore on campus, it’s not too late to participate in the honors experience. You can sign up for honors seminars, benefit from advance registration and compete for grants. If you're transferring to the U of A, you need to be admitted to the university first before applying to honors.

Questions?

Contact honors@uark.edu.

View honors entry requirements for each academic college

 

Steps to Apply:

  • Navigate to the Workday application.
  • Enter “Create Request” into the search bar, and click on the blue link under Tasks and Reports.
  • Enter “Honors Program Application” as the Request Type.
  • Complete the form, and click the blue Submit button.
*FULBRIGHT STUDENTS: Fill out a second required form. Applications will not be considered until both forms are submitted. Fall 2025 applications will be accepted through August 29.

 

What's Next

  • After you apply
    Your information will be forwarded to the honors program in your academic college for review. If you are eligible, the honors program director or assistant honors program director in your college will admit you. Please allow up to two weeks for your application to be reviewed.