The Hicks Honors College is an interdisciplinary program designed for high-achieving students that emphasizes experiential and active learning in small classes. We provide you with a personalized education usually only available at small liberal arts colleges while still offering all the resources of a state university. Our students represent the best that every new class of Ospreys has to offer students with high intellectual ability, a strong work ethic, and a desire to get the most out of their college experience, both academically and socially.
The office for the Hicks Honors College is located in Building 9 (Schultz Hall), Suite 2300.
Hicks Honors College
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Hicks Honors College Overview
📚 Hicks Honors College Overview
The Hicks Honors College program is customizable, encouraging students to choose (and count for Honors) unique experiences that will enhance their skills and expertise for the future. The program is not harder or extra work—it provides deeper and richer engagement in classes that fulfill General Education or Major requirements. Students with any or no major can participate. In total, the Hicks Honors College has nearly 1000 students and enrolls approximately 300 first-year students per year. Some program highlights include:
- You can participate if you have many credits coming in or no credits coming in—we “prorate” the program where appropriate.
- We are looking for students who are ready to jump in and get involved, not just students with high standardized test scores.
- Honors classes are generally limited to 20 students, and taught by supportive faculty who emphasize experiential learning and critical thinking. These classes are heavily discussion-based
- Fun activities & events (“Mario Kart” tournament, field games, “Man Hunt,” etc.)
- Further opportunities to develop leadership and other “soft” skills, and the ability to mentor other students and facilitate classes as upperclassmen.
- You can participate if you have many credits coming in or no credits coming in—we “prorate” the program where appropriate.
- We are looking for students who are ready to jump in and get involved, not just students with high standardized test scores.
- Honors classes are generally limited to 20 students, and taught by supportive faculty who emphasize experiential learning and critical thinking. These classes are heavily discussion-based
- Fun activities & events (“Mario Kart” tournament, field games, “Man Hunt,” etc.)
- Further opportunities to develop leadership and other “soft” skills, and the ability to mentor other students and facilitate classes as upperclassmen.
Honors-Sponsored Trips & Projects
Honors-sponsored trips include service-learning in Peru (including a visit to Machu Picchu), a Biology trip to the Galapagos Islands, exploring Iceland, learning about sustainable cities in Denmark and the Netherlands, and study in Greece, but Honors students can receive funding for virtually any university-sponsored study abroad activity (even full semesters or years). Additionally, the Honors College has fun recreation trips to national parks or to go snow skiing!
Honors students also receive outstanding opportunities and funding to do special projects with faculty and/or undergraduate research.
The Hicks Honors College allocates over $200,000 per year to help students pay for their academic travel.
Honors students also receive outstanding opportunities and funding to do special projects with faculty and/or undergraduate research.
The Hicks Honors College allocates over $200,000 per year to help students pay for their academic travel.