The Honors program welcomes students to enter our program in the junior (third) year. This option is available for both continuing UH Mānoa students as well as new transfers to UHM.
The upper division Honors program is typically a two-year experience. To participate, students should have four semesters of coursework remaining. Highly motivated students with three remaining semesters may be able to participate if they are able to take the required coursework and finish other Honors requirements by their expected graduation semester.
Requirements for the upper division Honors program include a junior seminar (HON 491) as well as a Senior Honors Project, which can be in any one of our available formats (research thesis, creative thesis, or format).
Course Requirements
Students in our two-year program take 1 course of upper-division work in addition to the senior capstone. Students are recommended to take HON 491: Honors Junior Seminar to fulfill this requirement. Students can also request to substitute another appropriate class, in Honors or in their major program, for this requirement.
Some departments have created unique tracks for their majors that specify certain courses for their Honors students. See this page for complete information.
Senior Project
As they enter Honors, students in the two-year program begin planning the independent project that is at the heart of the Honors experience. To write their project proposal, students are highly encouraged to take our proposal writing class, HON 495. In their senior year, in addition to two capstone courses, all students take HON 494: Honors Workshop, which structures their capstone process. Students complete the following sequence:
- By May 15 of your junior year, submit your project proposal to our Mākālei portal. See here for more detailed information on writing and submitting your proposal.
- Hon 494: Honors Workshop (0 credits, online / asynchronous, to get your started on your project), first semester of senior year.
- Two semesters of HON 496: Senior Project course, or a research & writing course in your major.
- Give an oral presentation at the Undergraduate Showcase, held the last week of each Fall and Spring semester.
Regular Advising is Key!
Given the accelerated nature of their experience, students in the Honors two-year program should schedule an appointment with an Honors advisor once a semester.
In their graduation semester, students attend a mandatory Graduation Info session to keep them on track for completing their Honors senior project and other Honors graduation requirements.
Other Honors Requirements
Honors students should keep track of other requirements to complete the program:
- To enter the two-year Honors program, students indicate their major on our Mākālei portal, and complete the Department Approval Form with the contact information of their major advisor.
- Maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA to remain in good standing in the program