Each year, Cal U reviews the applications of incoming first-year and transfer students. Those with the very highest indicators of past and future academic success are invited to participate in the University Honors Program.  Typically, students must have acquired at least a 1200 score on the SAT or a combination of 3.00 high school GPA and 1100 SAT.

Honors students have the privilege of early registration. That means they are likely to register for the classes they want, at the times they want, with the professors they want.  UHP students are required to complete 24 honors credits in order to graduate from the program. Students accumulate honors credits, or HON credits, two ways:

1.  Take honors courses, which are reserved for UHP students only.

2.  Transform many Cal U 3-plus credit courses into honors courses through the honors addendum process.

Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and demonstrate ability in all honors courses and progress throughout the UHP curriculum.

Honors Thesis Project

Students have the opportunity to live in the state-of-the-art Honors Residence Hall if they desire. The hall provides easy access to the UHP offices and computer labs and study rooms reserved exclusively for UHP members. Some residents find they can fully participate in the UHP community by living here because first-year students live and socialize with honors upperclassmen. But regardless of where they live, all honors students receive the program's many benefits.

Each year, the Honors Program rotates its curriculum. Each curriculum theme is established by the honors courses that are offered during the academic year. Students enrolled in theme classes have the opportunity to complete a research project and may be eligible to take part in the UHP fall and spring projects.

Cal U honors students also have the opportunity to compete for a PASSHE summer honors program scholarship for study at a PASSHE university and abroad. Selected students participate in two weeks of study at the host institution, then study abroad for two weeks. Information about the 2010 scholarship can be found at Clarion University's website.