Application and Requirements

Entering freshmen are invited to apply to the Honors Program after they have been admitted to JSU and are assessed based on grade point average, ACT or SAT scores, resume, and recommendation from an academic subject teacher. Students should join the Honors Program during the first or second semester of their freshmen year to allow sufficient time to earn the required honors hours before graduation.

Unconditional Admission*

• High school GPA of B or higher (3.0 GPA)
• ACT composite score of at least 25 or SAT Total score of at least 1210

Provisional Admission*

*Any offer of admission is conditional until receipt of final high school transcript and official (not self-reported) test scores.

Apply To Honors Program!

Transfer students should contact the Honors Program to arrange a virtual or in-person meeting to discuss their application and plan of study to earn the required honors hours before graduation.

Transfer students are invited to apply to the Honors Program after they have been admitted to JSU and are assessed based on grade point average, resume, and recommendation from an academic subject teacher at the prior college/university. Transfer students may opt to be provisionally admitted and submit a recommendation during their first semester at JSU from a faculty member. If the transfer student enrolls in the fall, the recommendation is required by Thanksgiving Break. If the transfer student enrolls in the spring, the recommendation is required by Spring Break.

Unconditional Admission*

• 12 hours+ hours completed at college/university
• 3.50+ transfer grade point average

*Any offer of admission is conditional until receipt of all college/university transcript(s).

Apply To Honors Program!

Current students who do not meet the test score and GPA requirements as an entering freshman, may apply to the program after completion of their first full-time semester at JSU if they earn a 3.25 GPA or higher that semester. Current students are assessed based on grade point average, hours earned, and a recommendation from a JSU faculty member.

Students must join the Honors Program during the first or second semester of their freshman year. First semester sophomores will be considered for membership if they have already earned honors credit in honors general core curriculum courses such as Honors English Composition, Honors American History, etc.

Unconditional Admission*

• 12+ hours completed at JSU
• 3.25+ JSU grade point average

*Any offer of admission is conditional until final grades are posted.

Apply To Honors Program!

A typical Honors student should present writing skills at least adequate to the demand of society at large and evidence of involvement in extracurricular and academic organizations.

In order to remain in good standing as a member of the Honors Program, and graduate with distinction of Honors Program Graduate, students must meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Students must successfully complete one 3-hour Academic Honors course and one 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation course in the first semester of the program. 
2. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors Program curriculum by successfully completing three 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation courses one semester PRIOR to graduation.
3. Student should consult their academic advisor to determine the completion of their UH courses as some programs, such as nursing or respiratory therapy, require that students complete all of their non-major course work before beginning the program of their major. In other words, your program might require that all UH courses be completed earlier than our deadline of one semester prior to graduation.
4. All students must maintain a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Students whose GPA falls below the minimum are given one semester to correct the deficiency or be suspended from the Honors Program.
5. Students must successfully complete 24 or more hours of Honors credit by the time of graduation. These hours are not additional to your degree program. A grade of “B” or better in Honors courses is required to earn Honors credit.
6. Students who complete two semesters and who do not take an Honors class or an HBC, will be decoded from Honors and must petition the Honors Program to be reinstated.
7. Students who are not making satisfactory progress in earning the required 24 honors hours prior to graduation will be decoded from the program. Students should discuss their progress in Honors with their Academic Advisor and the Honors Program during Priority Registration to make sure they are on schedule in earning the required honors hours.

Students who do not successfully maintain good standing (satisfactory progress and GPA) will be suspended from the Honors Program. Students may be reinstated after one semester upon attaining the minimum GPA. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the Honors Program when good standing is attained.

Students that receive the JSU Honors Scholarship have alternative requirements for completing the Honors Program.

1. Students must successfully complete two 3-hour Academic Honors course and one 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation course in the first and second semesters in the program.
2. Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors Program curriculum by successfully completing three 1-hour University Honors (UH) Participation courses by the end of the fourth semester in the program.
3. All students must maintain a minimum of a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Students whose GPA falls below the minimum are given one semester to correct the deficiency or be suspended from the Honors Program.
4. Students must successfully complete 30 or more hours of Honors credit by the time of graduation. A grade of “B” or better in Honors courses is required to earn Honors credit.
5. JSU Honors Scholarship recipients must attend required meetings.
6. JSU Honors Scholars must complete 7 service hours each semester.
7. Students must reside in on-campus housing in a double-occupancy unit.