Academic Catalog

This policy will be effective beginning 09 AUG 2026.

The policy in effect 08 AUG 2026 and earlier is NAU Policy 100222: Honors College.

Honors Program

Purpose Statement

The Northern Arizona University Honors College engages high-achieving undergraduates in all disciplines as active partners in their education in an intimate, inclusive, and supportive community. Topics-based interdisciplinary seminars are at the heart of an NAU Honors education. Taught by dedicated Honors faculty, these seminars focus on a variety of disciplines (spanning the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts) and often feature site-based study and hands-on learning. In completing these courses, students learn to make connections and develop crucial proficiencies, notably in critical thinking and research, that can be applied to any major. The Honors curriculum is also enhanced by programs that focus on regional (e.g., ecology of the Colorado Plateau), national, and international perspectives (e.g., Study Abroad). The curriculum, in addition to fostering critical thinking and research skills, provides students with a holistic education that fosters personal fulfillment, literacy (including media and scientific) on many levels, and liberal studies connections across disciplines and diverse perspectives.

Additionally, the curriculum equips students to adapt not only to a changing marketplace but also to a rapidly, and perhaps even radically, changing world. An NAU Honors education concludes with a highly flexible Capstone sequence, in which students are encouraged to utilize their advanced research skills to develop an educational experience uniquely tailored to their academic, personal, and professional ambitions. The Honors academic experience is strengthened by the Honors living and learning community, which fosters student thought and engagement as well as a range of co-curricular and leadership opportunities.

The skills Honors students develop in critical thinking, writing, speaking, and research prepares them for success in graduate school (including in science, engineering, math, law, humanities, and arts), biomedical (medical, nursing, dental, and veterinary, etc.) and other professional programs, and careers in research, business, and education of all levels. The Honors program's emphasis on interdisciplinary inquiry, writing, and critical thinking is designed to produce global citizens and confident and creative leaders.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate critical, analytical, and creative thinking through papers, presentations, performances, or projects in which they question, analyze, and/or create arguments and ideas based on data or creative expression.
• Demonstrate the use of interpretation, logic, and analysis to address holistic concerns and multiple perspectives on issues while taking rigorous account of details and data.
• Define, design, and carry out guided research projects and/or creative works using multiple frameworks, methodologies, or disciplinary techniques across different disciplines.
• Demonstrate the ability to recognize the complexity of real-world problems and social issues and identify provisional solutions.
• Engage with the local community and environment to promote conservation efforts, cultural stewardship, social justice initiatives, artistic programs, scientific inquiry, business development, neighborhood enhancement projects, and/or other service-learning.
• Create and deliver clear, effective work in written, oral, and non-verbal (audio, visual, and other) methods of communication and formats to diverse audiences while taking into account the values and contingencies of global cultures.
• Demonstrate the skills and dispositions needed for life-long learning: curiosity, initiative, independence, ethical decision-making, and reflection.
• Assess and evaluate personal values, beliefs, perspectives, goals, and limitations (i.e., self-knowledge) as well as how they are positioned vis-à-vis others.
• Display a sense of self-direction by seeking out needed resources, planning, and engaging others to organize and execute a project, event, or endeavor.

Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

• Complete the online Honors Application.
• Admission to the Honors Program.
• An unweighted high school core GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Two Honors Admissions essays.
• A resume or list of activities and accomplishments.

Honors Program Requirements

Students admitted to the Honors College are classified into one of the following student groups:

Honors University Program: Students admitted to the program as first-year students (freshmen). 

Honors Access Program: Students completing upper-division honors only. This group includes transfer students.

The Honors Program requires 17 - 27 units distributed as follows:

Honors University Program: 27 units

• HON Specified Coursework: 10 units
• Additional Coursework Designated as Honors: 11 units
• Honors Capstone Pathway: 6 units
• Honors Explorations: Milestones

Honors Access Program: 17 units

• HON Specified Coursework: 8 units
• Additional Coursework Designated as Honors: 3 units
• Honors Capstone Pathway: 6 units
• Honors Explorations: Milestones

Complete the following 17 - 27 units depending on your program:

• A minimum of 12 units must be completed at NAU.

Honors University Program (27 units)

Available for students admitted to the program as first-year freshmen. 

• Students must remain in active status throughout their undergraduate career.
• Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30.

HON Specified Coursework (10 units)

• Honors Colloquium - HON 190 (3 units)
  • HON 190 and the Honors Topics Seminar (HON 291, HON 293, OR HON 294) together fulfill the English Foundation Requirement.
• Honors Topic Seminar - Select from the following (3 units):
  • HON 291, HON 293, HON 294
    • HON 190 and the Honors Topics Seminar together fulfill the English Foundation Requirement.
• Select from the following (3 units):
  • HON 391, HON 393, HON 394
• HON 303 (1 unit)

Additional Coursework Designated as Honors (11 units)

• Select from the following (11 units):
  • Any additional HON coursework
    • Courses may be repeated with different topics.
    • HON 209 and HON 309 may be repeated with different topics for 9 units each; however, only 6 units of HON 209 and/or HON 309 will apply toward the program requirements.
  • Courses with a course number ending in "H" (e.g., MUS 241H)
  • "Honors Contracts" - Regularly offered 300-400 level NAU courses
    • See the Honors Website, Student Experience, Student Courses for Honors Contract details and proposal forms.

Honors Capstone Pathway (6 units)

• Select from the following based on your major's capstone requirement (6 units)
  • Any course prefix with one of the following numbers:
    • 408, 485, 486, 490, 497
  • Any course with a number ending with "CH"  that is associated with a major capstone (e.g., PSY 408CH).

Honors Explorations

• Students must complete 5 Exploration Experiences - A series of non-credit programs or activities from an approved list.
  • A minimum of 2 Exploration Experiences must be completed prior to the student's third year.
  • A minimum of 2 Exploration Experiences must be completed prior to enrolling in the Honors Advanced Seminar.
  • The Exploration Experiences must be completed before graduation.

Honors Access Program (17 units)

Appropriate for students completing upper-division honors only. This group includes transfer students.

• Students must remain in active status throughout their junior and senior years
• Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30.

HON Specified Coursework (8 units)

• Select from the following (3 units):
  • HON 291, HON 293, HON 294
• HON 302, HON 303 (2 units)
• Honors Advanced Topics Seminar - Select from the following (3 units):
  • HON 391, HON 393, HON 394

Additional Coursework Designated as Honors (3 units)

• Select from the following (3 units):
  • Any additional HON coursework.
    • Courses may be repeated with different topics.
    • You may repeat HON 309 with different topics for 9 units; however, only 3 units of HON 309 will apply toward the program requirements.
  • Additional upper-division courses with the HON prefix (e.g., HON 399)
  • "Honors Contracts" - Regularly offered 300-400 level NAU courses
    • See the Honors Website, Student Experience, Student Courses for Honors Contract details and proposal forms.

Honors Capstone Pathway (6 units)

• Select from the following based on your major's capstone requirement (6 units)
  • Any course prefix with one of the following course numbers:
    • 408, 485, 486, 490, 497
  • Any course with a number ending with "CH"  that is associated with a major capstone (e.g., PSY 408CH).

Honors Explorations

• Students must complete 3 Exploration Experiences - A series of non-credit programs or activities from an approved list.
  • The Exploration Experiences must be completed before graduation.