IU Northwest offers a program that is designed to meet the needs of highly motivated students who want to be challenged to reach their full potential. Honors students will have unique opportunities for research, collaboration, travel, extracurricular activities, community engagement, priority registration, personalized advising, and faculty interactions.
The Honors Program recognizes high achievement in academic studies and community engagement. Students who complete the Honors Program will have their accomplishment noted on their transcripts and diploma.
Honor students will participate in the Honors First Year Seminar, Honors courses, a variety of field learning experiences, community engagement, and a senior-year capstone experience reserved for honors students. The credit hours associated with the Honors program will count toward the student’s degree.
Participation in the Honors Program is by invitation or by application. First-year students who arrive at the university from high school with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale are automatically invited to participate in the program. Current students who have obtained an accumulated grade point average of 3.3 may apply. Transfer students with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 from their previous institution may apply to join the Honors program.
Continued membership in the program is contingent upon maintaining a 3.3 GPA at the campus level.
Students must complete Honors credit across at least twenty-one (21) credit hours of coursework. Honors credit may be completed within approved courses required for their program and degree in the form of additional work or assignments arranged with the instructor by enrolling in the course for Honors credit, or as separate Honors specific courses. In addition, students are required to complete Honors credit in both a foundational seminar (such as a first-year or transfer seminar) and a senior/capstone seminar with an included conference presentation requirement.
Once admitted, Honors students must maintain a 3.3 GPA. If an honor student’s GPA falls below the minimum requirement, the student may re-apply for readmittance once the 3.3 GPA is met. While a member of the program, the student must continue to make progress toward completing the honors program requirements.
Field Learning activities are required for graduation with University Honors. The requirement is to better prepare students for productive lives. As part of the undergraduate honors program, participation in community service, and other community engaged activities, like study abroad experiences and internships, offers students opportunities for personal and academic growth. These experiences foster a deeper understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives, enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and build a strong sense of social responsibility.
By engaging with communities locally and globally, students develop empathy, leadership abilities, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world. These activities not only enrich the academic journey but also prepare students to become well-rounded, global citizens ready to tackle the challenges of the future.
The Honors program seeks to engage students in continuous and meaningful field experiences throughout their time at IU Northwest. To meet the program's requirement, students are expected to participate in at least one field learning experience each semester. Field experiences will be approved by the Honors Program director before beginning, and students will reflect on the experience at its conclusion.
The Field Learning Requirement may be satisfied in several ways, including but not limited to, travel abroad and travel away experiences, internships, and volunteering in the community. The Honors Program maintains a list of Field Learning opportunities. Additional activities are approved at the discretion of the Honors Program Director.
Honor students are encouraged to engage in and with the campus community. To this end, honor students are expected to participate in at least two campus-based events per semester. These may include club participation, art exhibitions, athletic events, among many other activities available to students on campus.
