Honors FAQs

Who joins the Honors College?

People like you! Our honors students are curious, motivated, committed to excellence, willing to accept challenges, active participants in discussions, and the sort of person who enjoys learning. They are students who share intellectual curiosity and a commitment to excellence.

Why should I join the Honors College?

Join a community of scholars dedicated to education that moves beyond the classroom. True, the Honors College does have some nice perks; and yes, honors look great on a résumé, but you should aspire to honors because you know that education is more than sitting at a college desk. Education is an active, life-long process. You will look forward to the diversity of colloquia, the challenge of the Honors Core, and the special interest of the honors electives because they prepare you for a life of learning, leadership, and service.

How do I apply?

If you believe that you would benefit from the Honors College, you should feel free to contact Dr. Daniel Strudwick, College Dean, and ask about honors at Quincy University. The dean can be reached by email at strudda@c178.net.

I don’t quite meet the standards for honors at Quincy. Is there any way I can still join the Honors College?

Although we give priority to students with a ACT composite score of 26 or SAT score of 1230 and a high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.4, we will consider all students who apply to the program. We also invite continuing Quincy students and transfers who have completed 30 semester hours with a 3.4 GPA to apply for the program.

Are honors courses harder than regular courses? Will they hurt my GPA?

Honors courses are different from regular university courses in that they encourage students to think more critically and creatively about issues and ideas in their approach to learning. The courses may also require more work and professors teaching honors courses have high expectations for their students. As for your GPA, the faculty understand that with a class full of bright students, there will be no “normal” distribution of grades. You are not guaranteed a high grade, but you should receive the same level of grades that you do in your other courses.

How do honors courses fit into my academic program?

Since Quincy’s Honors College is university-wide, you use your honors courses to fill the university’s general education and elective requirements. They should not add extra hours to your degree program, but rather work within it.

If I don’t maintain a GPA of 3.4 every semester, will I be dropped from the program?

Every spring the Honors Dean will review your progress in the program. You may drop below a 3.4 GPA for a semester or two, but you must be making progress on improving your GPA so as to be above the required GPA of 3.4.

What’s the difference between graduating with Honors and with Distinguished Honors?

Distinguished Honors Scholars go one step further in their search for academic excellence by completing an honors thesis. The university gives the Distinguished Honors Scholar special recognition.

What’s the difference between graduating with University Honors and as an Honors scholar?

The former is based on your GPA at graduation, the latter involves completion of the Honors College.

Do I have to complete all my honors general education classes and electives before beginning the Distinguished honors thesis?

You need to have completed the Bonaventure classes, but will likely still have Honors electives remaining. Your advisor will probably suggest that you undertake your Distinguished Honors Thesis in your last semester in the Honors Program.

What is HON 498?

HON 498, Honors Research, is a two-hour course that allows time for research of the honors thesis. It may count as a university or departmental elective, but not as an Honors Elective.

Does a thesis have to be a long research paper?

No, we recognize that projects such as studio art and musical composition have final outcomes that may include a written component, but are not measured by the content of a research paper. See the guidelines for the Distinguished honors thesis proposal for more information on this subject.