The Honors College
General Information
The Honors College is the center of undergraduate academic excellence at FIU. We are a community of students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds and disciplines who are dedicated to excellence in all pursuits. We offer a unique academic and social experience that is compatible with all majors, transcends disciplines, and encourages our students to become life-long learners.
Privileges and Benefits
Honors College students enjoy certain privileges, including:
Priority registration
Individualized advising
The notation “Graduated through the Honors College” on the transcript
Priority for Honors housing in Parkview Hall
Graduate-student library privileges
Honors-only competitive scholarships
Support to present work at national research conferences
Unique internships and job opportunities
Facilities and resources for innovative projects
Special recognition at commencement
Admissions to the Honors College
Admission to the Honors College is very selective with Honors students representing the top 5% of FIU’s undergraduate students. Students are only admitted to the fall term of a given academic year. Visit https://honors.fiu.edu/apply for more detailed information, including criteria and deadlines.
Academic Standing Policy
Students must maintain a cumulative 3.3 GPA for satisfactory standing in the Honors College. However, students who drop (DR) or earn a non-passing grade of a D, F, F0, or NC in an IDH course will be automatically dismissed from the Honors College.
Graduation Policy
Students will graduate through the Honors College if they have met the following criteria:
completed all major and degree requirements for graduation from the University;
remained continuously enrolled in Honors courses until the semester of graduation or the completion of the Honors College curriculum (whichever comes first);
completed a minimum of six credits of Honors courses per year of enrollment in the College; maintained an overall minimum FIU GPA of 3.3 and Honors (IDH) GPA of 3.0;
remained in good standing by completing engagement pathway and volunteer service hour requirements every year in the Honors College.
Honor Policy
In the Honors College, the term “honor” refers to both academic achievement and character. Students in the College should therefore adhere to and will be held to the highest standards of personal accountability. Students whose behavior brings discredit upon themselves and/or the College or who commit acts of academic misconduct will be dismissed from the College.
Curriculum
Honors students pursue any major in the university while simultaneously completing an independent Honors College curriculum. The first-year addresses epistemology and ontology while stressing multi-disciplinary approaches to solving intellectual and practical problems. Students must additionally complete four courses from years two through four to graduate from the Honors College. Options include:
Completing Honors seminars.
Participating in an Honors Study Abroad program. These require a 3-credit preparatory seminar and a 3-credit multi-week international experience that goes well beyond cultural tourism to explore serious themes in depth.
Completing an honors thesis or thesis-quality research project through the Advanced Research and Creativity in Honors (ARCH) program, culminating in a presentation at the Undergraduate Research Conference at FIU (URFIU).
Completing an internship for credit.
Year One
course Honors Seminar I: The Origin of Ideas and the Idea of Origins (3)
course Honors Seminar II (3)
course Honors Introduction (1)
Years Two through Four
Students must complete four courses from a combination of options one through four.
Option 1 – Honors Seminars
course Honors Seminar III: Inhabiting Other Lives – GL (3)
course Honors Seminar IV – GL (3)
course Honors Seminar V: Aesthetics, Values, and Authority – GL (3); may be repeated.
course Honors Seminar VI – GL (3); may be repeated.
(See website for this year’s offerings: (https://honors.fiu.edu/course-selection)
Option 2 - Study Abroad
course Honors Seminar VII (3)
course Honors Seminar VIII (3)
Honors College Study Abroad
Students may choose to complete the honors curriculum through one of the College’s study abroad programs. Students take a three-credit preparatory course before traveling abroad. The student will earn the remaining three credits of Honors during the trip. See http://honors.fiu.edu/studyabroad/ for a list of current programs.
Option 3 - Advanced Research and Creativity in Honors (ARCH)
course Honors Independent Study (0-3); may be taken multiple semesters.
ARCH Research
The Advanced Research and Creativity in Honors (ARCH) program pairs students and faculty for cutting-edge research. Students must present their research at the annual Undergraduate Research Conference at FIU (URFIU) in the spring. Visit https://honors.fiu.edu/arch for more information, including the application.
Departmental Honors Thesis
Department honors courses, honors thesis, and/or capstone courses can be part of ARCH, with the proviso that students register their project with ARCH and present their work at the URFIU conference in spring.
Option 4 - Internship
course Honors College Internship (3); can only be taken once.
Honors College Internship
Students may choose to complete the honors curriculum by participating in an internship. This structured practical training/work experience must be approved by the Honors College for course credit. In addition, international students must complete the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) application process through International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS).
Student Engagement and Service
Engagement can take many shapes and forms, from building more intentional relationships with faculty and playing in a music ensemble, to seeking service opportunities and being more academically involved. The events, workshops, and activities part of the Engagement Pathway are curated to enrich students’ lives and give them an experience that transcends mere classroom learning. Students must complete 11 activities per academic year (including Summer B, Fall, and Spring). Visit https://honors.fiu.edu/engagement to learn more.
An important part of being a member of the Honors College is demonstrating leadership by serving the extended community. All Honors College students must complete at least 20 volunteer service hours per academic year (includes Summer B, Fall, and Spring). Qualifying community service activities include tutoring and other opportunities in Sweetwater, Honors service projects, university-wide projects, some kinds of religious service, and work with non-profit organizations. Service can be completed locally, internationally, in your hometown, or online. To learn more about tracking hours, visit https://honors.fiu.edu/community-service.
Graduate and Professional Pipeline Programs
The Honors College has pipeline programs with multiple professional and graduate schools, providing students an opportunity to know by the end of the sophomore year whether they will be accepted into the program of their choice (pending continued good academic performance and the outcome of pre-professional exams). These programs include:
The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU) Early Assurance Program
The Lake Erie College of Medicine Early Acceptance Programs in Dentistry, Pharmacy, or Osteopathy
Honors College and the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Baccalaureate/MD Program (3+4 Medical School Program)
This program with the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine allows eligible students to begin medical school in lieu of their fourth year of undergraduate study, provided the student has completed all required courses for the BS in Biological Sciences undergraduate degree by the end of the junior year, as well as Honors College requirements. The first year of medical school qualifies as the final year of the bachelor’s degree.