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University of Iowa Honors Program

Students and faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are active participants in the University of Iowa Honors Program (UIHP). The University of Iowa Honors Program offers special academic and extracurricular opportunities to outstanding students. Each year the Associated Iowa Honors Students plans a variety of recreational, social, cultural, and academic activities.

Membership

Entering students with strong academic records are admitted to the University of Iowa Honors Program and any current student whose University of Iowa grade point average meets or exceeds the required minimum (3.33) and who has fewer than 72 credit hours of college course work will automatically become a member of the Honors Program. (Students with more than 72 credit hours of college course work with a UI GPA of 3.33 or greater may be admitted to the program based on a student-initiated request.) Transfer students must have a GPA of 3.50 or above and 24 credit hours in college coursework. (For more specific information on membership requirements, visit the membership page.)

Honors Courses

Every semester a number of honors seminars are offered by senior faculty members in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. These seminars, for first year students and sophomores, can be used to complete the General Education Program; some of them also can be applied to the requirements of a major. Other courses approved for General Education offer special honors sections. Students may also chose to have courses designated as honors courses. At the junior and senior levels, most departments offer honors seminars, independent research, and the opportunity to pursue a senior project under the guidance of a faculty member and earn a degree "with honors." For more specific information, visit the Honors' Courses page.

Graduation with Honors
Honors Commendation

University of Iowa Honors students who have completed 12 semester hours of Honors course work with a minimum grade of "B" in each of the graded courses before they have completed their second year or their first 59 semester hours, whichever comes last, will receive Honors Commendation. Students earning Honors Commendation will receive an award letter and certificate signed by the President of the University of Iowa.

Honors in the Major

Students who go beyond the basic requirements of their major and attain a deeper level of mastery of their subject graduate with Honors in the major.  Requirements vary with each department but typically include:

National Honor Societies

The College helps sponsor several opportunities for students to participate in national honor societies.

Phi Beta Kappa is represented on campus by the Alpha of Iowa chapter. Outstanding students who are eligible, primarily seniors, are invited to join each semester. The University also hosts two national honor societies whose criteria include scholarship, leadership, and service. These are Mortar Board (the Staff and Circle Chapter) and Omicron Delta Kappa. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are among those invited to apply each spring.

Several CLAS departments sponsor chapters of national honor societies related to specific academic disciplines, including geoscience, journalism, music, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Study Abroad

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences encourages all students to consider study abroad. There are many ways to include academic credit for study abroad in a plan of study. Students interested in studying abroad should visit the Office for Study Abroad web site for initial information on the many programs offered. Assistance is also available on a drop-in basis from peer advisors at 1111 University Capital Center, just south of the Pentacrest in downtown Iowa City on the corner of Washington and Clinton. Students may also visit with a Study Abroad advisor or browse through information in the office's resource room. The office is open Monday-Friday from 9-12 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. (319) 335-0353.

All students are advised to seek prior approval of their programs to assure that the credit they earn will be accepted toward degree requirements and that studying abroad will not prevent them from fulfilling the college's residence requirement.

Career Development and Internships

The University of Iowa Marvin A. and Rose Lee Pomerantz Career Center offers students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences access to career development and full-time job and internship openings. Services of the center include workshops on a variety of career topics including resume and cover letter writing, internship and job search, and interviewing skills. Career Advisors specializing in majors from the arts and sciences help students develop career strategies, choose majors, take interest assessments and conduct job and internship searches. Students seeking internships and full-time positions can take advantage of an online recruiting system or career fairs offered throughout the year.

The Pomerantz Career Center is located at 100 Pomerantz Center, Suite C310 (third floor) in the Pomerantz Center on Market Street . Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with walk-ins welcome between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for resume and cover letter reviews as well as general questions. Visit www.careers.uiowa.edu for more information or call (319) 335-1023