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What Is Honors?

Established in 1985, the University Honors & Scholars Center at The Ohio State University develops and supports an environment that promotes the intellectual and personal development of high-ability undergraduate students. The University Honors Program offers highly motivated students an enriched academic experience through the integration of curricular and co-curricular programs.

Outstanding students know there’s more to getting an education than course work, exams, and grades. Honors Program affiliation is open to students in any major and features the following exciting opportunities:

Honors Courses

Honors Courses are taught by select faculty members, often senior professors, who are recognized scholars and scientists. Each year we offer approximately 300 sections of Honors courses, in classrooms averaging 20 students per course and generally capping at 25 students.

Honors Courses:

  • Are designed to match the abilities of Honors students
  • Emphasize quality and academic rigor
  • Are required (most Honors students take one or two Honors courses each semester and traditionally perform very well).

Honors students enjoy University-Level Priority Scheduling, making them among the first to schedule courses each semester. This scheduling privilege enables students to meet the expectations and requirements of the Honors Program, including a challenging curriculum, maintenance of a 3.4 or 3.5 gpa, and completion of specific College Honors requirements.

College Honors

Most students are invited to join the Honors Program as incoming freshmen based on their university application. Transfer students and current Ohio State students who are interested in applying to the Honors Program should contact their college honors director, whose contact information is listed in the links below.

Regional Campus Honors Programs

Research

Why Research?

Participating in research allows you to expand your knowledge outside your classroom experience. By taking advantage of Ohio State’s vast research opportunities, you can contribute to ground breaking discoveries and work with faculty and research staff who are nationally recognized in their field. Research experiences can also make you more competitive for post-baccalaureate fellowships and scholarships, as well as entrance into the best graduate and professional schools and jobs.

Denman Undergraduate Research Forum

The Ohio State University is committed to the participation of undergraduate students in research. The Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum provides a means for undergraduate students to share their research with faculty, staff, fellow students and members of The Ohio State University community. Students present their research through poster presentations and are evaluated by three faculty and corporate judges. Awards are given in 11 categories and students of all disciplines are encouraged to present.

For more information, please visit denman.osu.edu or contact Vicki Pitstick at (614) 292-1794.

Other Research Opportunities

For more information on research opportunities, visit these links:

Honors Advising

With over 13,000 courses to choose from, how do you decide what to schedule each semester; whom can you look to for help? There are a number of resources available for you to take advantage of, including fellow students and the staff of the Honors & Scholars Center. However, your most knowledgeable resources when it comes to scheduling courses will be your Honors Advisors. Every Honors student has, at minimum, two Honors Advisors. Generally, you’ll find out who your Honors Advisors are during your Autumn Semester College Survey course.

College Honors Advisors
Your college Honors Advisor will most likely be a staff person whose full-time job is to advise students. Talk to your college Honors Advisor about meeting general education curriculum requirements, or, those courses designed to give you a broad, liberal arts background. They will also advise you on requirements for graduation from Ohio State with honors in your discipline.

Faculty Honors Advisors
Your departmental Honors Advisor will most likely be a faculty member whose primary job responsibilities include teaching and conducting research in his or her field of study. Talk to your faculty Honors Advisor about satisfying those requirements that are specific to your major area of study, which may include a senior honors thesis.

Transfer Students

If you are a transfer student interested in applying to the Honors Program at Ohio State, you should get in touch with your intended college of enrollment.

Click here for a list of majors and their corresponding colleges.

Click here for information about the Honors requirements in various colleges.

For more information about applying to the Honors Program as a transfer student, please contact:

College

Contact Name

Contact Email
Allied Medicine Margaret Teaford teaford.1@osu.edu
Architecture Angi Beer beer.38@osu.edu
Arts & Sciences Merijn Vander Heijden vanderheijden.1@osu.edu
Business Melinda McDonald mcdonald.18@osu.edu
Education & Human Ecology Jennifer Klosterman-Lando klosterman-lando.1@osu.edu
Engineering David Tomasko tomasko.1@osu.edu
Environment & Natural Resources Roger Williams williams.1577@osu.edu
Exploration Stephanie Elliott elliott.302@osu.edu
Food, Agricultural, & Environmental Sciences Pat Whittington whittington.6@osu.edu
Nursing Victoria Von-Sadovszky von-sadovszky.1@osu.edu
Pharmacy Karl Werbovetz werbovetz.1@osu.edu
Social Work Jennie Babcock babcock.79@osu.edu

Regional Campuses
Lima Campus William Ackerman ackerman.37@osu.edu
Mansfield Campus Terri Winnick winnick.3@osu.edu
Marion Campus Christopher Daddis daddis.1@osu.edu
Newark Campus Virginia Cope cope.38@osu.edu