Curriculum and Requirements | GT Honors Program

Honors Program Requirements

Honors Program students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of Honors Program coursework during their undergraduate studies at Georgia Tech to achieve the distinction of "Completion of the Honors Program" or 9 - 14 hour to achieve the distinction of "Participation in the Honors Program."

Typically, first-year students enroll in two or more Honors Program classes, and upper-level students enroll in one or more Honors Program classes (or VIP or PURA research courses, HP-authorized research or study abroad courses, or graduate courses) per year.

Below is information on the types of classes that you can apply to the Honors Program curriculum requirement and details about how HP credit fits with degree requirements.

Information on HP Coursework

CATEGORIES OF HP COURSEWORK

HP Classes (courses with “HP” following the course numbers--the list for the current semester is available online).
Music Ensemble Classes: MUSI 3018, 3019, 3121, 3131, 3231, 3241, 3251, 3261, 3311, 3321, 3411, 3511, 3531, 3541, 3551, or 3611 (up to a combined total of three credits).
Research Classes: VIP, PURA, and HP-Authorized Independent Research Courses (up to a combined total of six credits, which may include up to three HP-Authorized Independent Research Course credits).
HP-Authorized Study Abroad Classes (up to three credits).
Graduate Classes at the 6000 level or above (excluding master's thesis 7000, up to three credits).
Transfer Credit (for incoming transfer students only), up to six (6) credits TOTAL, including up to six hours of previous honors program or honors college classes, up to three (3) credits of independent undergraduate research, or up to three (3) credits of study abroad coursework. For more information, visit the transfer admissions webpage.

DETAILS & REQUIREMENTS FOR HP COURSEWORK

All HP coursework must be completed on a letter-grade basis, with one exception: PURA course audit credits may be counted toward the HP curricular requirement or the additional award of “HP Distinction in a Pathway.”
Students may count up to three credits for HP-Authorized Study Abroad Courses only if they follow this information to have the courses evaluated and the courses are approved.

Visit the Classes and Registration section of the website for a full list of the courses available in the current semester.

Classes taken for the Honors Program can count anywhere in your degree requirements, including for a major, minor, certificate, free electives, or core general education requirements.

Some HP coursework may satisfy Georgia Tech core curriculum requirements. Other HP coursework may satisfy elective requirements for a Georgia Tech major. Please be sure to consult with your major advisor about using your HP coursework to satisfy your core curriculum requirements and other elective requirements.

Types of Recognition

COMPLETION OF THE HONORS PROGRAM

Georgia Tech includes recognition for “Completion of Honors Program” on the Georgia Tech final transcript for those students who complete 15 or more Honors Program credits by graduation. In addition, those who complete 15 or more HP credits receive an Honors Program medal of participation (worn at graduation), Georgia Tech seal with presidential stamp (for application to the Georgia Tech diploma), Honors Program pin, and Honors Program graduation stole with the official Georgia Tech Honors Program insignia on the left-hand side, to be worn at graduation. Students who receive Distinction in a Pathway will receive a special stole that reflects this additional honor.

PARTICIPATION IN THE HONORS PROGRAM

Students who do not complete the Honors Program" but, instead, complete 9 to 14 credits of Honors Program coursework over the course of their matriculation at Georgia Tech will earn the distinction of "Participation in the Honors Program." These students will receive an Honors Program “Certificate of Participation,” Honors Program medal of participation (worn at graduation), and an Honors Program pin.

Note that completion of the Honors Program is NOT a degree requirement. Failure to complete the Honors Program does not delay graduation and is not indicated on your final Georgia Tech transcript. Only successful completion is noted on the transcript.

Honors Program Pathways

Students have the option of earning distinction in on or more curriculum pathways, including Global Engagement, Research, and Service. Read more about the HP Pathways.

These three Pathways transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries; cannot be pursued in an existing major, minor, or certificate program; capture fields of passionate interest by many HP students; and advance the Georgia Tech motto, “Progress and Service,” and the goals and objectives of Georgia Tech’s Strategic Plan.