UHP students are required to pass a minimum of 6 HON seminar credits with a B- or better, but may take more to fulfill the approved advanced coursework requirement. HON Seminars promote critical thinking, reading, and problem solving and employ methods that instill the integration and appreciation of knowledge across disciplines. Their small class size provides an ideal setting for constructive argumentation, analysis, synthesis, and pointed conclusions. They are taught by instructors specially trained to engage students in critical thought and debate about the subjects studied. First Year Inquiry (Q) courses may also be used in place of HON Seminars and/or approved advanced coursework for credit.

Honors sections of courses (designated by an “H” suffix) typically have smaller class sizes and provide students with a more in-depth and challenging exploration of the course subject matter than their non-Honors equivalents. They are usually restricted to students in the University Honors Program or an academic college or department’s honors program, creating an environment of academic excellence and inquiry. Not surprisingly, Honors sections of courses tend to receive very positive feedback from our students.

The Honors Contract process allows students to earn approved advanced coursework credit through contracts with faculty. The contract may be for work done independently by a student under faculty supervision or may be made between faculty members and teams of students working on a common project. Contracts for Honors credit may be developed in advance by members of the faculty who agree to supervise Honors work (faculty-initiated) or may be proposed by students to members of the faculty in whose courses they are or plan to be enrolled (student-initiated). The contract document/form can be found on the UHP Moodle Project page.

Under the University-wide Guidelines for Honors Programs at NC State, the Provost has approved the acceptance of Advanced courses, or 500-level+ courses, that are taken as electives or as substitutes for lower-level courses, in fulfillment of Honors program coursework requirements. These courses will automatically fulfill the requirements for advanced coursework for the UHP.

UHP* students may receive up to 3** hours of credit towards the 6 hour advanced coursework requirement through successful completion of an approved Study Abroad experience. To receive credit for the coursework through completion of a Study Abroad experience, a student must complete the UHP Request for Study Abroad Credit form (found in the UHP Moodle Project) within one semester of the experience’s completion.

_{*University Scholars Program (admitted prior to Fall 2022) students can receive up to 6 hours of course credit for participating in a study abroad experience}

_{**Students that go to Oxford with UHP and complete the associated UHP seminar coursework for the Oxford Study Abroad can receive up to 6 credit hours of coursework for this specific study abroad experience.}

UHP students may receive up to 6 hours of credit towards the 6-hour advanced coursework requirement through successful completion of approved independent study or independent research courses. To receive credit for the coursework through completion of a 400-level independent study or independent research course a student must send an email copied to both university_honors@ncsu.edu and their UHP advisor with the course syllabus attached at the beginning of the semester in which the course is being taken.