Honors Program

The Southern New Hampshire University Honors Program is a student-centered program dedicated to creating a first-class educational environment. Motivated students are offered an atmosphere where academic excellence is expected, where a challenging curriculum fosters independent thinking in the company of like-minded individuals, and where participants are encouraged to be actively involved in their own education.

The Honors curriculum, which is a minimum of 20 percent of the student’s course work, consists of eight courses and three kinds of experiences: honors sections taught in a seminar environment with approximately 15 students, honors labs and modules attached to regular university courses, and three Honors-specific program courses. These courses are Honors 201 and 202 (Interdisciplinary Studies) and Honors 401 (Honors Thesis).

The curriculum is adaptable to each student’s individual needs and interests and will work with almost any full-time undergraduate program offered at Southern New Hampshire University.

• Honors students receive a $2000 scholarship which is renewable for each year they remain in the program.
• They are also offered opportunities for trips, conferences, meetings with visiting speakers, special programs, volunteerism, retreats and other enriching activities.
• The academic achievement of program members is facilitated by early registration and other academic privileges, and is documented on their transcripts and diploma.
• The program further encourages a dynamic peer learning environment by maintaining a comfortable honors lounge and holding regular honors social events.

An applicant should have a combined SAT score (critical reading and math) of at least 1000, high school GPA of 3.2 or better, outstanding entrance essay and evidence of interest in learning, personal development and service. Students usually enter the program at the beginning of their freshman year, but transfer students may also be accepted if they have fewer than 60 transfer credits. Current Southern New Hampshire University freshmen and sophomores will similarly be considered for entrance into the next year’s Honors class on a space-available basis.

Once accepted into the program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in every semester as well as grades of “B” or better in all Honors experiences. Students in the Honors Program are required to offer service to the program and to the university as a whole by participating in various Honors committees and campus organizations. Honors students are also actively involved in running their own program. Students in all majors are eligible, with the exception of those in the 3Year honors Program in Business.