Auburn Honors College: Requirements, Acceptance, and Opportunities

The Auburn University Honors College offers a unique educational experience for high-achieving undergraduates. It provides an intensified education and an intellectual community to a select cohort of the University's highest-achieving undergraduates. The college offers a flexible curriculum that integrates with Auburn’s degree plans by enhancing standard courses with more dynamic, multidisciplinary, and metacognitive approaches.

Curriculum and Graduation Distinctions

The Honors College curriculum provides students both the opportunity to experience more in-depth courses within their major and minor fields, and to explore other disciplines that interest them. Students earn a major in a discipline-based college while also pursuing one of four pathways to graduate with distinction in Honors. There are four Honors College graduation distinctions: University Honors Scholar, University Honors Research Scholar, Honors Scholar and Honors Research Scholar. These distinctions are conferred at the time of graduation and printed on students’ diplomas and transcripts.

University Honors Scholar

To earn the designation University Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of: 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses, AND 6 hours of coursework identified as Signature Impact Experiences Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.4 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

University Honors Research Scholar

To earn the designation University Honors Research Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 30 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of: 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses; 1 hour of which must be “Honors Lyceum: Research at Auburn” 3 hours of Honors Research Methods 6 hours of Honors Seminars 6 hours of designated Honors Research Seminars 6 hours of coursework identified as Signature Impact Experiences Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.4 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

Honors Scholar

To earn the designation Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of Honors College coursework, including a minimum of: 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation. -OR- To earn the designation Honors Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 7 hours of Honors coursework, including: 6 hours of Honors Research/Honors Thesis/Honors Special Topics or 6 hours of graduate level courses in the major field of study at the 6000 or 7000 level, AND 1 hour of an Honors Participation course Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

Honors Research Scholar

To earn the designation University Honors Research Scholar, students are required to complete a minimum of 24 hours of Honors College courses, including a minimum of: 3 hours of Honors Participation Courses; 1 hour of which must be “Honors Lyceum: Research at Auburn” 3 hours of Honors Research Methods 6 hours of Honors Seminars 6 hours of designated Honors Research Seminars Students must also complete their disciplinary requirements and have a minimum 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA at the time of graduation.

Honors Courses and Opportunities

The Honors College offers a variety of courses and opportunities designed to enrich the academic experience.

Honors Seminars

Seminars, usually capped at 15 students, provide opportunities for intensive exploration of topics through critical reading and discussion. While topics can range widely, the college prioritizes topics that fall outside the usual boundaries of traditional departmental courses and bring together students from a range of majors. Example: Dr. Allen Furr, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, taught a small group of Honors students about the culture and history of India.

Research Seminars

Research Seminars, which usually have a capacity of 8 to 18 students depending on the field and topic, allow students to pursue collaborative research or creative endeavor under the close supervision of a faculty mentor.

Honors Contracts

Honors Contracts enable students to earn credit by incorporating an Honors component within a regularly offered class. This is a great way to customize your Honors experience, form a relationship with your professors, and get the most out of your major or minor classes. Completion of the Honors Contract form with faculty member and department head approval is required and must be submitted by the 15th day of class. Learn more about how to contract a course with our contracting resource page.

Read also: Auburn Student Statistics

Freshmen Exploration Course

The Freshmen Exploration course introduces students to Auburn University and the Honors College. Each week, guest speakers present topics relevant to Honors students.

Forum Course

Students enrolled in the Forum course select a minimum of ten campus lectures, films and performances from a pre-approved list to attend.

Honors Thesis and Research

Typically, students will participate in honors research their junior or senior year. Honors thesis is a wonderful option for any student who wants the experience of writing an undergraduate thesis. Students work with a departmental professor in their major or minor to complete a project of their choosing. This course is very similar to Honors Research.

Graduate Level Courses

Students who meet the required pre-requisites may take graduate-level courses within their field of study. A maximum of twelve of these hours may count towards both the student’s undergraduate and graduate degrees at Auburn University.

Honors Minors

The Honors College offers minors in Business and Public Health. The Honors Business minor consists of the five 3-hour courses below. Four of the five courses must be taken at the honors level to successfully complete the minor. The Honors College Business Minor is administered through Auburn University’s Raymond J. Harbert College of Business. Students interested in more information, or those who would like to declare it as a minor, must contact the Raymond J. The Honors Public Health Minor is 15 hours consisting of five 3-hour courses: four required courses (12 hours) and one elective course (3 hours). Four of the five courses must be taken at the honors level to successfully complete the minor. Three of the PAOH courses are honors level, so the chosen elective must be an honors elective or contracted for honors credit (arranged through Honors college) to make four total honors courses. The elective must be approved by the Advisor.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Few places are more of an academic paradise than Italy. Incredible art, history and culture are set against a backdrop of exquisite land and seascapes, amazing food and friendly people. As a student in the Joseph S. You will stay as a full-time resident, in Ariccia, Italy in the grand Palazzo Chigi, a 15th-century palace once home to Italian nobility, at Auburn’s only permanent overseas campus. Lectures are taught in English by notable international scholars and professionals in sustainability, world history, architecture, art, design, language, cuisine and culture.

Specific Course Examples

Here are some examples of specific courses offered within the Honors College:

Social Media Research: In this course, you will learn how to conduct collaborative research into the social, political, and geographic effects of social media and present this work in a public-facing, informational format.
Sustainable Building Design: In this course, students will be using a mixed-methods approach to understand sustainability challenges of existing Auburn University buildings (example - ACLC, Haley Center) and provide scientific and creative solutions to repurpose them with a futuristic, imaginative, green, energy-efficient, and humanistic demesne.
Introduction to Molecular Research: This course is designed to introduce first-year Honors College students to molecular biology research.
Speculative Fiction Lyceum: Students in this Lyceum will develop a piece of speculative fiction in either the science fiction, mystery, or thriller genres that contains a lesson about politics, economics, culture, or international relations.
Inside the Game - An Introduction to Sports Management: provides an immersive introduction to the dynamic field of sports management, with a special focus on collegiate athletics.
Priority Management: There are 5 distinct priorities that when in the right alignment will help you win in both your personal and professional life.
Service Learning: In this course students are expected to conduct 15 hours of service and do an in-class presentation on their service experience.
Research Lyceum: In this Lyceum the speakers will discuss their involvement in research within their particular field. This is a great class to introduce you to research opportunities on Auburn's campus, and explore the different types of research that contributes to our R1 status.
Honors Interdisciplinary Exploration (HIE): is a new honors lyceum intending to bring together students and faculty from across Auburn University under the single umbrella of honors education.
The Salem Witchcraft Trials: In this course, we will explore the many different facets of the Salem witchcraft trials.
Volunteering with K-12 students: In this course, you will be volunteering with K-12 students while learning about Alabama’s education system, how poverty affects learning, hear from educators and leaders in education, and gain skills for positive behavior management.
Economic Development: This lyceum introduces students to Economic Development from both a global and local perspective.
Career Planning: The course is designed to help students in developing a career plan and investigating the work world in terms of the students' career/life goals.
Dune: Examining a Sci-Fi Epic: Frank Herbert's seminal 1965 sci fi novel Dune continues to captivate audiences over 60 years later. This course will examine its profound impact on the genre and its enduring relevance in literature, film, and cultural discourse.
National and International Scholarships Lyceum: This Lyceum will provide an overview of major national and international scholarships, such as Rhodes, Marshall, Goldwater, Fulbright, and Truman awards, along with other opportunities such as Peace Corps, Teach for America, and elite graduate schools.
AI Ethics: Artificial intelligence is transforming society, but is every use of AI progress, or are some applications harmful, unfair, or short-sighted?
Food and Identity: Immigrants in the United States use culinary traditions to remain connected with their native lands.

Admission to the Honors College

The Honors College reviews applications and selects a group of first-year students for membership each fall. Students entering the spring and summer semesters are encouraged to apply through the current student pathway. Admission to the Honors College is competitive for first-year, transfer, and current student applicants. Simply meeting the academic invitation criteria will not guarantee admission. When crafting each class, the Honors College considers program space and applicants’ fit.

Application Process

First-year students interested in the Honors College should apply to Auburn University early. Applicants seeking Fall 2026 membership should first complete their undergraduate admissions application. Incoming first-year students can access the Honors application from the checklist in the Auburn applicant portal beginning mid-August. Students wishing to participate in Honors special-interest housing should begin the University Housing application process early, as housing is not required or guaranteed to first-year students.

You can submit your admissions application online at auburn.edu/admissions or through the Common Application. Choose the application you're most comfortable with; there's no preference given to either application. We highly encourage you to submit the application you start, filling out both applications may delay your application from being processed. We encourage all documents to be uploaded in the application or sent electronically through the following services: Parchment, National Clearing House, SCOIR or Scribbles.

Admission Requirements and Criteria

Students may gain admission to the Honors College as an entering freshman based on ACT/SAT scores (29 or SAT equivalent targeted minimum), high school GPA (3.85 minimum), an application essay, and a record of leadership and service.

Applicants are asked to highlight their involvement in up to four extracurricular, employment, service, or leadership activities. The Honors College application essays allow you to address the admissions committee in your own voice. We have a deep interest in knowing why you are considering joining the Honors College, and your essays will let us better see you as a future scholar in our community. Exceptional responses will go above and beyond answering the prompt. Proofread your submission.

Essay Prompts

The Honors College application essays allow you to address the admissions committee in your own voice. We have a deep interest in knowing why you are considering joining the Honors College, and your essays will let us better see you as a future scholar in our community. Exceptional responses will go above and beyond answering the prompt. Proofread your submission. Reflect on your educational goals, values and philosophy. What experiences or accomplishments have shaped your goals and values? What principles guide your learning, and how do you envision your college experience as a continuation of this intellectual and personal growth? In your response, consider how you plan to engage with academic opportunities and pursue meaningful challenges offered by the Honors College.

Prompt A: Reflect on your educational goals, values and philosophy. What experiences or accomplishments have shaped your goals and values? What principles guide your learning, and how do you envision your college experience as a continuation of this intellectual and personal growth? In your response, consider how you plan to engage with academic opportunities and pursue meaningful challenges offered by the Honors College.
Prompt B: The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi famously used the word “flow” to describe a state of deep immersion in a task or activity, in which “The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, movement, and thought follows inevitably from the previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost.” Describe an activity that can put you into a flow state.
Prompt C: Each year, the Honors College selects a quote to exhort the incoming cohort to aspire to the ideals of the College. In 2024, the quotation was from the seventeenth-century mathematician and philosopher René Descartes: “It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.” What quotation would you propose the Honors College adopt for the incoming honors cohort of 2026, and why?

Important Dates and Deadlines

Applicants seeking Fall 2026 membership should first complete their undergraduate admissions application. Incoming first-year students can access the Honors application from the checklist in the Auburn applicant portal beginning mid-August. Students admitted to the Honors College must acknowledge their Honors acceptance by May 1. Accepting your Honors offer is non-binding and is not the same as confirming your admission to Auburn University; students will have until the enrollment deposit deadline to finalize their admission. *The Honors application timeline is subject to change based on changes made to the University’s undergraduate admissions timeline.

Scholarship Information

University Scholarships are not contingent upon Honors participation. Early Action applicants automatically receive consideration for Competitive Merit Scholarships. Students should complete the Auburn University Scholarship Opportunity Manager, or AUSOM, for General and Departmental award consideration.

Criminal Conduct and Educational Misconduct Disclosure

All applicants for admission to Auburn University are required to disclose on the admission application prior criminal conduct and prior educational misconduct. The University reviews all applications in which a student discloses misconduct at an educational institution and/or prior criminal conduct to determine whether the applicant's admission is in the best interest of the University. Applicants will be required to provide additional information to the University for consideration. This information may include, but is not limited to, copies of criminal disposition records, background checks and screenings and educational and disciplinary records. Applicants may also be asked to provide information releases. All information requested from the applicant must be received by the University at least 30 days before the first day of the semester. The committee reviews applicants whose files are complete and meet all other admissions criteria.

Admission of Current and Transfer Students

Students who do not qualify to apply to the Honors College prior to their first semester can apply to the Honors College as current Auburn University students. Yes, transfer students who have a 3.4 unadjusted GPA may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Yes, current Auburn students who have a 3.4 unadjusted GPA may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Maintaining Good Standing

Students are required to maintain satisfactory progress in completing the requirements of the Honors curriculum. First-year students must attain a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA and second, third, and fourth-year students must maintain a minimum of 3.2 cumulative unadjusted Auburn GPA. All first-year students in the Honors College must meet with an Honors academic advisor in both fall and spring semesters and submit a Plan of Study prior to registration for spring courses. Students who do not successfully maintain good standing (Honors course progression, GPA, meeting at least once a year with their Honors advisor, and/or submission of the Plan of Study) will be suspended from the Honors College. Students may be reinstated upon attaining the minimum GPA and/or providing the Honors College with an updated Plan of Study for Honors courses.

Honors Housing

The Honors College has a total of 200 beds in Broun Hall and Matthews Hall, including beds in the Engineered for Success Honors Residential Learning Community. Students admitted to the Honors College must acknowledge their Honors acceptance by May 1. Honors students may apply to live in one of the Honors residence halls in The Quad or in The Village. Entering freshmen and currently enrolled students at Auburn University, who demonstrate the potential for academic excellence, are eligible to apply for admission. First-year Honors students requesting to live in these halls must have a Honors roommate. The roommate may be one of your choosing or you may elect to have a roommate assigned to you. Living with other students who are members of the Honors College will deepen your experience and help you develop close friendships with Honors College students. Honors housing are located in Matthews Hall (Village) and Broun Hall (Upper Quad).

Cost and Value

Every student in the Honors College pays a $250/semester fee. Participation in the Honors College exposes you to a wider range of intellectual and academic experiences, it will give you the opportunity to form lasting friendships with other students committed to academic excellence, and it promotes more rewarding interaction between yourself and your teachers. Many Honors students would agree that Honors courses are not more difficult - just different. The Honors Curriculum has been developed to provide Honors students an opportunity for broad enriching educational experiences based in large part on Auburn’s Core Curriculum. Honors students may choose between 24 or 30 hours of Honors coursework, depending on designation, to replace regular University classes. The Honors College does not award Honors credits based on Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Dual Enrollment credits or ACT/SAT scores.

Additional Opportunities

In addition to the various Honors College Study & Travel courses, which can be found here, the Honors College supports the Auburn Abroad Office. Undergraduate Research at Auburn University promotes opportunities for undergraduates to engage in mentored research and creative scholarship. As future leaders and community-involved citizens, students must be able to apply creative solutions to complicated social issues, understand multi-facted physical processes, and communicate effectively. The Honors College plans various social events throughout the year. Activities range from food and fellowship events to speaking engagements with Auburn University administrators.

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