Honors College at Rutgers: Requirements and Curriculum Overview

The Honors College at Rutgers University provides a distinctive academic experience for motivated students across various schools. This article outlines the requirements and curriculum for students in the Honors College, covering both the "Legacy" curriculum (for students who entered before Fall 2025) and the "NEW" curriculum (for students entering Fall 2025 and after).

General Overview of Honors College Requirements

Honors College students generally complete between 15-19 credits of honors-related work at Rutgers University. These requirements are designed to fulfill general school-based requirements within the 120-128 credits necessary for graduation from the University. The honors-related work includes:

One Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar
Multiple department-based honors courses
An Honors Mission-based Course
One Global Competency Course
For those seeking to graduate as Honors College Scholars with Distinction, the Capstone Project.

All requirements, excluding the Capstone (which is completed over two semesters in the final year), must be completed at various points during their first three years.

Curriculum for Students Entering Fall 2025 (and after)

The "NEW" curriculum will be in effect as of July 1, 2025, for students enrolling in the Honors College for the first time in the Fall 2025 semester.

Requirements to Graduate as a Rutgers Honors College Scholar

Join the Honors College as an incoming/first-year student or as a sophomore.
Honors Mission Course Experience: Choose one of the following:
- Honors Colloquium (01:090:111 or 01:090:112; fall or spring)
- Readings in Biology (11:554:111; fall)
- The Business of Everything (33:011:110, fall or spring)
- *Interplay (07:557:151:H; fall) - *Note: This specific course requires enrollment in the school or special permission. Recommended for students in EMSOP.
- *Introduction to Data-Driven Design for Engineering Applications (both 14:440:101 and 14:440:102; fall and spring). Must take honors section
Honors Courses:
- Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar (3 credits)
- Minimum 3 courses (minimum 9 credits) of other honors courses, which may include:
  - Additional Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar
  - Departmental honors courses or sections
  - +Honors Contract Course
  - SEBS Tutorials, I through VI
  - Additional Honors Mission-based course(s)
  - Byrne Seminars
Global Competence: Choose one of the following:
- Demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in a world language. Required for Phi Beta Kappa. If proficiency was earned outside of Rutgers, take one additional upper-level language class here (3-4 credits). If taking Language for Reading courses, it is a two-semester sequence and does not count for Phi Beta Kappa.
- Complete one course from the list of Global Competence courses approved for the Honors College (3-4 credits).
- Complete 6+ credits of study abroad
Community Engagement: 30 approved service hours
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.25 (term and cumulative)
Grade Requirement: Required to earn at least a B or better to receive honors credit.

Additional Requirement to Graduate as an Honors College Scholar with Distinction

Join the Honors College as an incoming/first-year student or as a sophomore.
Capstone:
- Approved Capstone Project: Typically 6 credits over 2 semesters (exceptions are predetermined by department/program, not by student)
- Supervised by approved faculty advisor(s); based on scholarship and practice appropriate to the field
- Written thesis or capstone report; presentation in appropriate scholarly venue
- Options: (1) Departmental honors; (2) School-based honors project; (3) Interdisciplinary honors thesis/project; (4) Two graduate courses; (5) Graduate program; (6) Experiential capstone; (7) Global capstone
Grade Requirement: Required to earn at least a B or better to receive honors credit.

School-Specific Requirements

In addition to the general requirements, each school within Rutgers University has specific requirements for Honors College students. These are detailed below for several schools.

School of Arts and Sciences (SAS)

SAS students must meet the following requirements:

Completing the 3-credit Honors College Forum in the first year.
Taking the 1-credit Honors College Cross-Cultural Competency in the first year.
A minimum of four 3- or 4-credit courses totaling 12 or more credits that are designated as honors courses, with a grade of C or better (this is in addition to the HC Capstone, Cross-Cultural Competency, and Forum). At least one of the courses must be an Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar.
Participating in at least 30 hours of Honors College-approved service projects by the end of the junior year.
Proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate level.
A Capstone Experience of at least 6 credits, typically completed in the senior year.
Honors College students at SAS must maintain a semester grade-point average of at least 3.250 in each term of the first year and at least a 3.500 in each term thereafter.

School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS)

SEBS students must meet the following requirements:

Completing the 3-credit Honors College Forum in the first year.
Taking the 1-credit Honors College Cross-Cultural Competency in the first year.
A minimum of one 3- or 4-credit Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars, with a grade of C or better (this is in addition to the HC Capstone, Cross-Cultural Competency, and Forum). It is highly recommended that this be a SEBS-based Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar.
Honors coursework must reach at least 21 credits.
Participating in at least 30 hours of Honors College-approved service projects by the end of the junior year.
A Capstone Experience of at least 6 credits, typically completed in the senior year.
Honors College students in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences are required to complete a series of mentored research experiences in their sophomore (2 credits), junior (3 credits), and senior (6 credit research-based capstone experience) years.
Honors College students at the School of Environmental & Biological Sciences are required to maintain at least a 3.25 term grade point average.

School of Engineering

School of Engineering students at the Honors College must meet the following requirements:

Completing the 3-credit Honors College Forum in the first year.
Taking the 1-credit Honors College Cross-Cultural Competency in the first year.
A minimum of one 3- or 4-credit Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars, with a grade of B or better (this is in addition to the HC Capstone, Cross-Cultural Competency, and Forum).
Participating in at least 30 hours of Honors College-approved service projects by the end of the junior year.
A Capstone Experience of at least 6 credits, typically completed in the senior year.
Honors College students at the School of Engineering are expected to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25 and a grade of B or better in each of the Honors courses.
During the first year of the undergraduate program, students register for Honors Calculus (01:640:151:H, 01:640:152:H), Honors Physics (01:750:271/01:750:275, 01:750:272/01:750:276), Exposition and Argument (01:355:103), and Honors Statics (14:440:291). Students are expected to achieve a "B" or better in each of the Honors courses to continue their registration in the program.
During the second year, students will register for Honor Calculus (01:640:251:H), Honors Physics (01:750:273), and Honors Dynamics (14:440:292). Note: 14:440:292 is NOT REQUIRED if the major curriculum does not require 14:440:222. Note: 01:750:273 is NOT REQUIRED if the major curriculum does not require 01:750:228/230.

Rutgers Business School (RBS)

RBS students must meet the following requirements:

Completing the 3-credit Honors College Forum in the first year.
Taking the 1-credit Honors College Cross-Cultural Competency in the first year.
A minimum of four 3- or 4-credit courses totaling 12 or more credits that are designated as honors courses, with a grade of C or better (this is in addition to the HC Capstone, Cross-Cultural Competency, and Forum). At least one of the courses must be an Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar.
Participating in at least 30 hours of Honors College-approved service projects by the end of the junior year.
Proficiency in a foreign language through the intermediate level.
A Capstone Experience of at least 6 credits, typically completed in the senior year.
Honors College students at RBS must maintain a semester grade-point average of at least 3.250 in each term of the first year and at least a 3.500 in each term thereafter.

Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy (EMSOP)

EMSOP students at the Honors College must complete the following requirements:

Read also: Requirements for UF Honors

Completing the 3-credit Honors College Forum in the first year.
Taking the 1-credit Honors College Cross-Cultural Competency in the first year.
A minimum of one 3- or 4-credit Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars, with a grade of B or better (this is in addition to the HC Capstone, Cross-Cultural Competency, and Forum).
Completing other honors-related coursework adding to a minimum of 21 honors credits.
Participating in at least 30 hours of Honors College-approved service projects by the end of the junior year.
A Pharmacy-approved Capstone Experience of at least 6 credits, typically completed in the third, fourth, or fifth year.
Honors College students at the School of Pharmacy are expected to maintain a semester grade-point average of at least 3.2.
All HC requirements, except for the capstone, should be completed by the end of the fourth year, and the capstone project should be formally approved and underway by that time.

Honors College "Legacy" Curriculum (Pre-2025)

The curriculum outlined here is for current Honors College students who entered prior to Fall 2025.

Completion Requirements

Twenty-one (21) credit hours of Honors courses.
- REQUIRED 01:090:125 Forum (3 cr.)
- REQUIRED 01:090:103 Cross-Cultural Competency (1 cr.)
- OPTIONAL 01:090:101 Byrne Seminar (1 cr.)
- REQUIRED 01:090:292â297 Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar (minimum 3 cr./1 course)
- OPTIONAL any + Honors Contract Course (3 cr., up to two, except MGSA students)
- OPTIONAL any Departmental Honors Course (3 cr., unlimited)
- OPTIONAL 01:090:126 or 127 Innovation Lab (iLab) (1-2 cr.)
- REQUIRED 01:090:497 and 498 Interdisciplinary Honors Thesis â Capstone Project (3cr., both required) or substitute for additional course options through:
  - Departmental Honors Program
  - Experiential Capstone Project
  - Graduate Study
  - Graduate Program Completion
  - SEBS Cook Scholars or SEBS Tutorials V & VI (Environmental & Biological Sciences)
  - School Based Projects (Mason Gross School of the Arts or School of Engineering)
  - Other (Proposed, developed with Approval of Dean of Honors College)
Service Hours: Thirty (30) service hours are required to be completed and documented by the end of the third year.

Legacy Curriculum Details

Summer One Read: All Honors students' learning begins with the Summer One Read, a common reading centered on an issue or topic that will have resonance in the required first-year classes and is related to a contemporary issue or topic of significance.
Honors College Forum: At the core of the Honors College curriculum is the first-year mission course, the Honors College Forum. This interdisciplinary course focuses on key topics defining twenty-first-century life: health and wellness, creative expression, citizenship and leadership, cultures and diversity, and sustainability and innovation.
Cross-Cultural Competency Course: All Honors College students are required to take the Cross-Cultural Competency Course, based on a "Me, You, We" approach to understanding a multi-faceted world, the dynamics of diversity, and the essential nature and need for equity and inclusion of all peoples.
Byrne Seminar: First-year students have the opportunity to take a Byrne Seminar, exploring some of the most unique, fun, and interdisciplinary ideas at the intersection of learning and everyday life.
Interdisciplinary Honors Seminars (IHS): Second and third-year students are required to take at least one Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar (IHS), to be completed by the end of their junior year.
Honors-Designated Courses: Students can enroll in a series of options and courses designated as Honors by various departments.
+Honors Contract Courses: Students can take up to two non-honors courses and turn them into an honors class by working with a faculty member on an honors learning contract.
Community Service Hours: By the end of their junior year, students must complete 30 service hours through a variety of opportunities both within and outside of the Honors College.
Senior Capstone Project: Students must enroll in and complete at least 6 hours of a senior-level capstone experience.

Switching Curriculums (Students Enrolled Prior to Fall 2025)

Continuing students have the option to switch to the new Honors College curriculum. To do so, they must first meet with their School-based Honors College Advisor or Assistant Dean. If they switch to the new curriculum, they must adhere to all its requirements, though certain requirements already completed may count toward requirements under the new curriculum. The decision to switch is irrevocable.

To switch, students must complete a form no later than Sunday, February 1, 2026, 11:59 pm, which is AFTER the end of add/drop for the spring 2026 semester.

Fall 2025 Courses

The following is a list of Honors courses scheduled for Fall 2025 (as of the information available). Note that these courses have been scheduled by the individual departments and may be canceled or rescheduled at their discretion.

Accounting: Introduction to Financial Accounting (3)
Anthropology: Culture and Social Life (3)
Biological Sciences: General Biology I (4), Brain Mind Behavior (3)
Chemistry: Honors General Chemistry (4), Honors Organic Chemistry (4)
Cognitive Science: Introduction to Cognitive Science (4)
Communication and Media Studies: Introduction to Communication and Information Processes (3)
English: Exposition and Argument (3), Introduction to Creative Writing (3)
Finance: Financial Management for Finance Majors (3)
French: Modern Literature in French Honors
Genetics: Honors Computational Genetics (3), Genetics (4), Genetic Analysis I (4)
Linguistics: Introduction to Linguistic Theory (3)
Management: Introduction to Management (3), Management Skills (3)
Marketing: Introduction to Marketing (3)
Math: Calculus I for Math and Physical Sciences (4), Calculus II for Math and Physical Sciences (4), Multivariable Calculus (4), Honors Calculus III (4), Introduction to Math Reasoning (3), Introduction to Real Analysis (4), Linear Algebra (3), Math Analysis I (3), Abstract Algebra I (3)
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry: Introduction to Research in Molecular Biology (4), Introduction to Research in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics (4)
Physics: Honors Physics I (3), Honors Physics III (3)
Political Science: Introduction to International Relations (3)
Psychology: General Psychology (3)
Supply Chain and Marketing Science: Introduction to Supply Chain Management (3)
Womenâs Gender, and Sexuality Studies: Knowledge and Power (3)

Spring 2025 Courses

In the spring semester before graduation, all Honors College students will produce a poster or other media product which reflects their work at Rutgers University â Camden. These products should reflect one of the more impactful experiences either with The Honors College, other coursework, research experiences, learning abroad experiences, or something else.

Read also: UMD Honors Programs

The Honors College First-Year Forum is organized around the question, âWhat is a Just Community?â Students will grapple with this question via guest lectures, readings, discussions, and the planning and execution of a semester-long project.

Incoming Honors College Students will be placed into Honors sections of English I and English II, if required.

Before applying for graduation, Honors College students must take two Upper Division Honors Seminars. These seminars are designed by Honors College Faculty Fellows, who apply to create and teach them. Our seminars are at the heart of the Honors College experience.

Important Considerations for All Honors College Students

Advising: Advising is no longer housed in the Honors College. Students should visit the Advising webpage to learn who now serves as their Honors College advisor(s). All academic and curricular questions should be directed to these individuals.
Capstone Requirement: The Capstone remains a mandatory element of the "Legacy"/pre-2025 curriculum and must be completed, without exception. Those who remain in the Legacy curriculum will graduate with a Capstone and thus be awarded the new designation of Honors College Scholar with Distinction.
GPA: The required GPA for "good standing" in the Honors College has been lowered to a 3.25 each semester AND overall.

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