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Student Requirements

Admissions: Entering the Honors College

Students pursuing their first degree may be admitted to the Honors College as freshmen, continuing (current UWM students), or transfer students if they meet the College's criteria.

Freshmen are admitted to the Honors College on the basis of their high school record and their ACT composite score.

Eligible UWM or transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5, fewer than 40 credits, and have completed the UWM English requirement.

GPA and Continuing in the Honors College

Though we encourage students to maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA, the Honors College understands that unusual circumstances may arise. However, at a minimum, we require students to meet the following criteria:

Freshmen and Sophomores - 3.2 Cumulative UWM GPA
Juniors - 3.3 Cumulative UWM GPA
Seniors - 3.4 Cumulative UWM GPA
To Graduate with an Honors Degree - 3.5 Cumulative UWM GPA
  1. Students admitted as new freshmen, who need to complete the University English Requirement, must complete Honors 200 in the first semester following their completion of the English requirement to continue in the program.
  2. Students who do not take Honors courses for two consecutive semesters will be considered "inactive" and dropped from the Honors College.

Graduating with Honors

All UWM Undergraduate Colleges now offer the Honors Degree, a special diploma awarded to students who complete Honors College requirements. Students who complete a Senior Thesis receive the special distinction, "Honors with Thesis."

Graduating with an Honors Degree provides convincing evidence of outstanding academic achievement, a valuable accomplishment students can note on resumes and graduate school applications. To graduate with an Honors Degree, students must achieve a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and accumulate at least 21 Honors credits, which include a variety of course options:

Honors 200 - 3-6 credits
Upper-level Honors Seminars - at least 9 credits
Other Honors Options - up to 9 credits

Honors courses cannot be audited or taken with the credit/no credit option. Students must earn at least a B- in an Honors course to earn Honors credit.