Admission Requirements

Admission to the Honors Program for new students (transferring 0-29 transferable credits to NAU) requires a separate application and completion of one of the following:

ACT composite score of 29 or higher
SAT combined score of 1290 or higher
Graduation in the top five percent of your high school class

Students that do not meet the above criteria may petition for admission by submitting a completed application and the following additional documents:

Unofficial high school transcript
Letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your academic abilities and potential for success in Honors (teacher, counselor, etc)
And a brief (about 500 word) essay on one of the following essay prompts:
- discuss a current local, national or international news event that has affected your education
- describe your favorite book/text/class and its personal significance, as well as significance in other areas (social, political, cultural, etc)

Admission to the Honors Program for transfer students (transferring 30+ transferable credits to NAU) requires a separate application and that applicants have a cumulative transfer grade point average of 3.50 or higher.

Download an Honors Application Form .

Liberal Studies Honors

The Liberal Studies Honors Program provides an alternative path to completing the university's general education requirement, Liberal Studies. Students complete interesting and challenging coursework in a supportive, seminar-style format and actively engage in the learning process. Faculty share their passion for knowledge and ideas with honors students in intimate, intellectually stimulating classes that bring together concepts, theories, and current research from a variety of disciplines and perspectives. Students are expected to demonstrate aptitudes in critical thinking, communication, ethical reasoning, and creative exploration of ideas. Students will work toward developing these skills further through full participation in the reading, writing, and research projects that are the focus of each honors course. Successfully completing the Liberal Studies Honors Program earns the designation "with Liberal Studies Honors" upon graduation.

Liberal Studies Honors Program Requirements

A minimum of 35 hours with at least 21 hours of Honors designated coursework is required in the following categories:

Foundation Requirements

9-10 Hours Minimum

Honors Core (6 hours): HON 190 and HON 191 -- Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing I and II
Successful completion of the Honors English Placement Exam
Mathematics Foundation(3 - 4 hours): MAT 125 -- Precalculus, MAT 131 -- Topics in Calculus or MAT 136 -- Calculus I
Additional Math or Language Requirement: Two semester proficiency in any non-English language or Math proficiency through Calculus II (MAT 137). May be fulfilled through college credit, credit by exam, or appropriate placement. Credits may be counted in appropriate Distribution Area below.

Distribution Requirements

25 Hours Minimum

Aesthetic and Humanistic Inquiry (3-6 credits)
Cultural Understanding (3-6 credits)
Lab Sciences (4 credits)
Science/Applied Science (3-6 credits)
Social and Political Worlds (3-6 credits)

University Honors Program Requirements

To receive the designation "with University Honors" at graduation, you must successfully complete the Liberal Studies Honors Program, plus a two-semester, six credit-hour honors thesis. The thesis must be approved by the Honors Program and completed under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

Departmental Honors

Some academic departments offer individually tailored honors programs for students in their majors. You may be required to complete the Liberal Studies Honors Program requirements, as well as additional courses specified by the department. Speak with a departmental academic advisor for additional information.