Honors Citation

The Honors citation is an academic distinction and formal acknowledgement that a student satisfied all of the requirements to complete the University Honors living-learning program.

The citation is noted on a student’s official University of Maryland transcript. Students who earn the citation are awarded Honors College (red and gold) and Univeristy Honors (orange, blue, and white) cords to wear at commencement, and are invited to join the University Honors Alumni Network.

Citation Requirements

Students who joined University Honors in 2020 or later

The University Honors curriculum is designed to be completed by the end of the sophomore year or the beginning of the junior year. Students admitted in 2020 and later will be awarded their Honors citation if they have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 and upon completion of 15 credits of coursework, as follows:

Gateway Seminar

1 credit

This required course (HNUH 100) is completed by all students in their first semester in the program—typically, first-year students in Fall semester.

Vantage Point Seminar

2 credits

This required course (HNUH 300) is typically completed in the second semester of the sophomore year, or, at the latest, in the first semester of the junior year. Students are not permitted to register for this course until they have completed at least one thematic cluster or one theory & practice track.

Thematic Cluster

6-12 credits

A thematic cluster is a group of 3-4 non-sequential courses concerned with a single topic of contemporary and enduring significance. Clusters are comprised of a Big Question course and 2-3 satellite seminars. To complete a cluster, students must complete the Big Question course (3 credits) and one of the satellite seminars (3 credits), for a total of 6 credits. Courses may be completed in any order and at any time during the cluster’s two-year lifespan.

Theory & Practice Track

0-6 credits

A theory & practice track is a group of 2 non-sequential courses that engage a single topic from differential methodological orientations. To complete a theory & practice track, students must complete both the theory seminar (3 credits) and the practice seminar (3 credits), for a total of 6 credits. Theory & practice seminars may be completed in any order and at any time during the track’s multi-year lifespan.

Notes

Students may choose to complete either 2 thematic clusters or 1 thematic cluster and 1 theory & practice track.
University Honors students admitted in 2020 or later are ineligible to register for HONR seminars. More information is available here.

Citation Requirements

Students who joined University Honors in 2019 or earlier

The University Honors citation requires a 3.2 cumulative GPA and completion of a minimum of 16 Honors credits, distributed as follows:

HONR 100

1 credit

HONR Seminars

9-15 credits

H-version Classes

Up to 6 credits

In 2019, University Honors embarked on a multi-year initiative to update its curriculum, introduce new co-curricular and student life programming, and expand its full-time faculty and staff. As part of these efforts, HONR seminars will be phased out over a two year period. Fall 2021 will be the final semester in which any HONR seminars are offered.

During this transitional period, students who matriculated in Fall 2019 or earlier will be held harmless. No University Honors student who pursues their Honors citation in good faith will be denied the opportunity to complete the program under the citation requirements that obtained when they matriculated.

Are you a current student who has a question about your particular situation? University Honors is committed to working with each and every one of you on an individual basis to find individualized solutions. Please contact Assistant Director for Academic Life, Dario Middleton

Measures introduced to minimize the disruption caused by the elimination of the HONR seminars

Whereas the HONR seminars were originally slated to be phased out in Spring 2021, a small number of seminars will be offered in Fall 2021.
Restrictions for UH students on HONR registration have been lifted. Students who joined UH in 2019 or earlier and who have not completed their Honors citation may register for as many HONR seminars as they require to complete their citation.
Students who joined UH in Fall 2019, have not completed their Honors citations by Fall 2021, and require HONR credits to do so may be granted permission to register for HNUH courses during Spring 2022 and 2022-23.
Students who joined UH in Fall 2018, have not completed their Honors citations by Fall 2021, and require HONR credits to do so may be granted permission to register for HNUH courses during Spring 2022.
Access to HONR seminars is limited primarily to UH students. Registration for HONR seminars by students in other Honors College programs is restricted by program membership, matriculation year, and citation-status. In Fall 2021, the only students permitted to register for HONR seminars are those who joined UH in 2019 or earlier.