Honors students are typical LSA students–but with a strong desire to deeply engage with ideas, to dive deep into intellectual exploration and share a passion for learning with others. Honors provides students with the opportunity to take that deep dive in a community of like-minded students. Honors brings students from across LSA together; to learn with and from each other, from faculty, and from a rich and diverse set of experiences, both in and outside of the classroom.
- Honors provides two pathways for this deep dive
- In our lower-division program you can dive into a the liberal arts and explore the variety of what LSA offers, not focused on a single department of major, but taking Honors courses across the college while meeting your distribution requirements.
- In our upper-division program (in either an Honors major or an Honors in the Engaged Liberal Arts/HELA project), you dive deep into a topic or a project in your field, a product of your passion and interest.
Test Scores & GPA
Test scores and high school gpa do not determine acceptance into Honors. Every Honors applicant has already been accepted into LSA, so we know that you have what it takes to succeed here at Michigan. Our application process is focused on determining if you are a fit for the Honors Program’s mission and goals. We evaluate that fit by completing a holistic review of your entire application, including the Honors essay, to make our Honors admission decision. Test scores and gpa are two data points among many others.
Applicants to other colleges at U-M
In order to apply to the LSA Honors Program, you must first have applied and been admitted to LSA. Applicants to other colleges at U-M (including the Ross School of Business and College of Engineering) are not eligible to apply to Honors.
It is possible, however, to pursue a joint degree in LSA and another college at Michigan. The dual degree option is more than a double major; it is rigorous and requires that you complete 150 credits for graduation. For students who are applying for a dual degree program with the School of Music, Theater, and Dance or the Stamps School of Art & Design, you can apply to Honors as soon as you are admitted to LSA. For students intending a dual degree with LSA and any of the other colleges (including Ross, Engineering, Information, Education, Public Health, and Kinesiology), you can explore the dual degree option during your first year on campus or later; however, you can only join Honors after you have been admitted to LSA. Please know that the Ford School of Public Policy does not allow for a dual degree option. If you have questions about your dual degree plans and how Honors can be a part of them, please contact us.
Who gets ‘invited’?
Any student who is admitted to U-M LSA may apply to Honors. All students admitted to LSA will receive an email outlining the Honors Program and welcoming them to apply. It is not necessary to wait for such a letter, nor does it imply preferential admittance.
How many applications does Honors receive?
Our application reviewers read more than 1800 essays to fill an incoming class of approximately 350 students.