Invitation from the Dean

Frequently Asked Questions

The Honors College admission is competitive. Candidates for admission must fulfill at least one of the following criteria depending on their classification:

  • Entering Freshmen:
    • Combined Evidence-Based Reading/Writing and Math SAT score of 1270 or higher; OR
    • ACT composite score of 27 or higher; OR
    • Ranked in the top 10 percent of high school class (U.S. high schools only); OR
    • Unweighted high school Grade Point Average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (U.S. high schools only)
  • Current UT Arlington students:
    • A 3.35 cumulative Grade Point Average (after completing 12 credit hours at UT Arlington) and a minimum of sixty hours remaining in your degree plan.
  • Transfer students:
    • A 3.35 cumulative transfer Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale (the average GPA from all U.S. colleges attended prior to UT Arlington) and a minimum of sixty hours remaining in your degree plan.

Students who do not meet any of the above requirements may apply to the Honors College; however, they MUST complete the optional essay portion of the application. The criteria above are minimums. Admission is not based solely on grades or scores. Applicants will be notified of their status via an email to their MavMail account.

The Honors College offers students the opportunity to obtain an exceptional education in a small academic community within the larger University. The Honors curriculum is designed to offer a special interdisciplinary emphasis at each level of the student's academic career. UTA's Honors College is one of only six such institutions in the state of Texas.
New Honors students must be advised by an Honors Adviser during their first semester at UTA and are encouraged to be advised early in the semester or they will lose their Honors status and privileges. There is no probationary period for students who fail to make and keep this appointment. All Honors students must maintain a 3.2 grade point average. Progress is reviewed each semester. If a student loses their Honors status, they must reapply to the Honors College if they wish to regain it.
Honors courses are designed to offer a challenging interdisciplinary perspective to students who enjoy a rigorous program of study. Emphasis is on allowing students more personal involvement, discussion time, and interaction with Honors faculty and other Honors students. Typically, Honors students do much better in their Honors courses than their regular courses because of the small class size and the opportunity for individual contributions. Grades in Honors courses are computed exactly as in other courses. Faculty set the standards, taking into account the different nature of the Honors courses; students are not penalized for participating.
Honors courses are not "accelerated" as are many high school honors courses. Instead they are designed to offer greater flexibility in teaching techniques, more faculty/student interaction, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Honors courses satisfy many of the regular University requirements and correspond closely to regular sections in preparing students for further courses.
In an effort to provide students with an exceptional academic experience, the Honors College seeks to designate for Honors credit courses taught by some of the most rigorous faculty in the university. By the same token, students are encouraged to seek out challenging courses. Only instructors who are full-time, tenured/tenure-track faculty members or full-time lecturers may supervise this contract. Graduate students, part-time instructors, and adjunct faculty members cannot supervise Honors contract course work. The same policy holds for designation of professors to mentor Honors Senior Projects. Only instructors who are full-time, tenured/tenure-track faculty members or full-time lecturers may mentor Senior Projects. Graduate students, part-time instructors, and adjunct faculty members cannot supervise Honors Senior Projects.