The Honors Program is geared toward students who wish to challenge themselves with their classes; however, Martha Bradley, director of the Honors Program, said that freshmen can expect to receive many other benefits from joining the Honors Program.
Bradley said the program helps new students satisfy their general education needs and bachelor’s degree requirements and integrates them into a community of other students.
The program is open to all students who attend the U who meet certain requirements, which include a minimum cumulative 3.4 GPA and an admissions index score of 120 or higher.
“The community part of Honors supports students’ efforts to meet with success in their undergraduate experience, set and accomplish goals and establish new relationships,” said Bradley.
Some might think that honors classes are more difficult than regular classes, but Bradley said the difference is a qualitative one.
“Because honors students like and expect to be challenged, that brings the level of discourse up to a higher plane and engages students and teachers in a lively, interesting and insightful academic conversation,” she said.
Bradley’s advice to incoming freshmen who want to be in the Honors Program is to relax.
“Our students tend to be over-achievers, bent on fast-tracking it through the university and pressing their way to what comes next,” Bradley said.
“I advise students to use their general education classes to expose them to ideas, persons and languages that they didn’t even know existed before they came to the university?to expand on what they know and who they know, and diversify their education.”
For more on the Honors Program, visit www.honors.utah.edu.
Jamison Brogdon