Honors College Curriculum (for students enrolled after Fall 2026)
The Honors College offers highly motivated and high-achieving undergra
duates a liberal arts college experience within the context of a large, urban, public research university. The Honors College is designed for students from all majors who want to transcend disciplinary boundaries, be innovative, and address challenging questions through the classroom and experiential learning. The Honors College prepares students to be skilled communicators, critical thinkers, creative visionaries, and problem solvers. Honors offers students opportunities to develop their understanding of language and culture locally and internationally, while also fostering an expansive sense of understanding needed to be successful in the 21st century.
Honors Core
The Honors curriculum runs concurrently with a student’s program of study or degree requirements. Dedicated Honors advisors assist students in selecting courses that will fulfill graduation requirements and match students’ interests, while also providing guidance regarding experiences outside the classroom that will enhance their time at VCU.
The foundation of the Honors College curriculum is a series of courses that introduce students to the greater Richmond community, deepen our students’ ability to conduct research and creative scholarship, communicate their findings, and empower students to nurture their own well-being. The Honors College sparks students’ critical thinking and curiosity through individualized exploration and creative expression.
Students can complete the first-year writing program in one of two ways (based upon their prior preparation). All entering Honors students must take HONR 240 (Research Writing and Critical Thinking); those students who did NOT enter VCU with credit for UNIV 111 must also complete HONR 230 (Introduction to Academic Writing).
College is a time for growth and exploration, but it can also be a time of intense pressure and stress. Therefore, HONR 150 (Flourishing: The Applied Science of Wellbeing) is a required first-year course, designed to teach students skills such as mindfulness practices that will help students flourish throughout college and beyond.
The Honors College fosters a sense of community in which all people are valued. HONR 170 (City as Text: Richmond) provides students with an opportunity to become engaged in the broader Richmond community and understand the various ways that VCU interacts with it.
Inquiry and Analysis
After the first year, Honors students will deepen their understanding of their academic studies by completing 6 credits of the Inquiry and Analysis requirement. In order to fulfill this requirement, students can take an interdisciplinary seminar or module (HONR 398 and HONR 399), enroll in an Honors section or variant of a discipline-specific course, complete a graduate-level course, or develop a course contract for Honors credit.
Experiential Learning
Honors students are also engaged with the world around us and the Honors curriculum provides them with an opportunity to participate in Experiential Learning (3 credits). Students can fulfill this requirement by taking Clash of Ideas (HONR 460), a course that draws upon an approach known as Reacting to the Past to immerse students in specific moments and ideas of lasting importance to explore pivotal issues through dynamic roleplaying. Students can also serve as a preceptor for an Honors class (HONR 480), take advantage of study abroad opportunities (HONR 421), or complete an external internship (HONR 493). Additionally, students who undertake individualized research or creative projects working closely with faculty may receive Honors credit for these experiences (HONR 492) or may begin working on an Honors thesis by taking Thesis Prep (HONR 498).
Culminating Experience
During their final year, Honors students also must complete a Culminating Honors Experience. This requirement can be met by participating in the Honors Capstone class (HONR 494) or by completing select departmental capstone projects with the approval of the Honors College. If a student would like to build upon their research or creative experiences, they can also fulfill this requirement by completing an Honors thesis (HONR 499).
The Application Process
Incoming first-year students with a combined minimum SAT score of 1330 (mathematics and critical reading) or a minimum ACT composite score of 29 and a minimum 3.5 unweighted high school GPA (4.0 scale) are eligible to apply. In addition to the VCU Common Application, prospective students must submit an Honors College application.
Current VCU students who have achieved a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in 12 to 53 semester hours of college credit are eligible to apply. Students with more than 53 credits may still apply, but they will need to provide a written explanation about how they plan to complete the curriculum. Transfer students who have earned 12 or more credits and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 are also eligible to apply.
Points of Entry for Honors
Students may enter the Honors College through three different points. The majority of our students enter as first-year students and are required to complete 20 approved credits to graduate with University Honors. Students who are already enrolled at VCU and wish to join the Honors College after their first semester as Continuing Students, or students transferring to VCU from other universities, need to complete 16 approved credits to graduate with University Honors. Transfer students who have already completed an associate’s degree or earned at least 54 credits, need to complete 13 approved credits to graduate with University Honors.
Graduation Requirements
See graduation requirements for:
- Entering First-Year Students
- Continuing and Transfer Students
- Transfer Students with Associate Degrees or with 54 or more earned credits
Academic Policies and Requirements
- Students in the Honors College must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.
- Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.2 in all Honors course work.
- All Honors courses must be completed on the grading system listed in the VCU Bulletin.
- Honors students cannot contract a P/F class or a lab.
- Honors students may take a maximum of SIX credits of course contracts.
- Continuing/Transfer students must complete their Honors Core within a year of admission to Honors.
Special Opportunities
The Honors College offers a number of opportunities to its student members. Among these are:
The Honors College Student Executive Board – an organization of Honors College students who help determine the course of the Honors College, as well as host social, service and leadership activities for Honors College students
Honors College internships and independent studies – Honors-specific educational programs, often taught in conjunction with academic departments that introduce honors students to opportunities in their fields of interest and within the Richmond community
The Berglund Seminar/Challenging Conversations Series – discussions on topics pertinent to the wide-ranging interests of Honors students. Discussions are led by outstanding guest speakers from the university faculty and administration, and a variety of community leaders.
The Honors College is committed to enriching the students’ academic and personal endeavors. Additional resources and opportunities include:
- A well-being program
- Career Workshops
- Honors scholarships
- Special library privileges
- First-year honors housing
- Leadership opportunities
- Global learning experiences
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Honors advising and priority registration
- Access to the National Scholarship Office
- First-year and alumni mentorship opportunities
- Preferred applicant track into select VCU professional and graduate programs