Q: How do I get in?
A: Incoming freshmen with an ACT composite score of 28 or above, or a 1310 SAT (Critical Reading and Math), and high school GPA of 3.5 or an equivalent 601 GED score will be invited to join the first year. Click here to apply as an entering freshman. Continuing and transfer students (within and outside the U of A) can also be admitted by earning a 3.5 cumulative GPA in all course work while carrying a full academic load (an average of at least 15 hours per semester). Applications will not be accepted from students who are within three full semesters of anticipated graduation date. U of A students who have already been accepted an Honors Program in another college and are transferring to the Fay Jones School must have a 3.5 or greater cumulative GPA. Click here to apply as a continuing or transfer student.
Q: What’s in it for me?
A: Scholarships and fellowships, for starters. Each year, the Honors College awards 2,000 scholarships and fellowships ranging from $2,000 to the Chancellor’s Fellowship, which covers room and board, tuition, and fees, and awards $50,000 for travel and research. The Honors College also offers 300 grants each year that support undergraduate research and international study.
Q: Are honors courses more difficult than regular classes?
A: Yes. Honors courses are designed to challenge and stimulate ambitious students, but need not be more time consuming. Break-out discussion groups facilitate lively classroom dialog, and assignments are designed to inspire independent thought. The Honors College also offers interdisciplinary seminars; recent topics include:
- Art and Culture of the City
- Sacred Bodies, Sacred Spaces
- Visualizing the Roman City
- Medieval Architecture
Q: What is the deadline for scholarship and fellowship applications?
A: The final deadline to apply for scholarships and fellowships is Feb. 1 of your senior year, but new students are encouraged to apply by Nov. 15 for early consideration for admission and scholarships. There are separate applications for UA scholarships and Honors College fellowships. Students with very high ACT and SAT scores and grade point averages are encouraged to apply for Honors College fellowships. For more information, visit the Honors College website at http://honorscollege.uark.edu.
Q: Will the honors degree help me with graduate school or job applications?
A: Challenging courses, undergraduate research, international study and faculty mentorships will give you an edge in pursuing your career path. Honors administrators and faculty provide guidance through the Office of Post Graduate Fellowships to prepare you for applications and interviews, and will help you secure letters of recommendation. Recent University of Arkansas Honors College graduates have won Rhodes, Marshall and Truman scholarships. In addition, Fay Jones School faculty provide networking opportunities for our students that facilitate their transition into design practice, graduate education and other opportunities for further personal and professional development. Our graduates are enrolled at Harvard, Columbia, Washington University, and many notable design schools and public research universities.
For more information or to schedule a tour of the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, call Rachel Fletcher at 479/575-2399 or email her at rachelf@uark.edu.
