Academic Requirements
To remain in good standing and retain the benefits of the Schreyer Honors College, students must meet minimum GPA requirements, honors course and credit requirements, and deadlines for submission of required forms.
First-Year Academic Requirements
Sophomore Academic Requirements
Students staying longer than four years are not required to take more honors credits beyond what is required for the Junior/Senior block. Students completing their degree program in seven semesters must still meet the Junior/Senior block. Students completing their degree program and graduating a year early (in six or fewer semesters) can use their final four semesters as their Junior/Senior block.
First-Year Academic Requirements
- Enroll in and pass ENGL 137H or CAS 137H during your first semester and ENGL 138T or CAS 138T in your second semester at Penn State.
- Students admitted to the SHC Fall 2009 or after must maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.40 and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40. (Students admitted to the SHC prior to Fall 2009 must maintain semester and cumulative GPAs of at least 3.33.)
- Submit, on time, your adviser-approved Academic Plan. Your first-year academic plan is due one day prior to priority registration in the fall semester. Your sophomore-year academic plan is due in the spring semester. See Important Dates for specific dates.
- Complete 21 honor credits in your first two years at Penn State. While we do not mandate credit distribution between freshman and sophomore years, it is preferable to complete 12 honor credits in your first year and 9 honor credits during your second year at Penn State.
Sophomore Academic Requirements
- Students admitted to the SHC Fall 2009 or after must maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.40 and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40. (Students admitted to the SHC prior to Fall 2009 must maintain semester and cumulative GPAs of at least 3.33.)
- The adviser-approved Academic Plan for all sophomores for your junior year is due in the spring semester of the sophomore year.
For sophomore Gateway entrants: Sophomore entrants to the SHC must file an Academic Plan by midnight the day before Priority Registration during the fall semester. - Complete a four-semester total of 18 honors credits (counting honors courses taken in the first year).
For sophomore Gateway entrants: Complete at least 9 or more honors credits during this year. Note: Honors courses taken prior to your semester of admission to the SHC will not count toward your honors requirements. - Start planning for your honors thesis. Your thesis proposal must be submitted one year prior to your intended semester of graduation.
Junior Academic Requirements
- Students admitted to the SHC Fall 2009 or after must maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.40 and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40. (Students admitted to the SHC prior to Fall 2009 must maintain semester and cumulative GPAs of at least 3.33.)
- The adviser-approved Academic Plan for all juniors for
your senior year is due in the spring semester of the
junior year.
For junior Gateway entrants: Junior entrants to the SHC must file an Academic Plan by midnight the day before Priority Registration during the fall semester. Note: Honors courses taken prior to your semester of admission to the SHC will not count toward your honors requirements. - Begin the completion of at least fourteen (14) honors credits required during the junior/senior block.
- Continue implementing your honors thesis plans. Submit a thesis proposal one year prior to your intended semester of graduation.
Senior Academic Requirements
- Students admitted to the SHC Fall 2009 or after must maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.40 and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40. (Students admitted to the SHC prior to Fall 2009 must maintain semester and cumulative GPAs of at least 3.33.)
- Have on file with the Honors College a current, adviser-approved Academic Plan. File a new one, for your fifth year, if you do not intend to graduate after your eighth semester.
- Have on file with the Honors College an up-to-date thesis proposal approved by the thesis supervisor and the appropriate honors adviser.
- Complete at least fourteen (14) honors credits during the junior/senior block.
- Submit completed honors thesis, with original signatures of all readers by the deadline.