Students studying in The Lodge

Honors Program at NMU

Six different designations may be earned in NMU's Honors Program:

  • Full Honors
  • Full Honors with World Language Studies 
  • Upper Division Honors
  • Upper Division Honors with World Language Studies
  • Lower Division Honors
  • Lower Division Honors with World Language Studies

Each Honors Program student will be advised by both a success advisor and Honors Program advisors. Students will also receive counseling for advanced degree work and professional employment.

Typical Program Outline

Year One

  • HON 101 - 4 credits in Perspectives on Society
  • HON 111 - 4 credits in Human Expression

Year Two 

  • HON 201 - 4 credits in Perspectives on Society
  • HON 211 - 4 credits in Integrative Thinking

Year Three (12 credits, drawn from among the following)

  • "Honors Contract" course - 4 credits in major or minor, or
  • HON 301 - 4 credits in Social Responsibility in a Diverse World, or
  • HON 302 - 4 credits in Social Responsibility in a Diverse World, or
  • HON 495 Special Topics

Year Four

Capstone experience – “honorize” a 400 level research or directed study course within the major, if major does not provide such a course student enrolls in HON 498

Admissions Procedure

Students may indicate on their applications to Northern Michigan University if they would like to be considered for admission to the Honors Program. 

Honors Program Student Profile:
Honors Program students tend to share these characteristics:

  • High school GPA of 3.7 or higher
  • 27 ACT or 1280 SAT (please note that test scores are not required for consideration)
  • Significant involvement in extracurricular activities or community service
  • Academic curiosity and a passion for learning

The Honors Program may request additional information as part of the admissions process. 

Spaces in the program are limited. Therefore, for best consideration, we recommend applying during the fall semester of a student’s senior year of high school.

If a student has been accepted to NMU, but did not indicate that they wanted to be considered for Honors Program admission, they can complete the form below for full consideration. Transfer students and current NMU students can also utilize the form at the link below.

Our form is currently closed, but it will reopen for the 2027-28 cohort in early September.

Submit Now

Graduation Requirements

 

There are different requirements for each Honors Program designation. Review each desgination's requirements below.

In addition, students who wish to earn any Honors Program designation (lower division, upper division, full) on their transcript must

  1. Demonstrate proficiency in mathematics (at least pre-calculus MA 115). Mathematics proficiency can be demonstrated by advanced placement (AP) credit, previous course work, appropriate examination, or by taken an appropriate math class at NMU.
  2. Take one (1) class in a foreign language during their time at NMU.
  3. Students must achieve a 3.30 university grade point average. Further, students must achieve an overall 3.00 GPA for all HON and "H" courses to graduate in honors.

Students who elect this option will complete the first two years of Honors courses, HON 101, 111, 201, 211 (16 credits), must demonstrate math proficiency, and take a foreign language course while at NMU (not possible to "test out" or count courses from high school, although AP credit or dual-enrollment courses may count).

Students who elect this option complete all of the requirements for lower division honors and complete a language course of study through the 202 level. Students who place out of the 202 level would be required to take at least 4 credits of coursework in a language other than English at NMU to receive this designation.

Students who elect this option will complete the last two years of the Honors Program, 12 credits of upper-division classes (i.e. 300 and above) and the capstone experience, must demonstrate math proficiency, and take a foreign language course while at NMU (not possible to "test out" or count courses from high school, although AP credit or dual-enrollment courses may count).

 

Students who elect this option complete all of the requirements for Upper Division Honors and complete a language course of study through the 202 level. Students who place out of the 202 level would be required to take at least 4 credits of coursework in a language other than English at NMU to receive this designation.

For Full Honors, students earn general education credit by completing interdisciplinary Honors core courses in their first, second, and third years. In the fourth year, Honors Program students enroll in a capstone senior experience, completing a research project or creative work.

Completion of both Lower and Upper Division Honors requirements.

Students who elect this option complete all of the requirements for Full Honors and complete a language course of study through the 202 level. Students who place out of the 202 level would be required to take at least 4 credits of coursework in a language other than English at NMU to receive this designation.