University Honors Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What type of student would be interested in the University Honors Program?
- Someone who welcomes new thoughts and ideas and enjoys being challenged.
- Someone who relishes a biblical understanding of life and culture.
- Someone who isn’t confined to just one area of interest.
- Someone who is interested in participating in a cultural and intellectual community.
- Someone who likes small classes and intellectually stimulating dialogue.
- Someone who recognizes the intrinsic value and strategic importance of academic training
- Someone who wants to pursue the virtues required for learning.
2. I meet the requirements for the University Honors Program. Now what happens?
You need to fill out an application, which includes a 250-to-500-word letter of interest explaining your interest in the UHP. You also need two faculty recommendations.
 Honors Application (Download PDF)
Recommendation Form (Download PDF)
After your file is complete, we will notify you of full acceptance into the program.
3. What do I have to do to stay in the University Honors Program?
Students need to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 while attending DBU. Beginning fall 2006, students accepted into the UHP will register for Honors Enrichment each fall and spring. We especially encourage regular participation in UHP-sponsored events, such as the fall faculty-student retreat and spring student conference. You must have a minimum of 3.5 GPA to complete the program.
4. What happens if I go a semester without taking an Honors class?
Students in the program do not have to take Honors courses every semester. Most students coming into the program in their Freshman year will complete the majority of their Honors courses in the first two or three years of college. The senior thesis or project is completed the final year. Honors Enrichment courses are taken the first three years and do not cost the student any tuition.
5. What are the benefits of being in the University Honors Program?
The primary purpose of the UHP is to help prepare you to become a person who can contribute in an important way to whatever calling God has on your life. And we believe that one of the best ways we can do this is by enlarging your understanding of God's truth, goodness, and beauty wherever it is expressed in creation. Our classes are smaller than DBU's already attractive faculty-student ratio, and we encourage faculty that teach in the UHP to build close relationships with honors students. The UHP also carries with it some unique opportunities, including our Honors Study Abroad program, which is open to sophomore students and above of proven merit, a graduate school resource center designed to help you learn about some of the best Christians teaching in graduate schools, and of course, the UHP is an important addition to your resume during job interviews.
6. What kind of recognition do I get for completing the University Honors Program?
Recognition of Honors Program graduates includes an Honors Program notation on the transcript and diploma, as well as special recognition at graduation. UHP graduates can be recognized during commencement by the gold cords and medallions they wear.
7. Does the University Honors Program provide scholarships to incoming students?
The UHP does not provide specific scholarships. However, most students at DBU who are eligible for the program often qualify for a number of merit-based academic scholarships and other forms of assistance. The Office of Financial Aid will assist you in determining your eligibility for Federal, State, and other aid programs.
Contact: http://www.dbu.edu/financialaid/contact.asp
8. Is there University Honors housing?
No. At DBU, we believe it is important for Honors students to build community not only with each other but also with students from a wide-range of backgrounds, interests, and abilities.
9. Do I have to live on campus to be in the University Honors Program?
No. UHP participation is open to both resident students and commuters. There are certain advantages to living on campus, especially for the traditional 18-to-24-year-old college student. Campus life is more readily accessible, and you’ll find it easier to build friendships.
10. Does the University Honors Program involve more work and will participation lower my grade point average?
An Honors course of study by its very nature is going to be more challenging than many traditional college classes, but keep in mind that students often underrate their own potential for rising to the challenge. Honors classes also provide unique opportunities to engage your imagination and critical thinking skills, and when this happens, students end up enjoying themselves, thereby succeeding in course performance.
11. What if my GPA slips below a 3.2 one semester?
If a student’s average falls below 3.2, he or she will be placed on probation and be allowed two semesters to bring his or her grade point average back to a minimum 3.2 in order to take honors courses. If the student’s grade point average stays below 3.2 for two semesters, the student will be suspended from the University Honors Program. A student seeking readmission to the University Honors Program may reapply once after suspension. To be recognized as "University Honors" at graduation, a student must have a 3.5 average and have completed 30 hours of designated honors courses, including a senior thesis or project.
12. How do Honors courses differ from regular courses?
Honors courses typically require more reading and writing than traditional courses. They emphasize critical thinking, contextual-learning, and primary sources. Honors courses often encourage reflection across the disciplines. Honors courses are typically run seminar-style in a conference-room configuration with much greater stress on dialogue and student accountability and preparation.
13. What kinds of classes are offered?
Honors courses can be divided into five broad categories.
- The UHP offers many honors sections of the general studies curriculum-- ENGL 1301; ENGL 1302; ART/COMA/MUSI 1306; BIOL 1401; POLS 2301; DCM 2301.
- The Perspective courses—HNRS 2302, 2302, 3301, 3302, 3303, 3304—may take the place of ENGL 2301, 2302, and/or HIST 1301, 1302, 2301, 2302. These courses look at primary source texts in the history of literature, theology, philosophy, science, and business, and they emphasize the social context of ideas in Western civilization.
- Honors sections of upper-level courses in selected majors are offered periodically. Students interested in taking a 3000-level or 4000-level course for honors credit should contact the UHP director, who together with the student, will approach the professor with a proposal for attaching honors-level study to the course. This can be done a maximum of four times.
- Directed readings courses in specialized topics can be offered periodically. These courses develop an agreed upon course of study for several students and a supervising professor in the students’ major.
- Honors Enrichment (HNRS 1001, 2001, 2002, 3001, 3002)--fall and spring each year. These courses help students complete their enrichment event portfolio.
- The Senior Thesis or Project is designed to help expand your analytical, imaginative, and technical understanding. Each thesis or project is supervised by a faculty mentor who gives you one-on-one attention and encouragement.
To be recognized as a University Honors Program graduate at DBU, a student must have successfully completed a minimum of 30 hours in honors classes including a minimum of at least 18 hours in the Honors core. Honors Program core components include four Perspectives classes, an Honors section of Developing A Christian Mind, and a Senior Thesis or Project.
The student must also regularly enroll in Honors Enrichment and complete an enrichment event portfolio before completing the Senior Thesis or Project.
14. Will Honors classes prolong my stay at DBU?
With careful planning, the UHP should not prolong a student’s stay. Some transfer students may elect to remain at DBU an extra semester to take advantage of the program.
15. Does the University Honors Program cost more?
No. Honors courses carry no additional tuition rate or fee. Some extracurricular events do carry a nominal cost, but the UHP offers financial assistantship for the Faculty-Student Retreat and local cultural trips to help off-set this.
16. Are only certain majors able to participate in the University Honors Program?
The UHP is open to all majors. Students majoring in Education, Business, and Music will need to pay close attention to their course of study since these majors offer few or no electives.
17. Will being in the University Honors Program make scheduling my classes more difficult?
Not necessarily, but you will need to be willing to be as flexible as possible in setting your schedule. Typically, only one Honors section of each course is offered per semester. You should plan, when possible, to make your Honors courses a priority. Also, plan to take advantage of any preregistration or advance registration opportunities your major offers.
18. Is it hard to balance Honors and extracurricular activity i.e. athletics?
Each student should know his or her range of abilities. In college, you have to learn to balance study with recreation, community service and ministry, and employment or other forms of university activity. Conditions that make it difficult for one student to succeed make it possible for another to thrive. Honors courses, by their very nature, demand your best, and this often translates into a significant time commitment, but one we judge well-worth the effort.
19. Are Honors activities strictly academic?
Some UHP events, such as the end of fall semester party are non-academic. Local cultural trips and movie discussion nights are extracurricular and, therefore, less academic in feel.
20. Can I bring non-Honors friends to Honors events?
The annual faculty-student retreat is open only to UHP students and members of the Paideia College Society. Likewise, the Spring University Honors Banquet is open to only Honors students and their families. UHP-sponsored local cultural trips, such as the film discussion night, are open to all students. If you have any question, you can always contact our office at 1/214-333-5526.
21. If I took Honors courses at another institution, will I receive honors credit at DBU?
Students may transfer into the University Honors Program up to twelve hours of honors credit from another college or university. Each course is subject to review by the Director and a consulting honors faculty member. Criteria for acceptance is determined by equivalency to DBU's own honors courses in terms of both coverage and rigor. Perspectives courses (HNRS 2301, 2302, 3301, 3302, 3003, 3304), the honors-level Developing the Christian Mind course (DCM 2301 HR), and the senior thesis or project must be taken at Dallas Baptist to be named a University Honors student at graduation.
Applicants should note that the transfer equivalency report prepared by the Registrar and the review process conducted by the University Honors Program do not constitute the same process. Courses that are accepted by the University in partial fulfillment of a student's degree plan may or may not be also accepted by the University Honors office as honors-level credit in the program.
22. What happens if I decide not to continue in the University Honors Program?
You will, of course, not be able to graduate as a UHP student; however, your Dallas Baptist University transcript will continue to list the Honors courses you passed as Honors. If you decide not to continue, please let us know your reasons. Sometimes, if a student is struggling personally or academically, we can help.
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