The Penn State Behrend Honors Program is designed to provide a richer academic experience for highly qualified students at first-year and sophomore levels. At the end of the sophomore year, a student who has successfully completed nine or more honors credits while maintaining a cumulative 3.33 G.P.A. will be awarded a notation on their transcript. A grade of C or higher is required for an honors course to meet honors credit requirements (as opposed to major or University requirements). There are also opportunities to enter the Schreyer Honors College at the end of the first and sophomore years and continue studying toward a Penn State Honors Degree.

How to Earn Honors Credits

  • Honors courses
  • 400-level courses
  • Honors option regular courses (should only be taken as a last resort; requires instructor approval)
  • Honors independent study/research (requires instructor approval)
  • Recognized study abroad programs

Eligibility and Requirements

  • Entry to Honors Program: First-year student admission by invitation based on high school academic record. No separate application is required.
  • Minimum Requirements: File an Annual Academic Plan. Maintain a 3.33 GPA each semester.
  • Semesters One and Two: Complete at least six honors credits during the first year.
  • Semesters Three and Four: All remaining honors credits must be completed by the end of the fourth semester. 

Students must take a prescribed sequence of courses (based on their intended major):

Pre-Business Majors:

  • First year: ECON 104H and 102H
  • Second year: Any honors course
  • Please contact Professor Mike Brown at [email protected] with questions and/or concerns about scheduling your prescribed sequence.

Pre-Science Majors: 

  • Biology
    • First year: BIOL 110H and any other honors course or honors option
    • Second year: BIOL 230M
    • Please contact Professor Adam Simpson at [email protected] with questions and/or concerns about scheduling your prescribed sequence.
  • Chemistry
    • First year: BIOL 110H or MATH 140H
    • Second year: Any honors course
    • Please contact Professor Tracy Halmi at [email protected] with questions and/or concerns about scheduling you prescribed sequence.
  • Environmental Science
  • Interdisciplinary Science and Business
    • First year: Choose between 104H, 102H, or BIOL 110H
    • Second year: Any honors course
    • Please contact Professor Michael Rutter at [email protected] with questions and/or concerns about scheduling your prescribed sequence.
  • Mathematics
  • Math Education
  • Physics
    • First year: MATH 140H and MATH 141H
    • Second year: Honors option PHYS 211 or PHYS 212
    • Please contact Professor Blair Tuttle at [email protected] with questions and/or concerns about scheduling you prescribed sequence.

Pre-H&SS Majors:

  • First year: English 30H and CAS 100H
  • Second year: Any honors course
  • First year students should not honors option a course to fulfill honors requirements.
  • Please contact Professor Craig Warren at [email protected] with questions and/or concerns about scheduling your prescribed sequence.

Pre-Engineering Majors: 

  • Industrial Engineering, Interdisciplinary Business and Engineering Studies, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Engineering and Science
    • First year: EDGSN 100H and CPMSC 200
    • Second year: Any honors course
  • Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering
    • First year: CMPSC 121H and CMPSC 122H
    • Second year: Any honors course
  • Electrical Engineering
    • First year: EDGSN 100H and CMPSC 121H
    • Second year: Any honors course
  • Engineering Technology
    • Consult with adviser
  • Please contact Amelia Carey at [email protected] with questions and/or concerns about scheduling you prescribed sequence.

Pre-Nursing Major:

  • Consult with adviser

Division of Undergraduate Studies:

  • Follow sequence based on potential major of interest
     

Deadlines and Forms

Annual Academic Plan

  • Each fall semester, Behrend Honors Program members must submit an Annual Academic Plan (login required).
  • The deadline for submitting the form coincides with the Registrar’s fall semester late drop deadline, typically in early November.
  • Students unable to comply by the deadline must contact the Honors Programs office.
  • Failure to submit a completed Annual Academic Plan by the deadline may result in dismissal from the program.

Honors Option

  • Students who have taken a regular course with the Honors Option must submit a completed Honors Option form.
  • Honors Option forms and Honors Independent Study/Research forms are due by the end of the third week of the semester in which honors study is taken.
  • Honors options should only be considered as a last resort.
  • Students can follow the Honors Option Form Instructions for more information about the Honors Option process.