TAMU Honors Programs
Texas A&M offers Honors Programs at University, College, and Departmental levels. Students may participate in one or more programs that are applicable to their major(s).
Admission to some Honors Programs as an incoming Freshman requires a separate application. Admission to other Honors Programs requires only an indication of interest and the proper qualifications. In either case or to confirm choices made through ApplyTexas please click on the "Apply to any Honors Program" link after August 1.
Students not enrolled in an Honors Program may still register for Honors courses 1) one week before the start of classes as an incoming freshman if they graduated in the top 10% of their high school class and have an SAT of at least 1360 (reading/writing + math, with minimums of 660 and 620, respectively) or a composite 28 on the ACT (minimum score of 27 each on verbal and math) OR 2) at their regularly scheduled registration time as a current student if they have earned a cumulative GPR of 3.5 or better. See Student Rule 16.
Please note that TAMU has gone "test-optional" for Fall 2023 freshman applicants, and Student Rule 16 has been temporarily changed such that it does not depend on test score.
The pertinent section for incoming freshmen, 16.1.1, reads: Incoming freshmen who are not in an Honors program will be considered Honors-eligible if they graduated in the top 10% of their high school class or have been identified as National Merit Semifinalists, National Merit Scholars, or National Hispanic Scholars, and have submitted a request to be marked Honors-eligible to LAUNCH. Students who meet these requirements will be sent an invitation to submit a request later in the Spring.
Apply to Any Honors Program
University Honors Program
Open to students in all majors, the University Honors Program provides the resources of a major research university with course, community and extracurricular opportunities.
College
By selecting “Yes” to the Honors Programs question in ApplyTexas or the Common App and picking “Business” as your first choice major, you will be added to the pool to be considered for Business Honors. If you would like to opt-out of consideration, please email honors@mays.tamu.edu with your UIN. Business Honors allows top business students to double major or customize study in small classes.
The Engineering Honors program gives students the opportunity to interact with other high achieving students and with honors faculty.
They have access to honors courses that have small enrollments, participate in undergraduate research with top faculty, and engage in special activities, such as seminars and networking opportunities with leaders in academia and industry.
Housing: Optional, residential component of the Engineering Honors program that offers Engineering Honors students a fun and engaging residential community with a strong support system within the Engineering Village @ The Commons.
Galveston Honors education is a high impact educational experience that fosters growth. The defining characteristics of Honors study at Texas A&M University at Galveston is engagement of interdisciplinary topics in small classes with professors dedicated to teaching and research.
The Higher Education Center at McAllen Honors Program will provide a unique educational experience to highly motivated students by offering opportunities to work closely with faculty, participate in international programs, community service, research and other high-impact learning practices.
The BSN Honors Program is open to nursing students accepted into the Traditional BSN Nursing Program. The BSN Honors Program is designed to provide a foundation of scholarship to high achieving nursing majors interested in developing nursing science, advancing research, and preparing for graduate education.
Departmental
The Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University offers an honors program to qualified, academically talented, and highly motivated students. An honors student’s college experience is enriched by following a challenging curriculum, engaging in inquiry-based learning, and discovery. Honors students work closely with the renowned faculty at Texas A&M University, acquiring the discipline and skills to engage in independent research that can be particularly useful if planning to attend graduate or professional school. Since honors class sizes are usually small, students get an opportunity to develop the vital problem solving and critical thinking skills that are needed in the search for solutions to the myriad of problems facing the global community. Honors students are encouraged to compete for such prestigious scholarships as theRhodes, Marshall, Goldwater, and the Fulbright. The honors program offers students an effective entry into a fruitful and rewarding professional career through participation in innovative co-curricular and leadership activities.
Animal Science Honors offers scientific training and hands-on experience, student clubs and judging teams.
The Anthropology Honors Program provides academically motivated students the opportunity to gain advanced instruction in the field of Anthropology and be directly involved in research.
Architecture Honors enhances learning opportunities, providing creative approaches to responsible design of the built environment.
Bioenvironmental Sciences Honors is a multi-disciplinary program focused on environmental issues with maximum flexibility.
Honors in Biology is open to talented and motivated Biology, Microbiology, Molecular and Cell Biology, and Zoology majors. An enriched learning experience in both the classroom and laboratories emphasizes student-faculty contact, active student engagement, and research experience.
The Department of Chemistry Honors Program provides exceptionally motivated, hard-working, and talented students the opportunity to engage more deeply in our already-challenging curriculum. Chemistry honors sections will emphasize student-faculty contact, exploration of course material beyond regular class readings and lectures, and communication skills. Honors students will complete an undergraduate thesis and have the opportunity to explore graduate course work. Honors graduates will demonstrate academic excellence, independent work, and critical thinking and analysis.
Communication Honors offers compelling approaches to course content and strong relationships with faculty and peers.
English Honors offers opportunities in academics, research, service learning and professional development.
The Entomology Honors Program is a commitment to high-achieving students to provide an enriching, engaging, and relevant educational experience.
The FIVS Honors Program in Entomology is a commitment to high-achieving students to provide an enriching, engaging, and relevant educational experience.
Texas A&M University’s Honors Programs offers the opportunity for successful and highly motivated students to pursue university-wide academic study that challenges their interests and abilities. Honors in Geography and Honors in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) allows undergraduates majoring in Geography or GIST to participate in honors study pertinent to their major field. The program is designed to expose students to more in-depth coverage of geographical topics and methods and to enhance learning through challenging classroom, laboratory, research, and field experiences. The program is also designed to support students’ ability to find employment and/or gain admission to a graduate program.
Texas A&M University’s Honors Programs offers the opportunity for successful and highly motivated students to pursue university-wide academic study that challenges their interests and abilities. Honors in Geography and Honors in Geographic Information Science and Technology (GIST) allows undergraduates majoring in Geography or GIST to participate in honors study pertinent to their major field. The program is designed to expose students to more in-depth coverage of geographical topics and methods and to enhance learning through challenging classroom, laboratory, research, and field experiences. The program is also designed to support students’ ability to find employment and/or gain admission to a graduate program.
The Health and Community Health Honors Program provides opportunities for individualized and advanced work for the academically distinguished (3.5 GPR and above) undergraduate health major. This 21-hour program is designed to offer students an opportunity to enroll in smaller classes comprised of very motivated and capable students.
History Honors offers advanced work in small classes, individual research opportunities and professional development for highly motivated students.
The Human Resource Development (HRD) Honors Program will provide expanded study and broad-based opportunities for our most academically gifted and scholarly advanced majors. This 18-hour program is designed to challenge the interests and abilities of our students and to provide specific benefits including:
Individual instruction and advanced study relevant to the academically distinguished HRD majors, engaging and compelling approaches to the delivery of course content such as smaller classes, seminars, and the like,
Student-centered study via honors course contracts, participation in high impact HRD programs such as professional development opportunities, participation in study abroad trips, service learning projects, or capstone research projects directed by HRD faculty, and increased interaction with successful and highly motivated faculty in preparation for professional or graduate school admission.
The degrees and programs contained in International Studies combine clearly defined intellectual area options with in-depth linguistic and cultural expertise, coupled with high-impact international experiences through study abroad.
Leadership Honors offers honors curriculum for ALED and USAL-LED majors.
Mathematics Honors provides mentoring, travel, and research opportunities as well as eligibility for our five-year BS/MS program.
Nutritional Sciences Honors is designed for intellectually motivated students who are majoring in Nutritional Sciences and want to
participate in an honors curriculum specific to this major. Opportunities exist for interested honors students to be involved in the research program of a faculty member in nutrition.
Honors students pursue advanced coursework and complete an independent, year-long research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
Physics and Astronomy Honors provides opportunities for more advanced and challenging work to academically distinguished and motivated students. Most Physics and Astronomy courses have honors sections with enriched learning experiences. Honors students are also expected to conduct independent research under the supervision of our faculty.
Psychology Honors includes small classes with outstanding undergraduates and research projects with faculty.
Honors students pursue advanced coursework and complete an independent, year-long research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
The Sociology Honors Program provides highly motivated and engaged students the ability to work closely with distinguished department faculty to study and address real-world social issues and problems.
SCSC Honors offers a hands on experience working closely with faculty preparing students for careers in soil, plant and environmentally related disciplines.
All students who graduate with a 3.5 cumulative GPR or greater graduate with Latin Honors, whether they have taken Honors courses or not. To graduate cum laude, summa cum laude, or magna cum laude, a student must complete at least 60 passed hours at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University at Galveston, and Texas A&M University at Qatar (excluding Credit by Exam and Graduate Level courses) with a minimum GPR of 3.500. For official information on Latin Honors, consult the Registrar's website.
Latin Honors stoles are distributed by the Office of the Registrar at commencement.