Freshmen are selected for the Honors Program on the basis of high school records, test scores, and recommendation of counselors or high school principals. Entering freshmen who meet the requirements are invited in July of each year to join the Program. Other students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences are eligible to join the Honors Program after the first year at Howard if a 3.5 cumulative grade point average has been maintained. No student is admitted to the Honors Program after the sophomore year. The Honors program is designed to provide an intellectual situation that challenges the most astute students in the College.
Honors study includes courses in general education and specialized departmental areas.
In the student's area of specialization, it allows for flexible opportunities for independent study through supervised reading in the sophomore and junior years, and directed research in the senior year. Honor students have the opportunity to attend concerts, plays, lectures, and other events and are encouraged to plan informal meetings with each other and faculty members, invite speakers to campus, and participate in conferences. Once a student joins the program, he or she remains a member as long as a cumulative 3.0 average is maintained. Any student may leave the program at any time. A student not in the Honors Program may earn departmental honors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher in the major.