PFORZHEIMER HONORS COLLEGE
PACE UNIVERSITY, PLEASANTVILLE, NY
FACT SHEET
2015-2016
Further information about the Pforzheimer Honors College, including what is reflected on this fact sheet, is
available on the Pace website at www.pace.edu: search for H under the the A-Z search tab and click on
Honors College. The direct link is: http://www.pace.edu/honors-college/.
The National Collegiate Honors Council (www.nchchonors.org), the governing body for all Honors
colleges and programs in the US, stipulates that the number of students admitted to an Honors college or
program is between 5% and 10% of the undergraduate population. Students may take any major in any of
the five colleges/schools of Pace University.
ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP
Entering first-year students must have a minimum 90 high school average. Students must also have
minimum scores of 550 each on the Math and Verbal sections of the SAT with a combined minimum score
of 1200 or a minimum score of 27 on the ACT. Students at Pace University who have completed
approximately 30 credits (2 semesters) or transfer students who have completed 30-45 credits (2-3
semesters), and have achieved a 3.5 average are also eligible to be considered for admission.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Students in the Honors College receive an annual $15,000 Honors College scholarship and an Honors
incentive (e.g. an Honors trip or $1,000 towards a travel course/study abroad)
REQUIREMENTS
 Entering first-year students are required to take a minimum of 8 (24 Credits) Honors College courses
to successfully graduate from the Honors program. Students entering the Honors College at the
beginning of their sophomore year are required to take a minimum of 6 (18 Credits) Honors College
courses. The Honors courses are taken in place of, not in addition to, non-Honors courses.

All Honors College students are expected to write a thesis and defend it successfully before graduation.
In developing their thesis, Honors students receive continuous support and guidance from Honors
faculty and staff and other Pace University faculty members.

Students are required to maintain a minimum average of 3.3 and to participate in Honors College
events and programs regularly. To receive Honors credit in an Honors College course, students must
receive a final grade no lower than B-
ADVANTAGES/BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE PFORZHEIMER HONORS COLLEGE
 Opportunity to take Honors College courses. These are especially memorable, interesting, timely,
and/or unusual courses that are taught by professors who have been identified by the Honors College
students as among the best. A wide variety of Honors College courses are offered, including Learning
Communities, travel courses, and courses that satisfy all core requirements.

Special social and cultural activities. Designed to be relevant for, and interesting to, Honors College
students of all majors, our activities are based on recommendations and requests from students that
they provide via online interest surveys. In addition, Honors College students comprise committees to
plan events, including on campus lectures and social gatherings, and off-campus events. Some offcampus trips include visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, the United Nations,
Broadway plays, Central Park Zoo, NY Botanical Garden, Pumpkin Blaze, Skyride, and much more in
NYC, Westchester, and beyond.

Scholarships, grants, and fellowships. Honors College students are given information about, and
support in applying for, important scholarships, grants, fellowships, and other awards.

Grants for Independent Research Projects. Juniors and seniors may select a topic for guided
research with a professor. Students present the results of their research at the Honors Independent
Research Conference held each year in late April or early May. This research may then be published in
Transactions (the scholarly journal of the Dyson College Society of Fellows) and made available to the
public through Pace University’s Digital Archives. Students may apply for an Honors College $1,000
grant to support their research.

Early Registration. Honors College students are among the first to register, greatly increasing your
chances of getting the courses you want at times that are convenient for you.

Ongoing Communication and Support. Students are continually informed and reminded about
Honors College courses, professors, events, and Honors Society, scholarship and grant opportunities
via electronic media, including emails and the website, which is updated by Honors College students.
In addition to an academic advisor in one’s major subject, each student has access to the Honors
College staff, located on the second floor of Kessel Student Center. They are always available to help
you with any concern—academic or otherwise (including, but not limited to, problems related to
financial aid, registration, and managing stress).

Individual Attention. Honors College classes tend to be smaller than non-Honors classes, offering
students a better opportunity to get to know very supportive professors on a personal level.

Adopt-A-Frosh. First-year students in the Honors College are “adopted” by an upperclassmen Honors
College student. Each existing Honors student contacts his/her “Frosh” during the summer before the
“Frosh” arrives to Pace and serves as a “big sister/brother” until he/she graduates.

Honors Lounge/Study Room. Located on the second floor of Kessel Student Center in Suite 200. The
Honors Study Room offers a comfortable and friendly place to read, study in a group, or relax alone or
with friends.

Honors Residential Hall. Honors College students are among the seven First Year Interests Groups
(FIG’s), which are student groups whose members reside together based on a common interest. Honors
College students have the option of living together in an exclusive Honors floor in Alumni Hall A.

Community. The Honors College offers the advantages of a small college within a large university.
The Honors College puts you in contact with fellow students having similar interests and intellectual
curiosity.

Greater flexibility in course requirements. Honors College first-year students are exempt from
taking ENG 110.

Recognition. Each Honors College course taken is designated as such on student’s Pace University
transcript. Upon graduation, Honors College students receive the Pforzheimer Honors College
Certificate and medallion confirming successful completion of the Honors College requirements. Your
status as an Honors College graduate is designated in the graduation brochure and you will have earned
the right to wear the Honors College medallion at graduation. The Pforzheimer Honors College
provides its graduates with significant advantages when applying for graduate study and employment.
For further information please contact:
Susan Dinan, Ph.D
Dean, Pforzheimer Honors College
Professor of History
Phone: 212-346-1103
Email: sdinan@pace.edu
Mohsen Shiri-Garakani, Ph.D.
Director, Pforzheimer Honors College
Associate Professor of Physics
Phone: (914) 773-3848
Email: mshiri@pace.edu
Pforzheimer Honors College
Kessel Student Center, Suite 200
Pace University, Pleasantville, NY 10570