Honors Program Requirements
Honors Students sign an Honors Compact, an agreement outlining everything that is involving
in committing to the program. Students will fulfill the Honors Core, complete a senior thesis or
capstone project, and attend a variety of events sponsored by the program.
Honors Students do not take the University Core. Instead, they enroll in a series of
interdisciplinary seminars, designed to challenge and invigorate students intellectually. Honors
courses are distinctly unique. It is up to the professor’s discretion to plan the curriculum
according to their interpretation of the course’s title. No two honors classes are the same, and
they can be taken in any order, except for HNRS 100 and 115, which must be fulfilled during
first semester of freshmen year, and the thesis seminar (HNRS 497), which must be taken during
senior year. Below is a list of the Honors Core as well as other elements required to complete
the program:
HNRS 100: College Writing Tutorial
HNRS 101: American Persona
HNRS 105: Wealth of Nations
HNRS 115: On the Sublime
HNRS 120: On Human Dignity
HNRS 130: Society and Its Discontents
HNRS 140: On Motion and Mechanics
HNRS 215: Imago Dei
HNRS 220: Republic to Prince
HNRS 230: Age of Leviathan
HNRS 240: On the Nature of Things
HNRS 330: Beyond Good and Evil
Along with the Honors Core, students are required to take a Critical/Creative Art course, and
an upper division Theology course from the University curriculum, as well as an upper
division interdisciplinary course (HNRS 398).
Foreign Language Requirement
All honors students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. This can be done by a
score of 4 or 5 on an AP Foreign Language test, placement above a 203-level course through the
language placement exam, or by completing a 203-level course.
Thesis
All honors students are required to do a senior thesis. This can be completed by taking HNRS
497 during senior year or by fulfilling the senior thesis or capstone project in their major(s).
GPA Requirement
Once admitted into the Honors Program, students are required to maintain a minimum 3.5
cumulative GPA in order to stay in the program.
AP Equivalences
The University Honors Program offers HNRS credit for AP scores of 5 in the following areas:
AP Social Science = HNRS 105
AP Laboratory Sciences or Calculus = HNRS 140
AP European History = HRNS 220
AP World History = HNRS 230
AP Language Credit (with a score of 4 or 5) = Foreign Language requirement
AP Art History = Critical/Creative Art requirement
LMU gives college credit for AP exams with a score of 4 or 5, regardless of whether they fulfill
honors core courses. In other words, AP scores not converted to HNRS core courses will count
as elective credit.
IB Equivalences
Students who have taken exams as part of the International Baccalaureate program need scores
of 5 (Foreign Language score of 4) or higher to receive HNRS credit. IB credits may be
exchanged for suitable honors courses upon consultation with the Director.
Transfer Credits for Incoming Honors Students
Students who transfer to LMU with honors standing are welcomed to the University Honors
Program. Their honors courses will be counted toward their honors core upon consultation with
the Director.
Credits for Current LMU Freshmen Wanting to Join the Honors Program
Students who join the Honors Program through the Freshmen Admission Opportunity will
receive credit for some courses taken at LMU as a freshman in exchange for courses in the
honors core. Courses that do not convert to the honors core will count as credit toward the 120
credits required by graduation.
ENGL 110 = HNRS 100 and 115
Any AMCS course = HNRS 101
ECON 105 or PSYC 100 = HNRS 105
PHIL 160 = HNRS 120
Any POLS course = HNRS 130
MATH 131 or higher = HNRS 140 (CSE students are exempt from HNRS 140)
Any Foreign Language or Art courses will fulfill the Language or Critical/Creative
Art requirements
For more information, please download the latest version of the University Honors Program
Handbook.