Academic Catalog

Honors Curriculum 2023-2024 Catalog Year

The Florida Gulf Coast University Honors Curriculum offers special opportunities for high-achieving and highly motivated students to pursue challenging academic work that is tailored to individual interests and abilities. The Honors Curriculum emphasizes more than just courses and grades; it also provides holistic opportunities for students to participate in creative activities outside of the classroom. Further, the Honors Curriculum is built around a commitment to community service and civic engagement, guiding principles of Florida Gulf Coast University.

The Honors Curriculum is university-wide and open to undergraduate students. Prospective Honors students must meet high academic standards and should be interested in developing themselves beyond the traditional classroom setting. Current FGCU students should have a G.P.A. of 3.50 or higher prior to applying. Students interested in applying should contact the Honors Office directly at honors@fgcu.edu.

There are many benefits to participating in the Honors Curriculum. It offers courses that are unique. They range in nature from courses that take a unique view of a particular subject matter, to courses that are offered outside of FGCU’s main campus, to Honors sections of general education courses and upper-level major courses. Moreover, the FGCU Honors Curriculum offers grant opportunities and special events and activities that are available exclusively to Honors Curriculum students. Honors students can request to be placed in Honors Housing, both in South Village and North Lake Village. All students in good standing with the Honors Curriculum enjoy priority registration. Honors Curriculum students also have access to Exploratory Advising, who assist students with proactive academic and co-curricular planning, as well as efficient completion of the Honors Curriculum requirements.

Each student who fulfills the Honors Curriculum requirements is given recognition at graduation, and a notation is included on the student’s official FGCU transcript. Successful completion of the Honors Curriculum demonstrates an individual’s ability to study independently, yet collaboratively, and to achieve academic and personal excellence, qualities that are valued by professional schools, graduate schools, and employers.

Curriculum Requirements (Honors Scholars, Honors Foundations, and Honors in the Major)

Honors Scholars Curriculum

  • Have a cumulative FGCU GPA of 3.50 or higher
  • Complete a minimum of twenty-four (24) credits of Honors-designated courses, with at least nine (9) credits of upper-division (3000-4999 level) coursework in the major approved by Exploratory Advising
  • Complete a minimum of two Honors Experiences
  • First year students are required to complete an Honors First Year Sequence (see below)

For students successfully completing the Honors Scholars curriculum, the official FGCU transcript will include a notation based upon the number of Honors Experiences categories completed: Two, completed Honors Scholars curriculum; three, completed Honors Scholars curriculum with Special Recognition; or four, completed Honors Scholars curriculum with Distinction; the student will also receive Honors Scholars curriculum recognition on their diploma. Additionally, coursework completed as Honors will also be noted as such on the student's transcript.

Honors Foundations Curriculum

  • Have a cumulative FGCU GPA of 3.50 or higher
  • Complete a minimum of twelve (12) credits of Honors-designated courses
  • Complete a minimum of two (2) Honors Experiences 
  • First year students are required to complete an Honors First Year Sequence (see below)

For students successfully completing the Honors Foundations curriculum, the official FGCU transcript will include a notation based upon the number of Honors Experiences categories completed: Two, completed Honors Foundations curriculum; three, completed Honors Foundations curriculum with Special Recognition; or four, completed Honors Foundations curriculum with Distinction.  Additionally, coursework completed as Honors will also be noted as such on the student's transcript.

Honors in the Major Curriculum

  • Have a cumulative FGCU GPA of 3.50 or higher
  • Complete a minimum of nine (9) credits of Honors-designated upper-division coursework in the major approved by Exploratory Advising
  • Complete a minimum of one (1) Honors Experience

For students successfully completing the Honors in the Major curriculum, the official FGCU transcript will include a notation based upon the number of Honors Experience categories completed: One, completed Honors in the Major curriculum; two, completed Honors in the Major curriculum with Special Recognition; or three, completed Honors in the Major curriculum with Distinction. Additionally, coursework completed as Honors will also be notated as such on the student's transcript.

First-Year Honors Sequence

Students who enter the Honors College as first-semester, first-time-in-college students (Beginner FTIC) are required to complete a research-based, year-long First-Year Honors Sequence. These sequences are tailored to student interests and faculty research areas and are taught in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities disciplines. Exploratory Advising will assist all first-year students with initial course registration and selection of their First-Year Honors Sequence.

Honors Experiences

Students are required to complete a specific number of Honors Experiences based on their program of study within the Honors College. Each Experience requires the student to complete a non-credited, self-directed learning experience that is documented through the collection of artifacts that evidence the completion of the Experience, dissemination or sharing a component of the Experience, and reflection that encompasses the Experience. Artifacts, proof of dissemination, and the reflection are all to be included in the student's Honors Experience Portfolio, which will be evaluated by the Honors College prior to graduation. Experience categories align with the Elements of the Honors College, and include: Leadership Development, Scholarly Advancement, Community Engagement, and Cultural Enrichment.  

Experience FGCU