Mission
The Honors Academy provides enriched experiences to an engaged community of outstanding undergraduate scholars who want to succeed by going above and beyond university requirements.
Vision
The Honors Academy is Lindenwood University’s signature co-curricular program for gifted undergraduate students that prepares them for excellence and success with its enriched academic and leadership experiences.
Honors Academy was one of the deciding factors in my choice of Lindenwood. Other universities have honors programs, too, but Lindenwood’s Honors Academy allows us to personalize our Honors experience. I customized my Honors journey according to my interests, which made it uniquely my own.
Anna Ostmann, Class of 2022
The Honors Academy provides talented and motivated undergraduate students across all disciplines with enhanced classroom experiences that help develop their leadership and academic skills. It offers exceptional students the opportunity to be recognized for their academic achievements. Undergraduate students who complete the required 24 Honors credit hours graduate with University Honors, which is the highest recognition Lindenwood bestows.
University Honors is announced at graduation and recipients wear Honors cords at the commencement ceremony. University Honors also appears on diplomas and transcripts. Students are encouraged to list University Honors on resumes, as well as highlight it on job or graduate school applications and letters.
Honors Academy Membership Benefits
- Priority course registration
- Honors courses
- Honors Learning Communities
- Access to the LARC Honors Lounge
- Recognition at Honors Cord Ceremony
- University Honors at graduation
- University Honors on transcripts and diplomas
Honors Academy supports Lindenwood University’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In addition to completing courses that focus on the world’s human diversity, Academy members can pursue study or service learning abroad. They can also intern abroad or participate in one of the diverse student organizations on campus. Through their participation in the DEI Taskforce or completion of SafeZone Trainings and Implicit Bias Trainings, Honors Academy members have access to organizations and events that support a variety of activities designed to engage them in building a strong sense of community that fosters cultural sensitivity and prepares them to engage in today’s globalized world.
Honors Academy FAQ
What is the Honors Academy?
Lindenwoodās Honors Academy is a university-wide program that provides an enriched experience to an engaged community of outstanding students. Students who fulfill Honors Academy requirements graduate with University Honors.
What is University Honors?
University Honors is the highest recognition Lindenwood bestows. University Honors is announced at graduation and recipients wear Honors cords at commencement. University Honors also appears on diplomas and transcripts. Students are encouraged to list University Honors on resumes, as well as highlight it on job or graduate school applications and letters.
How do I get admitted to the Honors Academy?
Membership is by application only. Students must be formally admitted to Lindenwood University to apply for admission to the Honors Academy. Students with cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or above are eligible to apply:
- First-Time Students (FTS) with cumulative high school GPAs of 3.5 or above;
- Transfer students with cumulative college GPAs of 3.5 or above;
- Current/returning students with cumulative college GPAs of 3.5 or above. Current students also need a minimum of four semesters left to degree to allow for time to complete the 24 Honors credit hours required for University Honors.
What are the benefits of being an active Honors Academy member?
- Priority course registration
- Honors courses
- Access to the LARC Honors Lounge
- Honors Learning Communities
- Recognition at Honors Cord Ceremony
- University Honors at graduation
- University Honors on transcripts and diplomas
How do I maintain an active Honors Academy membership?
- Maintain a cumulative college GPA of 3.5 or higher;
- Complete Honors courses or courses for Honors credit at least once every academic year if youāre a first-time student or at least once a semester if you are a transfer student.
How many Honors credit hours do I need to earn to graduate with University Honors?
To graduate with University Honors, Honors Academy members must earn at least 24 Honors credit hours at various course levels (at least 12 Honors credit hours must be earned from 300- and/or 400-level courses) and maintain a cumulative university GPA of 3.5 or higher.
For transfer students, the 24 Honors credit hours may include up to 12 credit hours of Honors transfer credit. Acceptance of transfer credit is at the discretion of the Honors Academy.
The above reflects the 2021-2022 University Catalog of Entry.
How do I earn Honors credit hours?
Honors Academy members can earn Honors credit hours in one or both of the following ways:
- In Honors-designated courses, which are open to Honors Academy members only, a students is automatically enrolled for Honors credit. A student must earn a final grade of AH or BH to receive Honors credit in these courses.
- Any undergraduate course may be taken for Honors credit with the permission of the instructor: Student and instructor need to agree on a project(s) that enhances the course and makes it equivalent to an Honors course. Student must complete the Honors Course Agreement and submit it to the Honors Academy by midterms scheduled for either 8-week/half-semester courses or 16-week/full-semester courses. To earn Honors credit in āregularā classes, students must earn a final grade of AH. Students and instructors have until midterms to submit the official Honors Course Agreement.
What is an Honors Learning Community (HLC)?
HLCs are an amazing opportunity for outstanding students to engage in a personalized and enhanced learning experience. HLCs are clusters of two or three courses open only to Honors Academy members. They are taught by award-winning faculty members.Ā
What are the advantages of taking Honors-designated courses?
Honors-designated courses are designed for and open only to Honors Academy members. They are a wonderful way to create a community with other Honors students and to work with award-winning professors in small classes.
What are the advantages of taking courses for Honors credit?
Deciding on which courses to complete for Honors credit gives students the opportunity to design their own Honors journey. Honors students can take courses inside and/or outside of their majors according to their interests. This means that as long as at least 12 Honors credit hours of the required 24 are earned at the 300- and 400-level classes, students choose the coursesā subject matter.
Can I transfer Honors credit hours from another college or university?
The 24 Honors credit hours required for graduating with University Honors may include up to 12 credit hours of Honors transfer credit. Acceptance of transfer credit is at the discretion of the Honors Academy Be sure these courses are clearly marked as such on your transcripts and contact the Honors Academy for approval.
How do I figure out which courses to take for Honors credit?
Aside from having to earn at least 12 credit hours of upper-level courses (300- and 400-level), any course can be taken for Honors credit in consultation with the course instructor. This flexibility allows students to design their own Honors journeys according to their interests. We also encourage all Honors students to find faculty mentors in their majors who can help them select courses to take for Honors.
What are my Honors requirements?
You need to earn at least 24 Honors credit hours to graduate with University Honors. Check your university catalog of entry for any/all additional requirements.
What is my university catalog of entry?
The academic year of your university catalog of entry is listed in your Student Portal. This is usually the academic year in which you began your studies at Lindenwood University.Ā View current and archived university catalogs..
Do I have enough Honors credits hours to graduate with University Honors?
Review your transcript and count credit hours youāve earned in Honors-designated courses with final grades of A or B along with any credit hours in āregularā courses you took for Honors and earned a final grade of an AH. Then check your university catalog of entry to ensure youāve met any/all additional Honors requirements.