Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Honors College?

The Honors College is part of the statewide Commonwealth Honors Scholars Program and is open to all majors at UMass Dartmouth. Students who graduate from the Honors College receive special recognition on their transcripts, diplomas, and at Honors Convocation. Graduating from the Honors College is a wonderful way to prepare for graduate school or to set oneself apart for potential future employers. It is a great accomplishment for your resume, whether you are applying for a job, medical school, law school, or graduate school.

What makes a course an Honors course?

Honors courses are taught by our highly qualified Honors instructors. Honors courses have much smaller class sizes than regular courses, and generally involve more interaction between students and instructors. Honors courses offer innovative teaching and course enhancements. Honors courses are also highly intellectually stimulating and create a unique environment for maximum learning.

Are Honors courses graded differently than regular courses?

No, Honors courses are not graded any differently from regular courses.

Are Honors courses weighted differently in my GPA?

No, Honors courses are weighted just like any other course in terms of your overall GPA. However, honors courses are specially marked on your college transcript as "Honors" courses.

Can I contract a regular non-Honors course for Honors credit?

Yes, you can negotiate with your instructor to individualize your non-Honors course to make it an Honors learning experience. For detailed information regarding this process, please see Honors Contract Guidelines.

What is the APEX?

The APEX (Academic Project or Experience) is the culmination of your Honors education. The APEX is an original, independent project or experience that builds on everything that you have learned over the past several years. It represents an opportunity to demonstrate critical thinking skills, ability to work independently, and capability to communicate clearly to a broad audience. Students choose one of three tracks for their APEX: Traditional Research, Applied/Service, or Performance/Expression. For detailed information regarding the APEX, please see the APEX page and the APEX Handbook.

What opportunities are there for me to present my work?

Upon completion of the APEX, all students are required to present their work publicly. Each April, the Honors College hosts a poster session on campus to display our students' work and provide a venue to complete this requirement. Students who are interested in additional opportunities to present and share their work can participate in the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in the fall or the Massachusetts statewide Undergraduate Honors Conference in the spring.

Are there opportunities for me to meet and interact with other Honors students?

Definitely! In addition to many scheduled Honors social activities such as "Honors Hour," Honors study rooms (LIB 227 and LIB 228 Annex), and Honors Housing, the Honors College Student Council meets weekly during the semester and organizes a variety of events such as bowling, game nights (sometimes with faculty or other student organizations), movies, paint nights, volunteer drives, etc. The highlight of the social year is the annual trip in April to Six Flags Theme Park.

Where is the Honors Center located?

The Honors Center is located in Room 220 on the 2nd floor of the Library in the Scholarly Commons. The Honors Center has a meeting space for discussions, lectures, and presentations, and it has a study area for Honors students.