Transfer Students
As a transfer student, you’ve already built a strong academic foundation. The L&S Honors Program at UW–Madison invites you to take the next step by deepening your education through three flexible Honors tracks designed to fit your goals and timeline.
- Honors in the Liberal Arts: Broaden your horizons by exploring courses across humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences — a great way to complement credits you’ve already earned.
- Honors in the Major: Focus your advanced coursework and research within your chosen field, building on the expertise you’ve started elsewhere.
- Comprehensive Honors: Earn recognition for completing both paths, showcasing your breadth and depth of achievement.
No matter which track you choose, the Honors Program provides a vibrant community, engaging courses, and opportunities to make the most of your time at UW–Madison.
Honors Degree Tracks
Honors in the Liberal Arts
Mirroring the broad, multidisciplinary learning approach of all L&S bachelor’s degrees, this track requires Honors coursework across the L&S breadth areas:
- humanities/literature
- social sciences
- biological/physical/natural sciences
How to apply: Please review the information shared below!
Honors in the Major
Most L&S majors offer an Honors track specifically designed for that field. Components of this option vary by major, but typically include:
- keeping a certain minimum grade-point average
- taking specific higher-level classes in the major
- a final capstone project, often writing a senior thesis.
How to apply: Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with a major advisor after beginning courses at UW. Information sessions will be available in the fall semester.
Comprehensive Honors
L&S’s highest credential for bachelor’s degrees, combining successful completion of both Honors in the Liberal Arts and Honors in the Major tracks.
How to apply: There is no formal application process for Comprehensive Honors. Students who complete both Honors in the Liberal Arts and Honors in the Major are awarded Comprehensive Honors.
Benefits of the L&S Honors Program
Engaging courses
Honors students can earn credit through Honors Only, Accelerated Honors, or Honors Optional courses, plus study abroad and custom projects. These options let students tailor their experience and dive deeper into topics they’re passionate about.
Grants & scholarships
The L&S Honors Program provides grants and scholarships for continuing students to support research, Honors theses, study abroad, conference travel, and service projects, fostering academic growth and leadership.
Comprehensive academic advising
The L&S Honors Program offers holistic, student-centered academic advising. Honors advisors work as a team to advise students throughout their time at the university.
Community & connection
Engage in welcoming events, faculty dinners, academic panels, author meetups, and fun social activities—building community, exploring ideas, and connecting with peers and mentors throughout your Honors experience.
Apply for Honors in the Liberal Arts
Application opens: The application is available at all times. Please see “How to Apply” for more information.
Deadlines: All application steps outlined on the “How to Apply” tab must be completed at least one week prior to your SOAR date.
Note: Applications received within one week of the SOAR date (or after) will not be considered. Rather, you would be required to submit a current UW student application.
Who Can Apply
- Must have been accepted to the University of Wisconsin–Madison
- Must intend to earn a degree from the College of Letters & Science
- Must have earned a minimum 3.3 GPA at your previous institution
The application includes the following components:
- Questions about your academic goals, including your intended majors and/or certificates (minors).
- Essay questions
- Please provide a brief statement (250 words or less) explaining why you are interested in completing the Honors in the Liberal Arts track and how your experiences within that track (and the Program) will contribute to your academic and career goals.
- Please share more information (250 words or less) about your plans to complete the remaining requirements for Honors in the Liberal Arts by your intended graduation term. Your response will likely include some detail about when you plan to target specific Honors in the Liberal Arts requirements.
- The L&S Honors Program benefits most from a deeply engaged and enthusiastic student body. Please take a moment to reflect on your personal experiences and consider how those experiences may demonstrate that you will be an engaged student.
Please complete the following steps:
- Accept your offer of admission, submit the enrollment deposit to finalize your spot, and activate your NetID to access your @wisc.edu email and student portal.
- Schedule a pre-application advising appointment with L&S Honors Associate Director of Admissions & Engagement Pete Keys by emailing pkeys@wisc.edu.
- Open the Transfer Student Application. Note: You will be prompted to log in with your UW Net ID.
- Submit your application.
Note: Admission decisions are typically shared within two weeks of application submission.