Continuing and Transfer Student Admissions

The Honors in the Liberal Arts track requires that you complete a series of Honors courses (of specific types) in each of the three breadth categories associated with your undergraduate L&S degree. Please note that students with more than 60 college credits may find it challenging to prioritize and complete Honors in the Liberal Arts. We encourage you to talk about your goals with advisors and to consider Honors in the Major, especially if you are most interested in research and deeper learning related to your major.

To apply to become an Honors in the Liberal Arts candidate, please complete the following tasks:

1. Review the requirements for the Honors in the Liberal Arts track
2. Earn a minimum 3.3 GPA after at least one semester at UW (continuing UW students) or at the institution you are transferring from (new transfer students)
3. Schedule and conduct an advising appointment with one of the L&S Honors Program advisors or Associate Director Pete Keys. This appointment can be scheduled via Starfish (continuing UW students) or by emailing pkeys@wisc.edu (transfer students). This appointment with a member of the L&S Honors staff must take place before the submission of your application. 
4. Select the appropriate application (after your meeting):
   • Complete the Transfer Student Application*
   • Complete the Continuing UW Student Application

*Note: The transfer student application must be completed using your @wisc.edu email address. Transfer students can activate their @wisc.edu email address after being admitted to UW-Madison.

Each application contains similar components: student background information, a review of Honors requirements and student academic history, and three essay questions. These essay questions, each limited to a maximum of 250 words, encourage you to reflect on your goals within the Honors Program, share your specific plans for upcoming semesters, and demonstrate your potential contribution to the Honors Program.  

Deadlines

Transfer Students 

• All application steps must be submitted at least 1 week prior to your SOAR date
  • Applications not received by this deadline will not be considered and students are then encouraged to apply as continuing students using the guidelines below.

Continuing Students

• Applications are typically processed within 1-2 weeks of submission. You are not eligible to enroll in Honors Only courses until your application has been processed and you have been officially admitted.

*Note: If you are in your first semester as an undergraduate student at UW-Madison, your application will not be reviewed until an official university GPA has been posted.

To declare Honors in the Major, you must first declare your intended major through the process defined by the relevant department. We encourage you to discuss your interest and confirm major-specific requirements and processes for Honors in the Major with a departmental/major advisor as soon as possible. Major-specific requirements can also be found in Guide.

After receiving approval from your assigned major advisor, complete the Honors in the Major Declaration Form.

Deadlines

Honors in the Major declarations do not have a deadline, though they should be made prior to beginning a Senior Honors Thesis.

Comprehensive Honors requires that students complete all Honors in the Liberal Arts requirements as well as all requirements for an Honors in the Major track for at least one major. To be considered a Comprehensive Honors candidate, please complete the steps to be admitted to both the Honors in the Liberal Arts and Honors in the Major degree tracks. If you are interested in pursuing this track, we strongly recommend meeting with both major-specific advisors and Honors advisors regularly to determine feasibility and get support with planning.