Thank you for your interest in the L&S Honors Program! The L&S Honors Program is enriched when continuing UW students and new transfer students join our program.
Find information about the different Honors degree tracks and application instructions for each path below!
Explore the Honors degree tracks!
Honors in the Liberal Arts (HLA)
Do you have a love for learning and enjoy exploring disciplines and areas outside your major?
Do you want to participate in small courses or discussion sections led by faculty members? Do you still need to complete your L&S breadth requirements?
Honors in the Major (HM)
Are you interested in focusing on your major(s) rather than breadth areas? Are you interested in working more closely with faculty in your department? Are you interested in a Senior Honors thesis?
Comprehensive Honors (CH)
Are you interested in both Honors coursework in all breadth areas as well as your major(s)? Do you have the time and capacity to pursue these interests?
Application Instructions
Honors in the Liberal Arts
To apply to Honors in the Liberal Arts as a current UW student or a student transferring to UW from another institution, complete the following steps:
- 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)
- Submit a Continuing and Transfer Student Application as a PDF to honors@honors.ls.wisc.edu
- Have an advising appointment with one of the L&S Honors Program advisors. This appointment can be scheduled via Starfish (continuing UW students) or by emailing honors@honors.ls.wisc.edu (transfer students). The appointment may take place before or after you submit your application materials.
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.
Deadlines:
Admissions for continuing students and incoming transfer students are reviewed on a rolling basis. To ensure a decision before an upcoming term or enrollment period, however, please note the following deadlines.
Continuing or incoming transfer students seeking admission for the Spring 2023 semester should complete all steps by January 13, 2023.
Continuing students seeking admission before Summer 2023 or Fall 2023 enrollment should complete all steps by March 17, 2023.
Incoming transfer students seeking admission for the Fall 2023 term should complete all steps at least three weeks in advance of their SOAR date.
Honors in the Major
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 the Guide.
After receiving approval from your assigned major advisor, complete the Honors in the Major Declaration Form.
Comprehensive Honors
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.
Student Experiences
Megan Binkley
Transfer Student
Benjamin Sevart
Continuing Student
Clarence Harley
Continuing Student
Questions?
Many common questions are answered on the following pages:
Honors Overview Admissions FAQ
If you cannot find the answer to your question, Honors staff members are there to support you! You can contact us at honors@honors.ls.wisc.edu.