Incoming L&S Student Admissions

Group of 300 incoming L&S Honors students posing on Bascom Hill.

The College of Letters & Science (L&S) Honors Program invites you to apply to pursue Honors in the Liberal Arts!

 On this page you will find information about:

Honors in the Liberal Arts

Students pursuing Honors in the Liberal Arts will:

  • complete at least 24 Honors credits by graduation (an average of one Honors course per semester over four years)
  • explore Honors coursework across the academic areas of L&S, including (but certainly not limited to) subjects like psychology, biology, philosophy, and statistics 
  • have access to discussion-driven classes exclusively for Honors students, as well as courses with enriching Honors projects
  • have the opportunity to enrich their learning in courses of interest by completing projects for Honors credit

Honors course availability varies each semester. Courses taken for Honors can count toward general education, L&S breadth, and major requirements (if applicable).

Honors in the Liberal Arts students will also enjoy a host of additional benefits of the Honors Program, including the opportunity to participate in special events including social gatherings, dinners with professors, volunteer opportunities, specialized academic advising, and access to grants and scholarships reserved for Honors students.

You may also choose to pursue Honors in the Major, an additional Honors track, once you are on campus and have officially declared a major!

Eligibility to apply

Learn more about your eligibility to submit an Honors in the Liberal Arts application by selecting from the options below:

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

I have not yet applied to the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW)

You are not currently eligible.

To become eligible:

  1. Apply to UW
    • Select a major of interest within the College of Letters & Science
  2. Activate your UW net ID

I have applied to UW (with an L&S major) but have not yet been admitted

You are eligible

If you have applied to UW and selected a major of interest from the College of Letters & Science and have an active NetID, you can submit your Honors in the Liberal Arts application before receiving an admissions decision from UW.

Please follow the instructions in the “Submit your application” section below.

Note: Applications for Honors in the Liberal Arts are not reviewed until you have officially been admitted to UW-Madison and the College of Letters & Science.

I have been admitted to UW and L&S

You are eligible

If you are admitted to L&S as a new undergraduate student for the summer or fall term, you will receive an email invitation with instructions to apply within a few weeks of admission.

You can also submit your Honors in the Liberal Arts application before receiving the email invitation. Please follow the instructions in the “Submit your application” section below.

You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible since space in the Program is limited. Please review the timelines later on this page for more information.

I have applied and/or been accepted with a major OUTSIDE of L&S

You are not currently eligible.

Students with an intended major outside of L&S (including School of Business and College of Engineering majors) are generally not eligible to complete Honors in the Liberal Arts through the L&S. You can find information about Honors in other schools and colleges, if available, at Wisconsin Honors.

The Honors in the Liberal Arts Application

Components of the application

Part I: Your Plans

Students must begin by sharing their intended Honors track and major(s)/certificate(s).

Note: In order to be considered, students must select either Honors in the Liberal Arts or Comprehensive Honors for their intended Honors track.

Part II: Essay Questions

Students will respond to three essay questions. These questions focus on (1) why you are interested in the Honors in the Liberal Arts track, (2) what subject(s) you are excited to explore, and (3) how you may contribute to the Honors community.

Part III: Additional materials

Please note that other materials already submitted through the general application process to UW may also be reviewed. We do not consider high school GPA, transcripts, or any test scores.

Please do not send additional materials.

Submit Your Application

The incoming student application for Honors in the Liberal Arts will be made available on January 1, 2025, and will be found in the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH).

  1. Log into MyUW and open the WiSH app. If you use a direct link to WiSH, make sure you are logged into WiSH with your NetID.
  2. Complete the general application, if you have not done so already.
  3. Search for “Letters & Science Honors Program Honors in the Liberal Arts Application.”
  4. Save and submit your application before one of the deadlines below.

Application Deadlines

The Honors in the Liberal Arts application for the Fall 2025 semester will open on January 1, 2025. All deadlines listed below are 11:59 PM of the day listed. Decisions will be shared via the email used to apply to UW.

  1. Sunday, February 23, 2025. You will receive a decision by mid-March.
  2. Sunday, March 16, 2025. You will receive a decision by mid-April (before SOAR registration opens).
  3. Sunday, April 27, 2025. You will receive a decision by mid-May—final deadline for guaranteed consideration.

Applications submitted between April 28 and May 12 will be reviewed on a rolling basis pending space availability. Applications submitted after May 12 will not be considered for Fall 2025 admission. You are welcome to apply to the L&S Honors Program as a continuing student if you do not gain admission as an incoming student.

Apply Later

Applying to Honors in the Liberal Arts as an incoming student is not the only way to join the Honors Program — it is just the first opportunity.

If you are interested in Honors in the Liberal Arts but not admitted as an incoming student, plan to meet with an L&S Honors advisor during your first semester and (re)apply through our continuing student application.

Learn more about the Honors Program

Attend an Information Session

Please consider attending one of our in-person or virtual events to learn more about what the L&S Honors Program has to offer. Register for any of the sessions listed below by using the Visit Bucky page or the included RSVP link. All L&S Honors sessions are open to both prospective students and students already admitted to UW-Madison. All are welcome.

Spring 2025 (all times are central time [CT])

  1. Friday, February 7, 3:15-4:00 PM, Chadbourne Residence Hall (Main Lounge)
  2. Monday, February 17, 3:15-4:00 PM, Chadbourne Residence Hall (Main Lounge)
  3. Friday, March 7, 10:00-11:00 AM, Zoom (Please complete this RSVP form for the link)
  4. Monday, April 21, 3:30-4:30 PM, Zoom (Please complete this RSVP form for the link)
  5. Friday, April 25, 9:00-10:00 AM, Brogden Psychology Building, Room 103 (1202 W Johnson St)
  6. Friday, April 25, 2:30-3:30 PM, Brogden Psychology Building, Room 103 (1202 W Johnson St)

Once admitted, you are also encouraged to attend College of Letters & Science programming. The L&S Honors Program will be present at each of these events.

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.

Honors in the Liberal Arts Student Perspectives

Anusha Naik

Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Anthropology, Molecular Biology | Certificate: African Studies

The L&S Honors program pushed me to appreciate breadth in my education. As a member of this program, I took courses on obscure topics and gained unique perspectives on the world surrounding me.

Prachi Raina

Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Major: Economics | Certificate: Business

I actually met my college best friend through the Honors Program! She and I were sitting at SOAR together trying to figure out classes for freshman year and I remember we were so nervous and excited about what was to come. Little did I know she would be my best friend all through college! The Honors Program brought me people that are willing to go the extra mile with me while having a blast along the way 🙂 Thanks L&S Honors for all the advising, ice cream socials, and friends!!

Christopher Murphy

Credentials: B.S. with Honors in the Liberal Arts | Majors: Biochemistry, History

My Honors experience has offered me a deeper and more comprehensive education and experience. It has not only allowed me to research topics that I would not have otherwise been able to study and to better get to know professors but also introduce me to other driven undergraduates. The Honors College, in total, has provided me richer and more intimate experience at the University of Wisconsin – Madison.