For students with limited flexibility in their course sequence, Honors Contracts are an option. Every student has the option to complete two Honors contracts, but this option should only be used if necessary. Talk to an Honors Advisor about your Honors requirement options.
Upper-Level (2000+) Non-Honors courses can count as upper-level Honors courses by contracting the course. Please read the following before submitting an Honors contract. The Honors contract submission form is only open during the first two weeks of classes. Instructions for submitting a contract are below.
What courses can be contracted to count towards Honors Program requirements?
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Upper-level non-Honors courses (numbered 2000 to 4999)
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Graduate courses (5000 or higher) or undergraduate courses cross-listed with graduate courses
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Independent studies
Two other conditions must be met for a course to be contracted for Honors credit:
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Courses cannot have Honors equivalents offered in the same semester (e.g., a student cannot contract Physics 2021 in a semester where Physics 2921 is offered)
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Courses must be three (3) or more credits
What must be done to successfully contract a course?
For contracts in upper-level non-Honors courses (numbered 2000 to 4999): The student and professor must agree on an extra Honors component in addition to the standard course requirements. This can be an extra research paper, project, literature review, presentation or any experience that qualitatively enhances the course for the student. This list is by no means exhaustive—the Honors-qualifying project is an agreement between the professor and the student. Because this project is not part of the grading rubric for the students taking the course, it should not be factored into the course grade. For it to count for Honors course contract credit, however, the quality of the project and final grade must be worth a B+ or better. Click here for some examples of past successful projects.
For graduate courses (5000 or higher) or undergraduate courses cross-listed with graduate courses: No extra component needs to be added to student requirements to make it count towards Honors requirements—only confirmation that the student will be held accountable for completing the graduate-level syllabus. A contract proposal form must be submitted to the Honors office in order for the Honors staff to know that the student wishes the course to count towards their Honors program requirements. PLEASE NOTE: Graduate courses must first be cleared with your college advising unit to ensure that they will count towards graduation requirements.
For independent studies: As long as the independent study is not required for a student's major requirements, then no extra component needs to be added to make it count towards Honors requirements, however a contract proposal form must be submitted to the Honors office in order for the Honors staff to know that the student wishes the course to count towards their Honors program requirements.
A student is allowed a maximum of two contracts to count towards their upper-level Honors requirements. Students who determine that they will need more than two contracts must submit a Petition for Additional Contracts to the Honors office. See an advisor for more information.
How to submit an Honors Contract
- Meet with your professor as soon as possible at the start of the semester. Determine the subject, length, purpose and deadline for the project.
- Login to TUportal and click on My Courses.
- Next to the course you want to contract, click the Info icon.
- Click Submit an Honors Contract. From here, type the description of your added component including subject, length, purpose and deadline for the project.
- Click Submit when finished. You will get an email after you submit and after each approval. If the contract is denied, you will be able to resubmit.
- Complete the course and (if applicable) the added component with a B+ and you will earn your Honors contract!
- After a two-week period, your contract should be in DARS.