Program Requirements

Honors Carolina has high standards for students who join our program. Students who meet these requirements before graduation will be designated an Honors Carolina Laureate in the commencement bulletin and on their academic transcripts.

Program requirements vary based on when and how a student is admitted into Honors Carolina. Please refer to the list below for specifics. Contact us at honorscarolina@unc.edu with questions:

Selected as incoming first-year (enrolling Fall 2023 / Class of 2027)

Successful completion of HNRS 101 during fall semester of the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors First Year Seminar or one Honors First Year Launch during the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors Course numbered above 99 during the first year.
Note: Honors 101 & Honors First Year Launch courses do not satisfy this requirement.
Successful completion of HNRS 201 during spring semester of the second year
Successful completion of 27 honors credits by graduation (includes HNRS 101/201 hours). Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in Spring 2023 (as current first-year UNC student)

Successful completion of HNRS 101 module by the last day of class in the semester of admission to Honors Carolina.
Successful completion of HNRS 201 during spring semester of the second year.
Successful completion of 21 honors credits by graduation (includes HNRS 101/201 hours). Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in Fall 2022 (as 2nd year or transfer)

Successful completion of HNRS 101 module by the last day of class in the semester of admission to Honors Carolina.
Successful completion of HNRS 201 during spring semester following admission to Honors Carolina.
Successful completion of 18 honors credits by graduation (includes HNRS 101/201 hours). Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Selected as incoming first-year (enrolling Fall 2022 / Class of 2026)

Successful completion of HNRS 101 during fall semester of the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors First Year Seminar or one Honors First Year Launch during the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors Course numbered above 99 during the first year.
Note: Honors 101 & Honors First Year Launch courses do not satisfy this requirement.
Successful completion of HNRS 201 during spring semester of the second year
Successful completion of 27 honors credits by graduation (includes HNRS 101/201 hours). Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in Spring 2022 (as current first-year UNC student)

Successful completion of 18 honors credits by graduation. Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in Fall 2021 (as 2nd year or transfer)

Successful completion of 15 honors credits by graduation. Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Invited as incoming first-year (enrolling Fall 2021 / Class of 2025)

Successful completion of HNRS 101 during fall semester of the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors First Year Seminar during the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors Course numbered above 99 (or second Honors First Year Seminar) during the first year
Successful completion of HNRS 201 during spring semester of the second year
Successful completion of 27 honors credits by graduation (includes HNRS 101/201 hours). Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in Spring 2021 (as current first-year UNC student)

Successful completion of 18 honors credits by graduation. Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in Fall 2020 (as 2nd year or transfer)

Successful completion of 15 honors credits by graduation. Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Invited as incoming first-year (enrolling Fall 2020 / Class of 2024)

Successful completion of HNRS 326 during fall semester of the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors First Year Seminar during the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors Course numbered above 99 (or second Honors First Year Seminar) during the first year
Successful completion of HNRS 201 during spring semester of the second year
Successful completion of 24 honors credits by graduation (excludes HNRS 326/201 hours). Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in or before Spring 2020 (as current first-year UNC student)

Successful completion of 18 honors credits by graduation. Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Applied & admitted in or before Fall 2019 (as 2nd year or transfer)

Successful completion of 15 honors credits by graduation. Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

Invited as incoming first-year (enrolling in or before Fall 2019)

Successful completion of one Honors First Year Seminar during the first year.
Successful completion of one Honors Course numbered above 99 (or second Honors First Year Seminar) during the first year
Successful completion of 24 honors credits by graduation. Credits may be earned through enrollment in honors courses and/or honors course equivalents.
3.000 or higher cumulative GPA maintained through graduation.

If a student’s GPA drops below 3.000, they will be placed on probation for one semester. If the student’s GPA remains below 3.000, they will be removed from the program. Please note that we are unable to extend a probationary semester to students entering their final semester with a cumulative GPA below 3.000; in those cases, students will be removed from the program at the time our office runs the Honors Carolina Laureate Status Update report prior to their final semester.

Students can earn half of the Honors Carolina credit hours needed for graduation through an Honors Study Abroad program or Burch Field Research Seminar.