Dr. William S. Wilkerson, Dean
104 Frank Franz Hall
Telephone: 256.824.6450
uah.edu/honors

The Honors College at the University of Alabama in Huntsville provides academically talented undergraduate students with an elite college experience at a large research university. It offers enriched coursework, research opportunities, and a community of like-minded students.

The Honors College serves students in all the colleges. While students are encouraged to join the Honors College at the beginning of their freshman year to gain full advantage of its benefits and enhanced curriculum, the College welcomes qualified current UAH or transfer students. All interested students must apply through the Honors College website: uah.edu/honors. Minimum requirements are a 28 ACT and a 3.5 high school GPA. Honors has a test-optional policy for Honors admission for the 2023-24 admission cycle. We will still consider test scores if submitted, but we want to stress that test scores are not required for admission into Honors this year. In special cases, because of the holistic review of the application, students who fall below the minimum GPA standards may be accepted. Current and transfer students must have a college GPA of 3.25 or higher and must complete the full application.

The Honors College grants either an Honors Diploma or an Honors Certificate, depending on the number of Honors Credits earned. The Diploma and the Certificate are in the student’s chosen field or fields and appear on both the physical Diploma and the official transcript. The Honors Diploma or the Certificate add little extra coursework to the degree: both are mostly accomplished by taking Honors sections of courses students would already take. Please see the tabs above for more information about the requirements for the Diploma and the Certificate.

Whether students seek the Honors Diploma or the Certificate, they must complete an Honors Capstone Project or Thesis. This is independent work students typically do in their major field. It is done under close faculty supervision, and it can be either a traditional research thesis or a project, such as a computer application, an art installation, or a collection of stories. More information about the Capstone can be found at uah.edu/honors. 

Honors courses come in three kinds:

  1. Self-standing Honors Sections, which replace courses students would already take. These are smaller, more intensive, but not more work. They are designated with an “H” section number (“PHL 101-H1” vs. “PHL 101-01”).
  2. Honors contract courses: any course can be made an Honors course as long as 1) the instructor and the student agree on a way to enrich the course 2) there is not an Honors section in the same term, and 3) the student obtains the Honors Dean’s signature on the contract. The electronic forms for this contract can be found on the Honors College website. 
  3. Courses offered by the Honors College. These can be special, interdisciplinary seminars, such as “The Art of Writing Science” or “Poverty in the U.S.,” or they can take the form of the Honors Internship or Honors Capstone course. See the tab above to see Honors offerings for this academic year.

Honors Diploma Requirements

The following summarizes the requirements for receiving the Honors Diploma. For college specific information, refer to the Honors Advising webpage or the Honors Student Handbook at uah.edu/honors.

  • First-time freshmen pursue the Honors Diploma
  • 24 or more semester hours of Honors course credit
  • Satisfactory completion of the Honors Capstone Project or Thesis
  • An overall 3.25 GPA at graduation
  • Required courses:
    • EH 105: Honors English Seminar - 3 semester hours
    • HON 101: Intro to Honors Research
    • 300/400 level Honors courses – 9 semester hours (including Capstone course)
    • Honors Capstone Thesis/Project course -  3 semester hours in HON or your department
  • Remaining Honors courses may come in the following categories:
    • Honors sections of regular courses (ex: PHL 101)
    • Specially designed courses just for Honors (ex: EH 105, HON 101, MAE 345)
    • Honors lab sections including lecture credit (ex: BYS 119/BYS 121)
    • Honors Special Seminars
    • Honors Contracts
    • Honors Internships
    • Graduate courses (JUMP)
    • Study Abroad courses

For more information on Honors courses, see the Honors College Handbook.

Honors Certificate Requirements

Students who want to participate in the Honors College but who may not be able to complete the entire 24 honors credit hour requirement have the choice to pursue the Honors Certificate. Please talk to the Honors College Office first; you may still be able to complete the full Honors Diploma. Requirements for the Certificate are as follows:

  • 12-23 semester hours of Honors courses
  • Satisfactory completion of the Honors Capstone Project or Thesis
  • An overall 3.25 GPA at graduation
  • Additional requirements involve:
    • 6 hours from any 300 or 400 level course (including Capstone course)

For more information on Honors courses, please see the Honors College Handbook.

Honors Courses

HON 101 - INTRO TO HONORS RESEARCH

Semester Hour: 1

Introduction to research methods and information literacy for new Honors Students. Helps students transition to research and coursework commensurate with Honors College standards.

HON 201 - SCHOLARSHIPS GRAD SCHOOL

Semester Hour: 1

Assist select Honors Students to prepare and apply for prestigious national scholarships and top graduate programs.

HON 301 - HONORS SPECIAL SEMINAR

Semester Hours: 1-2

Intensive, discussion-based, interdisciplinary exploration of contemporary topics in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering. Topics will be decided by instructors and will vary by term. May be team taught. Open only to Honors Students.

HON 321 - ISE 321 SUPPLEMENT

Semester Hour: 1

Discussion-based class covering topics in ISE 321 in greater detail. ISE 321 must be taken concurrently or prior to enrolling in HON 321. Honors Students earn 4 hours Honors credit (1 hour for HON 321 + 3 hours for iSE 321). Prerequisite with concurrency: ISE 321.

HON 399 - HONORS INTERDISCIPLINARY SEM

Semester Hours: 3

Interdisciplinary study of a selected topic. The seminar will facilitate serious appraisal of an issue that crosses disciplinary boundaries and that can be explored using different scholarly methodologies. Prerequisites: Admission to the Honors College.

HON 400 - HONORS INTERNSHIP

Semester Hours: 1-6

Active involvement in a business enterprise, professional organization, or government agency that has particular interest and relevance to the student's course of study. The outside entity must identify a mentor who will keep regular contact with the student. Requires the student to maintain a log of activities and produce a semester-end report. Course grade will be given on a satisfactory (S)/unsatisfactory (U) basis. Approval of the Honors College Dean. Prerequisites: Admission to the Honors College.

HON 401 - HON ENGINEERING CAPSTONE

Semester Hour: 1

Course provides support and mentoring for Honors Students wishing to use their Engineering Senior Design course to complete their Honors Capstone.

HON 499 - HONORS THESIS

Semester Hours: 1-3

Individual research under direction of a faculty advisor. May be taken for up to 6 semester hours of credit. Prerequisites: Admission to the Honors College.

Honors Sections are offered in the following courses:

ARS 160 - DRAWING: FOUNDATIONS

Semester Hours: 3

Introduction to principles, materials, and techniques of drawing. Observational drawing and exercises teach students visual skills and introduce aesthetics and artistic expression. Class covers visual and manual skills, problem solving, critical thinking, and the tools and materials artists use.

BYS 121 - LABORATORY

Semester Hour: 1

Laboratory exercised to introduce students to accurate measurement techniques, observation, and the development of relevant hypotheses. Several formal lab reports are required as an introduction to scientific writing. Prerequisite w/ concurrency: BYS 119.

BYS 122 - ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY LAB

Semester Hour: 1

Introduction to the basic concepts of natural selection, population biology, and the biodiversity of animals and plants. Several formal lab reports are required as further introduction to scientific writing, along with a lab practical on the biodiversity of animals and plants. Prerequisite w/ concurrency: BYS 120.

BYS 499 - UNGRAD HONORS RES & THESIS

Semester Hours: 2-4

Individual investigations into biological problems under direct supervision of instructor. For honors students majoring in the biological sciences. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor, chair, and director of honors program; senior standing.

CH 125 - GENERAL CHEMISTRY LAB I

Semester Hour: 1

Complements the lecture material for CH 121. Includes the determination of chemical and physical properties of materials, synthesis and characterization, and introduction to spectroscopy. Prerequisite with concurrency: CH 121 or CH 121M.

CH 335 - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LAB I

Semester Hour: 1

Techniques of organic chemistry including synthesis, separation, and identification of organic compounds with use of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Prerequisite with concurrency: CH 331. Prerequisite: CH 126.

CM 113 - Intro to Rhetorical Communication

Semester Hours: 3

Develops public speaking skills through an examination of rhetorical theory, training, and practice. Includes informative, persuasive, and other forms of speeches to prepare students for oral presentations in college and post-college ("real world") settings.

CPE 325 - EMBEDDED SYSTEMS LAB

Semester Hour: 1

Student gain experience working with modern integrated software development environments and hardware platforms to solve practical problems. Corequisite laboratory component of CPE 323.

EE 213 - ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ANALYSIS I

Semester Hours: 3

Basic concepts of DC and AC circuit theory and analysis. Includes both DC and AC power. Prerequisites: MA 201 and PH 112 both w/concurrency.

EGR 101 - INTRO COMPUTING ENGINEERS

Semester Hours: 3

Introduces students to the fundamental principles of programming for solving engineering problems. It familiarizes students with the process of computational thinking and the translation of real-life engineering to computational problems. Languages may include Matlab, Python, and others as appropriate. Prerequisites: MA 113 w/concurrency or Math placement level 2000.

EH 105 - HONORS ENGLISH SEMINAR

Semester Hours: 3

Interpretive and comparative readings in texts of enduring intellectual, esthetic, and ethical importance; critical and analytic writing and research projects. Grading Scale: A, B, C, D, F. Minimum grade of C- required to advance to 200-level English classes. Prerequisites: Formal admission to the University Honors College.

EH 207 - READINGS LITERATURE/CULTURE I

Semester Hours: 3

Critical analysis of texts from ancient times through the Age of Discovery. The course introduces students to the methods of literary study through an examination of works in their social, historical, and philosophical contexts. Prerequisite: EH 102 or EH 103 with minimum grade of C- or EH 105.

EH 208 - READINGS LITERATURE/CULTURE 2

Semester Hours: 3

Critical analysis of texts from the Age of Discovery through the present. The course introduces students to the methods of literary study through an examination of works in their social, historical, and philosophical contexts. Prerequisite: EH 102 or EH 103 with minimum grade of C- or EH 105.

EH 244 - HEROES &/OR MONSTERS

Semester Hours: 3

Reading, discussing, analyzing, and writing about heroes and/or monsters (might include heroes, antiheroes, monster literature, etc.) This course covers multiple literary genres, at least two historical periods, diverse authors, and explores various cultural contexts; this course is designed for students of all majors. Prerequisites: EH 102 or EH 103 or EH 105 with minimum grade of C-.

EH 301 - TECHNICAL WRITING

Semester Hours: 3

Practical writing, especially technical or scientific reports and proposals, with emphasis on organization, research, and presentation. Qualifies as elective in English major. Prerequisite: junior standing and EH 102 or EH 103 or EH 105.

HY 103 - WORLD HISTORY TO 1500

Semester Hours: 3

Explore the historical development of peoples and cultures from their beginnings to 1500. Trace cross-cultural interactions among societies, states, and economies of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas and Oceania.

HY 104 - WORLD HISTORY SINCE 1500

Semester Hours: 3

Explore global interdependence from the period of transoceanic exploration to the present. Trace cross-cultural interactions among societies, states, and economies of Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania.

MA 171 - CALCULUS A

Semester Hours: 4

Limits, derivatives, applications of the derivative, definite and indefinite integrals, exponential and logarithmic functions, and inverse functions. Prerequisites: MA 113 or MA 115 with a grade of C or better, or Level 3 placement.

MA 172 - CALCULUS B

Semester Hours: 4

Techniques of integration, applications of the integral, polar coordinates, sequences, series, and conic sections. Prerequisites: MA 171 with a grade of C or better.

MA 201 - CALCULUS C

Semester Hours: 4

Vectors, vector-valued functions, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, vector fields, line and surface integrals. Prerequisites: MA 172 with a grade of C or better.

MA 238 - APPL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Semester Hours: 3

This course provides an elementary introduction to the techniques and necessary theory for solving the basic differential equations usually encountered by beginning science and engineering students. General topics include analytical and graphical methods for solving and analyzing first order differential equations; Euler's numerical method; the basic theory of higher-order, linear differential equations, with major emphasis on equations with constant coefficients; variation of parameters; the Laplace transform as a tool for solving differential equations. MA 238 is an AGSC core course. Prerequisites: MA 172 & MA 201 with concurrency.

MAE 271 - STATICS

Semester Hours: 3

Topics include: forces, resultant forces, moments, couples equivalent force systems, equilibrium, distributed loads, two force members, trusses, centroids, moments of inertia, shear and bending moment diagrams, static and kinematic friction. (Same as CE 271) Prerequisites: PH 111, and ENG 101 Prerequisites with Concurrency: MA 201.

MAE 345 - HONORS THERMODYNAMICS COLQ

Semester Hour: 1

Students in this course will be expected to participate in assigned readings and discussions to develop an understanding of the context behind the fundamental concepts and principles of thermodynamics. Through reflections students will be encouraged to apply this knowledge to develop their own creative ideas. Prerequisites with concurrency: MAE 341 or CHE 344.

MU 100 - INTRO TO MUSIC LITERATURE

Semester Hours: 3

This course is designed as a cultural and historical overview with the purpose of developing a greater appreciation and understanding of art music. Course content will include exploration of musicians, ideas, and issues in various types of western and non-western music, through reading, listening, and discussion. No prerequisite is required. Offered every semester.

NUR 303 - HEALTH ASSESSMENT

Semester Hours: 5

Focus on holistic assessment of culturally diverse clients across the life span. Communication & psychomotor skills are developed in clinical laboratory settings with an emphasis on normal findings and health promotion.

NUR 307 - INQUIRY INTO EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING PRACTICE

Semester Hours: 3

This course identifies various modes of inquiry and critical analysis used in the development of nursing science. Explore evidence based models to examine the evidence from a variety of research designs used to formulate nursing decisions. Emphasis is on identifying and synthesizing the best evidence to solve complex health problems in order to deliver safe, competent nursing care to diverse populations. Prerequisites: NUR 310 and NUR 312 and NUR 321.

NUR 415 - HONORS DIRECTED RESEARCH

Semester Hours: 2

This course allows for implementation of the student's research proposal as developed in the Honors section of NUR 307. The focus is on data collection and preliminary data analysis. The seminar format will provide students access to expert researchers.

PHL 101 - INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY

Semester Hours: 3

Introduction to philosophical reflection focusing upon central problems in the major branches of the western tradition: metaphysics, epistemology and value theory.

PHL 102 - INTRO TO ETHICS

Semester Hours: 3

Major ethical positions in both classical and modern thought. The course may include a consideration of case studies drawn from practical contexts in engineering, medicine and other areas.

PH 111 - GEN PHYSICS W/CALCULUS I

Semester Hours: 3

For science and engineering students. Basic laws of physics and their application to specific problems: vectors, Newtonian mechanics, energy, conservation laws, simple harmonic motion, statics, fluids. Offered all terms. Prerequisite: MA 171 Corequisite: PH 114.

PH 114 - GENERAL PHYSICS LAB I

Semester Hour: 1

Laboratory instruction in support of material covered in PH 111. Offered all terms. Corequisite: PH 111.

PH 112 - GEN PHYSICS W/CALC II

Semester Hours: 3

Continuation of PH 111. Heat and thermodynamics, basic electricity, electric and magnetic fields. Offered all terms. Prerequisite: MA 172, PH 111, PH 114. Corequisite: PH 115.

PH 115 - GENERAL PHYSICS LAB II

Semester Hour: 1

Laboratory instruction in support of material covered in PH 112. Offered all terms. Corequisite: PH 112.

SOC 100 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Semester Hours: 3

An introduction to the critical and scientific study of society, culture, social institutions and social change. Illuminates the social and cultural context of our lives and is useful for exploring contemporary social issues, problems and change in society.