Honors College

ACU’s Honors College provides academically talented students with the resources you need to shape the world.

Inside our living-learning community, you’ll connect with other high-achieving students, learn from top professors, collaborate on world-shaping research and participate in exclusive Study Abroad experiences.

Who Is the Honors College For?

The Honors College serves students from all majors. Honors students have a history of high academic achievement and are ready to pursue a deeper and richer education.

The Honors College is ACU’s way of supporting our top students as they cultivate a curious mind, a purposeful heart and a community of belonging.

A professor walks around helping students during a chemistry class.

A Curious Mind

Teaching and learning are foundational to ACU’s Honors College. We operate on a “rockstar” model – recruiting the top faculty from across campus to teach and mentor our students.

As an Honors student, you will participate in exclusive Honors courses, dive into special interests in 1-hour colloquia, and earn recognition for participating in service, leadership and research activities.

Students showcase their findings at a research and innovation festival.

A Purposeful Heart

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s great hunger meet.” – Frederick Buechner

The Honors experience at ACU is not just about training your mind; we also care deeply about cultivating your heart. We want to help you transform into the person God has called you to be.

As a member of the Honors College, you can choose one of the following four track options to tailor your experience to your interests and goals:

Design Thinking & Innovation
Social & Environmental Justice
Global Service & Leadership
Research & Scholarship

Outside view of the front of Wessel Hall.

A Community of Belonging

In addition to taking classes together, you’ll live alongside other Honors students and faculty mentors in living-learning communities in Wessel Hall (freshmen) and Barret Hall (sophomores).

You’ll also have access to exclusive Honors Study Abroad and internship experiences:

Great texts in Oxford, England
Innovation and culture in Valencia, Spain
Internships in Leipzig, Germany

Perks of ACU Honors College Enrollment

Priority class registration
Priority move-in
Smaller class sizes
Support to apply for major scholarships (Fulbright, Rhodes, etc.)
Exclusive travel grants
International internships
Track specialization
Free printing
Access to the Honors Commons study/collaboration space
Honors advisor

Requirements for Honors Students

Honors students select one of two Honors designations: Honors Graduate or Honors Scholar.

Both designations require:

6 Honors course credits. Fulfilled through Honors sections of general education courses, philosophy courses or Honors contracts in regular courses.
2 Honors colloquia. 1-credit hour courses on a wide variety of topics.
Activity credits (3 for Honors Graduate and 4 for Honors Scholar). Recognize work students do in research, assistant teaching, grant applications, fellowships and more.

Additionally, the Honors Scholar designation includes a project seminar and thesis.