Honors Program Requirements

The Rockhurst Honors Program is open to all prospective freshman college students, transfer students, and Rockhurst students who have successfully completed at least 12 hours of college courses and meet the following criteria:

High School Seniors 

(students typically meet one or more of the following)

  • An ACT composite of 28 or better, or an SAT composite of 1230 or higher;
  • A high school grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a scale of 4.00;
  • A ranking in the top 10 percent of their secondary school graduating class.

Current Rockhurst Students

  • Are below junior year status,
  • Earn a grade point average of 3.3 or above,
  • Present a letter of application to the Director of the Honors Program, and
  • Submit an official transcript of all college work.

Transfer Students

  • Earn a post-secondary grade point average of 3.3 or above,
  • Present a letter of application to the Director of the Honors Program, and
  • Submit an official transcript of all college work.
     

Candidacy Status

Students admitted to the Honors Program have candidacy rank until they:

  • Have a formal meeting with the Director during the first semester of participation in the Honors Program;
  • Attend the fall semester orientation sessions, and the Honors lunch the day before classes begin;
  • Earn a minimum of 12 credit hours, including at least one course designated as Honors.;
  • Obtain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or better during the semester of candidacy;
  • Participate in the February formal Honors Induction ceremony.

Students will be notified by letter in mid-January of their candidacy year about the status of their nominations to participate in the formal reception ceremony. A written acceptance to the Director is required to participate in the formal reception. The names of new members will be submitted to the Honors Advisory Committee and the Office of the Registrar.

Transfer students who held membership in an honors program at their former institution of learning may apply all honors work in which they earned a grade of 3.30 or higher towards graduation from the Rockhurst University Honors Program.

Active Membership

In order to remain in the Honors Program, students need to accomplish the following:

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher. (Students will be allowed one semester of probation below the 3.3 GPA; however, if they are unable to obtain the required grade point average following the semester of probation, they will be notified in writing of their dismissal from the Program);
  • Attempt to include at least one honors experience in each semester of Rockhurst enrollment, although circumstances of major requirements and honors course offerings sometimes render this difficult to accomplish;
  • Schedule a progress meeting with the Director each year.

Graduating from the Honors Program

To graduate from the Honors Program, students must satisfy the graduation requirements of the school and their major department. Students must also:

  • Complete a minimum of 24 hours of honors coursework (including honors options),
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher,
  • Attend a transcript review session with the director of the Program during the last two semesters in college,
  • Obtain the Application to Graduate from the Honors Program, and file it with the Registrar, and
  • Participate in the senior focus during the last semester of the final year of college.