DU’s University Honors program is a community of students, faculty, and staff who are hungry for knowledge, passionate about a wide range of topics, and who want to learn in community with one another – both within the classroom and beyond.

Our program fosters a distinctive liberal arts education that challenges students to cultivate depth in critical and creative thought, and facilitates students' original contributions to intellectual life, their community, and their chosen field.

Information on admission to the Honors Program is available on our website.

Honors Curriculum and Requirements

Students graduate with University Honors upon satisfaction of the following requirements:

(1) Completion of Honors course requirements - Honors students have the opportunity to meet many of their university requirements in small, discussion-based, Honors-only courses. Honors courses are meant to be more engaging, not more difficult. The majority of these courses count directly towards your common core requirements (including one Honors course in the humanities, one Honors course the social sciences, an approved Honors sequence in the natural sciences, Honors writing, an Honors advanced seminar). The only additional coursework are two two-credit Honors Seminars. More details available on our Honors Checklist.

(2) Satisfaction of all requirements for distinction in at least one major - Every department has developed a distinction plan with its own timing, admission criteria, procedures, and completion requirements.  Requirements might include courses in research and methodologies, interdisciplinary courses, or a larger percentage of upper level course work. It usually also includes some type of culminating project or a thesis. Honors students should contact their major advisor in order to learn about the distinction program in the major they declare.

(3) Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher at graduation

Students from any major may be a part of the Honors Program. As with all DU students, the requirements set out in the Bulletin for the year they entered must be satisfied for graduation. To remain active in the Honors Program, students must be in "good standing" at the University, continue to make positive progress towards completing Honors requirements, and remain responsive to communication from Honors Program staff.

Honors Community and Enrichment

In addition to its academic opportunities, the Honors Program provides its community of students and faculty many ways to come together for co-curricular enrichment. The Honors Program sponsors a variety of activities throughout the year, and partners with other groups on campus to facilitate unique student experiences and opportunities. Honors students also organize events of their own through the Honors Student Association.

Honors Floor

The Honors floor, located in Dimond Family Residential Village, is a residential opportunity specifically designed for first-year students in the University Honors Program. The Honors floor provides a unique living environment for students of diverse majors and interests who have made academic work a priority. For many Honors students, living together and sharing special programming enhances their first year experience at college, and helps create lasting friendships. The Honors floor is an option for those who have been admitted to the University Honors program, but is not a requirement.  

For more information, contact the University Honors Program at honors@du.edu or 303-871-2035.

Lamont School of Music

Students of all majors can pursue opportunities in ensembles, elective lessons, and classes offered by the Lamont School of Music.  More information about these course offerings can be found online at https://liberalarts.du.edu/lamont/academics/opportunities-non-majors.

Performing ensembles are open to all DU students by audition, and rehearsals and concerts are held in the stunning Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts.

Lamont offers nearly 300 performances each year, including musicals, operas, and prominent ensemble performances, as well as guest artist performances and recitals.  Most of these are free to DU ID card holders.

Pioneer Leadership Program