Northwood University Honors Program

The Northwood University Honors Program’s general academic mission is to emphasize critical analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of course content.  This is accomplished through innovative teaching and assessment methods, greater breadth and depth of content, and higher standards of rigor.  Its professional mission is to provide a more comprehensive exploration of disciplines used within various professions.  The Honors Program enhances personal growth by creating a community of likeminded students dedicated to maximizing the value of their education.

Being limited in size—twenty students maximum—honors courses place more emphasis on class participation and discussion-based learning.  They encourage students to direct their own learning and emphasize development of social and leadership skills.  By offering a variety of learning experiences, honors courses encourage collaborative learning, offer experiences outside the classroom, seek frequent faculty-student interaction, and accelerate student intellectual growth.  In addition, by developing discipline-appropriate research skills, honors courses stress independent research and learning, present primary sources and original documents, offer access to updated literature from the field, and urge originality in writing and analysis.  Honors courses offer an enhanced range and depth of study through increased quality of work, not quantity of work.

Participation Requirements

Honors students at Northwood University may participate in the program at three different levels.  All students who qualify and complete any honors course are considered to be Honors Program Participants, and their honors courses are identified on their transcripts.  Each term, Honors students decide for themselves how many Honors courses are right for them.  Students who complete 20 term credit hours in specified groups of honors courses earn an Honors Certificate.  Those who complete 36 term credit hours earn an Honors Diploma.  That a student has earned the Certificate or Diploma is prominently noted on the honor student’s transcript, thus indicating that the student has opted for an enhanced and challenging undergraduate education.  Successful completion of either the Honors Certificate or Diploma will require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and a minimum cumulative GPA in honors courses of 3.0.

Enrollment in even a single Honors course allows students to participate in all Honors activities such as the Student Honors Association meetings, end-of-year honors dinner, and special speaking and cultural events.

Admission Process

Admission to the Honors Program from high school requires two of the following three conditions: (1) a 3.25 or better high school GPA, (2) top 10% of high school class, (3) an ACT score of 25 or SAT score of 1150.  Any student with a 3.25 Northwood University cumulative GPA or transfer student with a 3.25 GPA may join the Honors Program. 

Study Abroad

Students who complete 16 term credit hours of honors courses qualify for significant price reductions on our term-long study abroad programs in Europe, Northern Europe, and Asia.

Contact Information
Northwood University
4000 Whiting Drive
Midland, MI 48640-2398

Director
Dr. Margaret Colarelli
Phone: 989.837.4259
Email: colarell@northwood.edu