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Honors In Engineering Program

The Honors in Engineering Program in the College of Engineering is designed to provide a challenging, individualized educational experience to high achieving students and to promote life-long learning throughout their careers. The objective is to challenge top students by offering them access to more advanced levels of study, to facilitate the fullest possible use of their creative abilities, to encourage a sustained interest in advanced education and basic research, as well as to foster leadership and fellowship within the engineering community. Honors in Engineering is an undergraduate student honors program that is an option and not mandatory. Students can also receive Departmental Honors and/or University Honors in addition to Honors in Engineering.

Honors In Engineering Program Links

Admission Requirements

Freshman are required to have an admission index score of 120 or higher, must have taken either the ACT or SAT, and have a high school grade point average (GPA )of 3.5 or above. Continuing students or transfer students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.5* to remain in the program. Students may be admitted to the program upon application and before they enter their respective major.

*NOTE: Studentsadmitted under the former 3.4 GPA requirement will be grandfathered through the program and allowed to graduate with a 3.4 GPA.

Honors in Engineering Program Application: MS Word
Honors in Engineering Program Application: Interactive PDF

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Graduation with Honors Requirements

The College of Engineering Honors program is intended to be flexible, to be rich in coursework and investigational challenges, as well as leadership and service learning opportunities. It is composed of three basic elements, including: general coursework; an investigational or focused studies component; and a leadership or service component as described below.

To receive a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with Honors, students must:

  • Meet all University and Departmental requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5
  • Complete at least 15 credit hours of generalized Honors coursework
  • Complete at least 6 credit hours of investigation or focused studies1,2
  • Complete an Honors thesis. The research or subject area must be approved by the Honors in Engineering Director. The format of the Honors thesis must be consistent with standard scholarly practice (i.e. Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and References cited)
  • Present the results of the thesis work in an appropriate public forum as approved by the Honors in Engineering Director
  • Satisfy the Leadership and Service requirement.
1 The minimum requirement is two semesters of investigational studies totaling 6 credit hours; however, students are encouraged to pursue research in greater depth. This is meant to be flexible to allow students in various disciplines to participate. It may, for example, take the form of laboratory research or a think-tank-like experience as currently offered by the University Honor's Program or may involve graduate level courses in a focus area, track or specialization.

2 Upper division major honors courses or electives may be substituted to meet students' needs.

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Leadership and Service Opportunities

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Advantages to Honors in Engineering Program

The Honors in Engineering Program offers students a variety of advantages. Once admitted into the program, each student will be assigned an academic advisor with whom they will work to develop a plan for graduating with Honors in Engineering. Students will receive more individualized interactions with faculty especially in areas of research and scholarly studies. The Honors in Engineering Program also offers opportunities for specialized internships, career advice, or other professional mentoring.

Honors in Engineering students are offered the opportunity to interact with professional engineers, faculty, and University of Utah Engineering Alumni during banquets and lectures. In addition to formal functions, Honors in Engineering students may attend personalized engineering firm tours and attend informational seminars.

Honors students are eligible to receive scheduling priority and to enroll in Honors courses. Honors students are also eligible to apply for residence in the College of Engineering Living & Learning Community housed within the University Residence Halls. Upper division honors students are eligible to participate in an undergraduate tutoring and mentoring program, a research project, including six hours of independent study or focused scholarly activities, the preparation of a senior research thesis, and subsequent oral defense of this thesis. The Director of the Engineering Honors program must approve these projects.

A variety of honorary societies and student professional organizations are also available to qualified engineering students. More information is available at the ASUU website at http://www.asuu.utah.edu.

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Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program can help to support undergraduate research activities by providing matching funds for student stipends on the basis of competitive research proposals. For details on how students can apply for funding, visit the website at http://www.ugs.utah.edu/urop

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University Honors Information

The University Honors Program enriches motivated students' undergraduate careers. The University Honors Programs offers students the opportunity to develop community throughout the University of Utah. Students from various academic majors attend Honors Courses, which hosts a maximum of 30 students. University Honors students also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with students from all academic backgrounds in Think Tank courses. The chance for students to broaden their social and intellectual environment is limitless. Students may participate in the Honors in Engineering Program and the University Honors program. Each program offers different benefits to student, but the participation in either program may result in the completion of an Honors of Bachelor of Science degree. The following flow chart outlines the basic differences in the Honors in Engineering Program and University Honors Program.

 

Click here for the Honors Flow Chart

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Honors Courses

Honors versions of courses are offered in both engineering-related and liberal arts areas. Honors courses are taught throughout the year, and students are encouraged to challenge themselves by attempting these courses. Popular choices include honors chemistry, mathematics, and physics courses, and E-LEAP, which is offered in the fall and spring semester of the 1st year. In addition, any graduate-level course (6000-level) may be used as an honors course. Honors courses are elective, not mandatory. A student who chooses not to enroll in honors courses will not jeopardize his or her honors status as long as a 3.5 cumulative GPA is maintained.

A sample list of Honors courses typically offered each year can be found here.

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Forms

The application for admission to the Honors in Engineering Program is available for download below in MSWord, or an interactive PDF version may be filled out online:

Honors in Engineering Program Application: MS Word
Honors in Engineering Program Application: Interactive PDF

Applications will be accepted anytime and should be submitted, either on paper or via e-mail, to the Honors in Engineering Advisor in the College of Engineering Dean's Office (see contact information below).

 

Students are encouraged to track their Honors in Engineering requirements with the Honors in Engineering Tracking Sheet

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Contacts

Honors in Engineering Director: Dr. Patrick A. Tresco, Associate Dean for Research (801) 587-5220 WEB
Honors in Engineering Advisor: Ashley Paulsen (801) 581-4528 WEB 1610
University Honors Program Director: Dr. Martha Bradley
University Honors Advisor: Mary Watkins

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