Honors FAQs and Resources

Yes. Apply with the Honors Program Application Form.

To be in the Honors Program, you must maintain a 3.3 GPA and earn Honors credit within your first three semesters after being accepted into the program. You must earn 9 HON credit hours to graduate with Honors. There are three levels of distinction upon graduation: University Honors Scholar, University Honors, and Honors Certificate.

Community: Being a part of a group can make all the difference when experiencing something new such as leaving home and living on campus. Shared experiences such as courses and events help build a community and cohort that brings comfort during times of stress and joy!

Honors courses encourage critical thinking and active participation in classroom discussion. Honors courses typically offer specialized topics related to the instructor’s interests, including specific authors, places, genres, theories, and methodologies. Honors students generally report finding these seminar-style classes rewarding and thought-provoking.

Enhancement credit is earned by taking any UMF course and modifying it to meet Honors criteria. Experience credit is earned through experience such as travel, an internship, or a service project.

May I apply a study abroad or travel course toward Honors Experience credit?

Yes, each student may apply 3 credits toward Honors recognition levels. Please complete the Honors Experience Form.

No. You can earn 9 credits through Honors courses, experiences, and enhancements that can count as general education requirements and electives. Some courses even count towards your major or minor.

The Honors House is open daily 7 a.m. to midnight during the fall and spring semesters. Since all Honors students enjoy the space, please reserve one of our rooms for a meeting or event. Otherwise, the study rooms and workstations are available anytime.

Email umfhonors@maine.edu to let us know, and we will remove you from the program.

No. Some courses might require a fee for supplies, however.

Take HON 101 + two 3-credit HON courses or take any three 3-credit HON courses (including the options below). Options include:

• 3-credit courses such as HON 277 or 377
• 3 credits of HON 305 “Honors Enhancement” in which students take a course outside of Honors (e.g., an education or English course) and turn it into an Honors course
• 3 credits of Honors Experience–technically this is not a course students register for, but an opportunity for students to count an internship, a travel course, or their student teaching as an experience they reflect on and present on publicly (in concert with the Honors director’s approval). These 3 credits are internal to the Honors program and do not appear on a student’s transcript.

Take HON 101 + four 3-credit HON courses which must include one 3xx course or take any five 3-credit HON courses (including the options below), one of which must be an HON 3xx course.

• 3-credit courses such as HON 277 or 377
• 3 credits of HON 305 “Honors Enhancement” in which students take a course outside of Honors (e.g., an education or English course) and turn it into an Honors course
• 3 credits of Honors Experience–technically this is not a course students register for, but an opportunity for students to count an internship, a travel course, or their student teaching as an experience they reflect on and present on publicly (in concert with the Honors director’s approval). These 3 credits are internal to the Honors program and do not appear on a student’s transcript.

Take HON 101 + three 3-credit HON courses + HON 499 capstone (thesis/creative or service project) or take any five 3-credit HON courses (including the options below), one of which must be HON 499.

3-credit courses such as HON 277 or 377
3 credits of HON 305 “Honors Enhancement” in which students take a course outside of Honors (e.g., an education or English course) and turn it into an Honors course
3 credits of Honors Experience–technically this is not a course students register for, but an opportunity for students to count an internship, a travel course, or their student teaching as an experience they reflect on and present on publicly (in concert with the Honors director’s approval). These 3 credits are internal to the Honors program and do not appear on a student’s transcript.

In MaineStreet, Honors students are coded under Student Services General Tab (Student Group subheading). You may email Lisa Gallant, administrative specialist at umfhonors@maine.edu for student status.

Yes, please view more info on for guidelines and the proposal.

Currently, the requirements are few, an GPA of 3.3 or higher and earning Honors credit within the first three semesters of their admittance.

Incoming students have a semester grace period to raise their GPA. If by the end of the first two semesters, the GPA is still below 3.3, then the student is removed from the program. Upper class students are removed once the GPA falls below 3.3; however, students may send the director a request to appeal the decision.

Yes. Non-Honors students may request permission from the instructor. Should there be available seats, staff will register the students.

No. Each faculty member may choose their preferred location

Yes, faculty may request funds for their course, and below are the current levels. Please send an email to the director and administrative specialist for review.  Receipts will be required following purchases.

Members serve a three-year term. The director will send out an email request to targeted individuals whom they believe may have an interest in serving; however, all faculty are encouraged to submit a statement of interest.

The Honors Director serves a three-year term. The Associate Provost will request statements of interest from faculty. The Director receives a one-course reassignment per semester.

​English

The Oswald Review: The Oswald Review is an international journal of undergraduate research and criticism of English, associated with the University of South Carolina Aiken. Submissions must include a faculty member’s endorsement. It is published annually.

UC Berkeley Comparative Literature Undergraduate Journal: This journal publishes undergraduate research in comparative texts and media, including topics such as theoretical literary discourse, international trends in literature, and comparisons of national literature.

​Humanities

Appolon: The Undergraduate e-Journal: Affiliated with Berea College, Appolon publishes humanities research in a variety of disciplines.

Lamar University Publications: The Lamar Journal of Humanities: This Humanities journal is published by the College of Arts and Sciences of Lamar University – Beaumont at least once a year. It accepts articles in the fields of literature, history, contemporary culture, fine arts, and other humanities areas.

​Philosophy

Aporia: Published twice a year by Brigham Young University, this undergraduate journal publishes undergraduate papers on any philosophical topic.

The Dualist Journal: Published by Stanford University, this journal publishes pieces on philosophy from across the nation.

Episteme: Denison University’s Undergraduate Journal of Philosophy is distributed in print and online.

Stance: An International Undergraduate Philosophy Journal: This journal is published annually in April; submissions may be on any philosophical topic.

Undergraduate Philosophy Journal of Australasia (UPJA): Founded in 2019, the Undergraduate Philosophy Journal of Australasia (UPJA) is the first undergraduate philosophy journal run by students from the Australasian region. UPJA welcomes submissions on any philosophical topic from current undergraduates and those who have recently graduated from any university worldwide. With the generous support of the Australasian Association of Philosophy, UPJA offers two cash prizes for standout submissions.

American Journal of Undergraduate Research (AJUR):  AJUR is a national, independent, peer-reviewed, open-source, quarterly, multidisciplinary student research journal. Each manuscript of AJUR receives a DOI number. AJUR is archived by the US Library of Congress. AJUR was established in 2002, incorporated as an NFP in 2018. AJUR is indexed internationally by EBSCO and Crossref with ISSNs of 1536-4585 (print) and 2375-8732 (web).

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research: This journal publishes scholarly research undertaken by undergraduates from any college or university across the humanities, social, and natural sciences.

Consilience, The Journal of Sustainability Development : This online journal publishes interdisciplinary work on sustainable development, including scholarly articles, opinion pieces, field notes, editorial columns, and photo essays. Work can include topics related to the environment, economics, politics, and society. It is published by Columbia University.

The Developing Economist: Put on by the University of Texas at Austin, this journal publishes undergraduate research in the fields of economics, mathematics, political economy, finance, and public policy.

EVOS Journal: The Journal of Evolutionary Studies Consortium: This journal is designed to promote the education of evolutionary theory. EVOS welcomes work from all academic disciplines.

Forbes & Fifth: This journal, produced by the University of Pittsburg, seeks articles interdisciplinary in nature.

The Honors Review: This interdisciplinary journal seeks illuminating, insightful, and contemporary research at the undergraduate level.

Inquiries Journal/Student Pulse: This independent academic journal publishes work from students at an undergraduate level and above. The journal publishes work in all academic disciplines, with focus on social sciences, arts, and humanities.

Intersect: The Stanford Journal of Science, Technology, and Society: This research journal welcomes submissions of history, culture, sociology, art, literature, business, law, health, science, and technology.

Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Excellence: This journal accepts submissions of any subject from any undergraduate institution

Metamorphosis: This interdisciplinary journal publishes work in natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and arts.

Northeast Regional Honors Council: The Northeast Regional Honors Council is a great opportunity to present undergraduate research.

Penn Bioethics Journal: Established in 2004, this journal publishes original work addressing debates in medicine, technology, philosophy, public policy, law, theology, and ethics.

The Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review: This interdisciplinary journal publishes original scholarly articles from around the world.

Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences: This online publication showcases undergraduate student research; it publishes experiments, surveys, and case studies.

Vexillum: The Undergraduate Journal of Classical and Medieval Studies: Vexillum promotes undergraduate scholarship in the fields of Classical and Medieval studies, and accepts scholarly papers written on a wide range of topics including history, literature, philosophy, sociology, and linguistics.

​Agriculture

RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences: Affiliated with the University of Nebraska Lincoln, RURALS publishes undergraduate research worldwide in agricultural and life sciences. Submissions must include a cover letter from a faculty sponsor and/or a faculty co-author. Articles are published online.

Anthropology

Anthrojournal: This journal publishes the work of undergraduate and graduate students in the fields of anthropology, archaeology, and ancient history.

​Biology

MarSci: This journal seeks to provide a first-time publication experience for undergraduates. It publishes manuscripts pertaining to marine and aquatic sciences.

​Chemistry

The Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research:  Published quarterly, this journal seeks papers in any field of chemistry including analytical, organic, and biochemistry.

Economics

Issues in Political Economy: Issues in Political Economy is published jointly by Elon University and the University of Mary Washington. It published undergraduate student research in economics each July. All submissions must be submitted through a faculty sponsor.

Undergraduate Economic Review: The UER is an online journal that promotes undergraduate economic research.

​History

History Matters: An Undergraduate Journal of Historical Research: This electronic journal is published annually by the department of history at Appalachian State University.

Law

The Dartmouth Law Journal: This undergraduate journal of law is published twice a year.

​Mathematics

Mathematical Spectrum: Mathematical Spectrum publishes articles, as well as letters, problems and solutions, and book reviews. The magazine is printed in the UK.

The Rose-Hulman Undergraduate Mathematics Journal: This journal is devoted entirely to papers written by undergraduates on topics relating to mathematics.

Natural Sciences

DUJS: The Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science: This journal, printed quarterly, accepts submissions of research papers year-round.

Journal of Young Investigators: This journal publishes undergraduate research in sciences, including biology, physics, mathematics, psychology, and social sciences.

​Political Science

Critique: a worldwide student journal of politics: this electronic journal publishes articles on political science. It is recognized by the American Political Science Association (APSA).

​Psychology

Impulse:  This online journal showcases undergraduate research in neuroscience.

The Journal of Psychology and the Behavioral Sciences: Published by Farleigh Dickinson University, this journal publishes articles by undergraduate students in any area of psychology, including behavioral neuroscience, industrial psychology, psychopharmacology, and developmental psychology.

The Undergraduate Journal of Psychology at UCLA: This journal is interested in highlighting undergraduate work in psychology in a wide variety of perspectives, including behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, developmental psychology and social psychology.

Yale Review of Undergraduate Research in Psychology: This journal showcases the best and most original research in psychology conducted by undergraduates from around the world. It publishes research in all areas of psychology including clinical, developmental, cognitive, and social psychology.

Social Sciences

The Dialectics: Journal of Law, Leadership, and Society: This online journal, housed at Pennsylvania State University – Abington, publishes multidisciplinary essays on issues of public importance. Essays should identify significant societal and global issues and offer creative solutions.

Journal of Integrated Social Sciences: This journal is interested in all disciplines of social sciences, including psychology, sociology, political sciences, and gender studies.

Journal for Undergraduate Ethnography: JUE publishes online, and seeks student-produced work from a variety of areas including anthropology, sociology, and regional studies.

The Journal of Undergraduate International Studies: This journal publishes the best undergraduate work across the country related to international themes and topics including international conflict and conflict resolution, human rights, environmental issues, and more.