Honors Student Benefits & Opportunities

As a member of the Honors Program, there are a number of benefits and opportunities that are afforded to you that are listed below with a brief description.

Priority Registration

As a student in the Honors Program, you are given priority registration privileges. You will be able to register at the same time as graduate students and seniors. Should you find that your registration appointment is not within the first week of the registration period, please let the Honors Program staff know immediately and we will have your appointment time changed. If you take advantage of this benefit, you are almost certain to be able to register for your first choice of classes (with the exception of courses that require permits).

If you have a time conflict, registration hold, or have exceeded the maximum number of hours allowed in a semester, we will not be able to register you for your Honors course and the space will be released for another interested student. Please be sure that you take care of all holds prior to registration. You may check your registration status on OASIS.

Personalized Honors Advising

All Honors advising is done by the Honors Program staff. The Honors director will review your progress once a semester. If your studies are on track, you will automatically be pre-permitted for the next course in the Honors sequence. Prior to the registration period the director will contact you with detailed registration instructions. If you have not heard from the director in the week before registration, please contact the Honors Program immediately.

The Honors Program staff is also available to assist you with academic, personal, and professional questions. We are equipped to answer questions about Honors scholarships, graduation, applying to professional or graduate school, career counseling, and more. If we are unable to assist you, we can refer you to the appropriate resource.

You will meet with an academic advisor at orientation and throughout your stay at USF who will advise you on your major and other non-Honors classes.

Remember, it is your responsibility to make sure all requirements for graduation have been met. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog, which you can find at http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0506/cattoc.htm.

You may access your records and print advising reports from the Internet. Academic records and financial aid/account information can be accessed by logging on to the OASIS system at http://usfonline.admin.usf.edu/.

An academic advising report can be accessed through FACTS at http://www.facts.org/.

You will need your USF ID and six digit pin number to access these systems. See an advisor if you need assistance logging onto the site or to show you how to interpret the reports.

Class Size and Liberal Arts Fulfillment

The University Honors Program at USF St. Petersburg offers students the opportunity to be part of a challenging academic experience while enjoying the beauty and unique features of the campus location. The Honors Program represents a close knit community of scholars. Most classes have fewer than 20 students, providing an opportunity to develop a rapport with faculty members on our campus and allowing the faculty to teach in innovative ways.

Students on the four-year track will take two Honors courses during their first semester and one Honors course in subsequent semesters in addition to classes in the student’s major.

Students on the two-year track (having already fulfilled their general education requirements) will take a seminar course each semester of their junior year and embark on their thesis during their senior year as all Honors students do.

All Honors coursework will revolve around a theme or topic of interest. By taking all of the Honors coursework along with Freshman English I & II, and two semesters of mathematics, students fulfill all of their liberal art exit and general education requirements.

Activities and Events

Social Gatherings

In order to foster interaction and camaraderie among members of the Honors Program, gatherings are planned periodically throughout the academic year to bring members together. This gives you the opportunity to exchange experiences and ideas about the Honors Program, the University, and the community. Yearly Honors Program events include a welcome/welcome back party, as well as an end of the year party.

The Honors Lounge

The Honors Lounge, located in the second story of the historic Snell House, is available during daytime hours if it is not being used for a class. It provides a place for Honors students to congregate, study, or to relax in between classes. The Snell House is a working University office, so please study and socialize quietly.

Honors Program Sponsored Events

The University Honors Program sponsors many events throughout the year. Distinguished guest speakers are invited and hosted by the Honors Program. There are also many university events that the Honors Program co-sponsors with other organizations. Examples of past events include the Florida Mosaic Lecture Series, Tomorrow’s Leaders Symposium, A Sunshine State of Mind: Florida’s Place in American Culture, Harbor Day (co-sponsored with the Student Environmental Awareness Society), and the Harry Schaleman Lecture Series. Honors students are expected to attend these events.

 Research Opportunities

The University of South Florida is nationally recognized as a Carnegie-designated Doctoral/Research Extensive University. As such, its full commitment to undergraduate instruction is enhanced by a firm commitment to the creation of new knowledge. USF has the requisite research environment, including extensive libraries, well-equipped laboratories, and sophisticated computer capabilities. We also have numerous faculty members who are nationally and internationally recognized in their fields, and who are willing and able to mentor students.

As a student at a Research University, you have the opportunity to engage in collaborative learning experiences with faculty and graduate students. You can participate in a world of discovery in which active participation is the key to learning. We expect you to learn through inquiry, rather than be the passive recipient of information. Through research projects, you will gain the skills necessary for exploration, problem solving, and oral and written expression that will serve you for a lifetime.

Participation in the research process allows you to appreciate arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. If you are interested in research opportunities, please make an appointment to meet with the director. He will talk with you about the type of research experience you are looking for and try to pair you with a faulty member. Opportunities to get to know faculty are invaluable, especially if you are planning to attend graduate or professional school upon graduation.

University Honors Program Scholarship

All students accepted in the University Honors Program will receive a $500 scholarship per semester (a total of $4,000 for the four-year Honors Program and $2,000 for the two-year Honors Program) as long as you remain enrolled in Honors and continue to meet all eligibility requirements. Students must maintain a 3.3 GPA (calculated at the end of each spring semester) to continue receiving this scholarship each semester.

Honors scholarship funds will be disbursed after the semester begins and we are able to confirm that students are enrolled in the necessary Honors classes.

Please allow 2-3 weeks after the first week of classes for the funds to be credited to your USF account. 

Honors Program International Travel Grants

In coordination with the USF St. Petersburg Office of International Affairs, the Honors Program is instituting an international travel grant competition. The purpose of the travel grants is to support international travel related to Honors thesis research or other Honors projects. Each year, up to two grants will be available and awarded on a competitive basis. Each grant will be for up to $500, though the actual amount of the grant may vary depending on the nature and cost of the travel involved.

The main criteria for the awards will be the importance of the proposed travel and the relevance of the trip to the student’s Honors thesis or other Honors project. Certain restrictions apply both in where students may travel and in the nature of the research or study to be undertaken.

The deadline for application is April 1 each year. Please contact the Honors Program director for more information. To apply, download and complete the Honors Program International Travel Grant and submit to Dr. Thomas Smith, Honors Program Director, or Daun Fletcher, Honors Program Assistant.