Honors Degree

Return to: David C. Frederick Honors College

The Honors Degree program consists of a structured program of curricular and co-curricular activities providing an enhanced academic experience emphasizing opportunities for interdisciplinary study. 

The Honors Degree program requires 24 credits to be completed upon graduation. Of these 24 credits, a minimum of 18 credits of Frederick Honors College approved academic course credits and a minimum of 6 experiential course credits are required. The 18 academic course credits may include courses with the Frederick Honors College course attribute value (honors courses); courses with the Civic Learning course attribute value; graduate-level courses; courses which are used to fulfill the following (including courses which do not have the Frederick Honors College course attribute value): Innovation & Entrepreneurship Certificate ; Leadership and Ethics Certificate ; Corporate/Community Relations Certificate ; Digital Media Certificate ; Disability Studies Certificate ; Gender, Sexuality, and Women Studies Certificate ; Leadership Certificate ; Conceptual Foundations of Medicine Certificate ; Health Humanities Certificate ; Public and Professional Writing Certificate ; Public Communication of Science and Technology Certificate ; Sport Studies Certificate ; Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability ; Television and Broadcast Arts Certificate ; Nonprofit Management Certificate ; Bioethics Certificate ; Innovation, Product Design, and Entrepreneurship Certificate ; Engineering for Humanity Certificate ; Sustainability Certificate ; Human Rights and Social Justice Certificate ; Global Health Certificate ; Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Minor  (NOTE: Only for students admitted to the Honors Degree program prior to fall 2023); Pitt Business Honors Program (NOTE: Only for students admitted to the Honors Degree program prior to fall 2024); Engineering Science ; Politics and Philosophy, BA ; and any additional course work beyond those used for the 6 credit experiential course work requirement. The 6 experiential credits may include courses with the Civic Learning + Engagement course attribute value, as well as academic research, independent study, study abroad, internships, or co-op programs, all of which require completed credits to appear on the transcript. In addition to the curricular requirements, students are required to complete the Honors Outside the Classroom Curriculum (Honors OCC) that provides non-credit enhanced experiences for honors students. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 upon graduation is required for completion of the Honors Degree program. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a degree/diploma jointly conferred by the David C. Frederick Honors College and their primary school/college of admission. Students admitted to the Honors Degree program in their first year will be granted priority access to the honors living learning community within the residence halls. Students who remain in good academic standing in the Honors Degree program will also be granted priority registration throughout their time as undergraduate students (priority registration for students admitted to the Honors Degree program as a first-year student begins with spring term enrollment).