General Honors
Explore Our General Honors Track
The main purpose of General Honors is to broaden the student’s intellectual perspectives. To this end, students are encouraged to take Honors courses in as many different areas of study as possible.
Members of the Honors College must take and complete at least one Honors course each fall and spring semester. Students are encouraged to register for their Honors class or classes during priority registration, but will not be dropped from the Honors College until after the last day to add a class for the semester. At that time students must have an Honors class or an approved exemption to the policy in their honors student file.
For a full list of Honors course offerings, please check the iROAR registration system. Students are advised to contact their Honors advisor if they are unclear with which group a course will satisfy or have other questions.
Basic Policies
Most of the courses students will take for General Honors are 1000-2000 level courses that satisfy the University’s General Education requirements or serve as introductory courses in a student’s major. It is permissible for 3000-4000 level courses to be taken for General Honors; however, 1000- and 2000-level honors courses may not be applied toward the requirements of Departmental Honors.
Typically, students take most of their General Honors courses during the first and second years, although many students enroll in General Honors courses as juniors and seniors.
Honors courses can be counted towards either General Honors or Departmental Honors but not for both General and Departmental Honors.
Students should follow the Honors College Student Handbook that corresponds to their academic catalog year as recorded by the University. Find the Handbook for your academic catalog year.
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Eligibility
All Honors students are enrolled into the General Honors program upon admission.
Applications from students currently enrolled at Clemson who are not members of the Honors College are accepted during both the fall and spring semesters. To be eligible for admission, current students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher by the end of the semester in which they apply.
Learn more about how to apply to Clemson Honors as an enrolled Clemson student.
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Requirements for Catalog Years Before 2022-2023
General Honors Requirements
To be awarded the Certificate of Achievement in General Honors, the following requirements must be satisfied:
- Completion of a minimum of 18 Honors credit hours from three or more groups, at least three hours from three or more groups (see below), and at least three hours in each of three or more subjects (e.g., MATH).
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or higher on all coursework taken at Clemson (non-honors as well as honors courses).
- A grade of A or B in all courses taken to fulfill the requirements of General Honors.
- Completion of all University requirements for graduation.
Group A: Communication
Courses that satisfy Group A: Composition and Communication, include Honors courses or Honors sections of courses listed in the Undergraduate Catalog under General Education Coursework A.
All Communication (COMM) courses will satisfy Group A unless otherwise categorized under another General Education Requirement in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Group B: Mathematical, Scientific and Technological Literacy & Engineering
Courses that satisfy Group B: Mathematical, Scientific and Technological Literacy & Engineering, include Honors courses or Honors sections of courses listed in the Undergraduate Catalog under General Education Coursework B.
All Engineering (ENGR) Honors courses will satisfy Group B unless otherwise categorized under another General Education Requirement in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Group C: Arts and Humanities
Courses that satisfy Group C: Arts and Humanities, include Honors courses or Honors sections of courses listed in the Undergraduate Catalog under General Education Coursework C.
Group D: Social Science
Courses that satisfy Group D: Social Sciences, include Honors courses or Honors sections of courses listed in the Undergraduate Catalog under General Education Coursework D.
Group E: Cross Cultural Awareness
Courses that satisfy Group E: Cross Cultural Awareness, include Honors courses or Honors sections of courses listed in the Undergraduate Catalog under General Education Coursework E.
Group F: Science and Technology in Society
Courses that satisfy Group F: Science and Technology in Society, include Honors courses or Honors sections of courses listed in the Undergraduate Catalog under General Education Coursework F.
Group G: Other
Honors courses typically fall into this group if they cannot easily be categorized into Groups A-F (i.e., business, education, PRTM-related courses).
If you are unsure of what group a course would satisfy, please reach out to your Honors advisor for clarification.
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Requirements for Catalog Years Starting 2022-2023
General Honors Requirements
Starting in Catalog Year 2022-23, in order to be awarded the Certificate of Achievement in General Honors, the following requirements must be satisfied:
- Completion of a minimum of 18 Honors credit hours from three or more subjects (e.g., ENGL, MATH), at least 3 credit hours of which must be HON-prefixed courses (e.g., HON 1900).
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or higher on all coursework taken at Clemson (non-honors as well as honors courses).
- A grade of A or B in all courses taken to fulfill the requirements of General Honors.
- Completion of all University requirements for graduation.
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Find Out More
Speak to an Honors advisor for more information.
“Participating in the General Honors program was one of the best decisions I’ve made at Clemson. It was great to start my freshman year in classes with like-minded, driven students. The classes gave me many opportunities to think critically and helped me prepare for the rigor of my upper-level engineering coursework. ”
Ashley BabinchakHonors College Alumna ('22)Bioengineering Major
