Course Requirements

Honors Lecture Course Requirement

Honors lecture courses are provided to be a substitute for university and COAS course requirements as mentioned above; therefore, if you have already fulfilled a required course(s), you should not retake the honors equivalent. Example: If you have taken philosophy, you have fulfilled your requirement and should not register for Representative Thinkers, the honors equivalent.

Overall, freshmen honors students should complete 25 credit hours of honors lecture courses, and sophomores should complete 13 credit hours before graduation.  (This is the case with most majors, but a notable exception is Biology. Most Biology majors will be able to fit only their first semester English Writing course, listed below, into their fall schedules.)  

Directed Readings and Senior Thesis Courses

Beginning your sophomore year, in conjunction with other honors courses you will be enrolled in, you should start registering for mandatory Directed Readings courses. Depending on department offerings, you should take one Directed Readings a year in either the fall or spring semester.

Be mindful that every academic year, you should take at minimum one Directed Readings course (listed under your major department by classification) and one honors lecture of your choice based upon your departmental requirements found on your major scheme.

Directed Readings are designed to help you develop your thesis. The thesis and Directed Readings are mandatory requirements for graduating from the program. These courses should be taken sequentially during your sophomore, junior and senior years. Take advantage of these courses and the three years to develop your thesis due your last semester before graduating from Howard University. 

Change of Major and Honors Program Enrollment
Students who change their major after enrolling in the Honors Program must receive approval from the respective department to remain in the program. This practice is necessary due to limited departmental capacity for providing personalized thesis advising and mentorship. Students are encouraged to consult both the Honors Program and the department before finalizing a change of major. Please note that this requirement is not a reflection of academic standing, but rather ensures that all honors students receive the individualized support necessary for the successful completion of the program.