BE INQUISITIVE. BE ENGAGED. BE A LEADER.
Mason’s Honors College prepares students to become global citizens and leaders. As an Honors College student, you’ll customize your academic path through engaging, hands-on learning opportunities that offer an individualized alternative to the Mason Core. The Honors College curriculum gives you more space and time to pursue additional majors, minors, research, internships, and interests. Through Honors College courses and organizations, you’ll develop lasting relationships with advisors and faculty who are dedicated to your success. You’ll also have the opportunity to live in our immersive Learning Community, jump-starting your college experience by quickly connecting you with new friends who will be by your side for the next four years.
FACE GREAT CHALLENGES. DISCOVER GREATER POSSIBILITIES.
As a Mason Honors College student, you’ll take part in an inquiry-driven curriculum where you learn by working collaboratively with peers and faculty to solve modern, pressing problems. You’ll evaluate evidence and consider perspectives that broaden your understanding and challenge your assumptions.
The curriculum incorporates experiential opportunities and Honors College sections of your major coursework, and you’ll fulfill your general education requirements through courses in the following areas:
Foundations: Learn methods for formulating, articulating, pursuing, and communicating research questions and findings.
Inquiry in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: Pursue thought-provoking questions about history, the arts, identity, and social issues.
Civic Engagement: Explore roles and responsibilities in society and identify and address issues of concern in your community, in the classroom, or through hands-on engagement.
Multidisciplinary Challenges: Address complex challenges through scholarly research or experiential learning.
ELIGIBILITY AND IMPORTANT DATES
The Honors College welcomes all academically motivated students to apply. Although selection is competitive, we take a holistic approach when reviewing applications, and each year’s applicant pool determines the standards for admission. But every year, the essential requirements are the same: curiosity and a desire to chase new experiences.
In addition to the regular Mason application requirements, if you apply for the Honors College:
- You must complete a supplemental essay (located within the general application)
- You are strongly encouraged to provide a letter of recommendation from a teacher
RESEARCH RIGHT NOW
Mason is one of only 146 schools in the country to hold the coveted Tier 1 Research University (R1) status given by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. You’ll become part of our research community during your first semester in the Honors College, diving into a guided project that will prepare you to apply successfully for grants, academic conferences, and research programs at Mason and elsewhere.
SEIZE SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Our Office of Fellowships works closely with highly driven undergraduates and recent alumni to help them find and apply for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Mason students have a long record of success, and have recently earned Beinecke, Goldwater, and Fulbright Scholarships, along with several U.S. Department of State awards such as the Critical Language Scholarship and the Boren, Pickering, and Rangel Fellowships.
EMBRACE YOUR AMBITION
Beginning in her Honors 110: Principles of Research and Inquiry course, Jasmine Okidi conducted a multiyear research project on the rhetoric of ecology and wetlands management in her native Kampala, Uganda. With support from her teachers; the Office of Student Scholarship, Creative Activities, and Research (OSCAR); and the Office of Fellowships, her hard work was rewarded with the Beinecke Scholarship, which will support her pursuit of a master’s degree in African studies at Cambridge University.
FIND YOUR COMMUNITY
Honors College students have the distinct advantage of developing close-knit relationships with each other and with senior faculty. This environment of connection and support increases access to the transformational opportunities that prepare students best for success after graduation.
HONORS COLLEGE STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM:
- Small, seminar-style classes capped at 25 students
- Priority class registration
- Individualized academic advising and mentorship
- Dedicated student support staff
- Mentorship opportunities and classes taught by preeminent experts in their fields
- Housing within the Honors College Learning Community
- Access to the Honors College Lounge
BECOME A UNIVERSITY SCHOLAR
Selected from among the most outstanding students invited to the Honors College, University Scholars are awarded the highest academic distinction Mason offers.
IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR BENEFITS OF THE COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS:
- Receive a scholarship covering the full cost of tuition over four years
- Have access to enhanced mentoring from the program director and faculty members
- Convene at interactive monthly meetings with guest speakers
- Take part in community-building retreats each summer
- Attend the University Scholars Institute during sophomore year and hear from academics and expert practitioners about a topic selected by the cohort