Frequently Asked Questions

Mercer offers a unique honors program that focuses on supporting each student’s development over the course of their four years at Mercer to prepare them for a career that will change the world.

Honors programs at most universities either allow students to take required general education classes in smaller sections taught by full-time faculty members as opposed to taking them in large lecture classes with discussion sections led by teaching assistants, or they require students to complete an additional set of content courses that enrich their learning over and above their major and minor requirements. At Mercer, nearly all courses are taught in smaller classes with full-time faculty members, so the first version is unnecessary. Similarly, at Mercer, all students participate in engaged learning programs that allow them to apply their learning in real-world contexts, so the second version is also unnecessary. Mercer Honors, instead, provides a series of courses that enhance student development to build a trajectory of achievement.

Mercer Honors students follow one of two tracks. Most students follow the university honors curriculum. In the first year of the university honors program, students develop the skills to thrive in college and to maximize their engaged learning experiences. In the second year, they craft their personal mission statement, and in the third year, they explore their research interests. In their last year, they develop their plans for life after graduation and prepare the materials they need to apply for their next opportunity. Students also complete an engaged learning pathway that allows them to apply their learning through research, service, internship experience, international study, or postgraduate fellowships.

Students in the School of Engineering follow the engineering honors curriculum. First-year engineering honors students learn research design techniques, and second-year students develop their skills through service-based design projects. Third-year and fourth-year students work with faculty members on research-based design projects.

Students in Mercer Honors receive several tangible and intangible benefits. Honors students receive priority registration in their first year, they receive enhanced advising for fellowships and scholarships, and they are eligible for honors global education grants and consideration for Stamps scholarships.

They are also part of a dynamic community of high-achieving students. They are paired with a mentor in the honors program, and they develop networks of support that help them identify and pursue developmental opportunities and leadership programs.

Students in Mercer Honors maintain high grades, and they are more likely to be involved in research projects, to study abroad, and to apply for fellowship programs. They are also highly prepared for post-graduate opportunities.

Graduating with university honors signals to graduate and professional schools or prospective employers that a student has developed a set of valuable skills, has a trajectory of high achievement, and has a vision for how they will change the world.

Students who apply for admission to Mercer University before the priority scholarship deadline are considered for the university honors program and the engineering honors program. Eligible admitted students will answer an additional application question to indicate their interest in Mercer Honors. A select number of students who show exceptional merit will be invited to interview for competitive scholarships during Presidential Scholars Weekend, and some students who interview will be accepted into the first-year honors experience for university honors or engineering honors.

High-achieving students may apply to join Mercer Honors after their first year of enrollment. Students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will be invited to apply, and the application will take into consideration the applicant’s academic excellence, record of engagement and leadership, and trajectory of achievement.

Transfer students are considered through the admission office. They will be expected to submit a resume and personal statement, and they will be required to complete three years of honors coursework before graduation.

Students who show exceptional merit are invited into the first-year honors experience for university honors or engineering honors.

Students in the first-year honors experience take HON 114. Foundations for Success in the fall. This course prepares them to thrive in college by building a community with other high-achieving students, developing advanced study skills and time management techniques, and learning to manage the challenges of college. In the spring, students in the first-year honors experience take HON 115. Engaged Learning Programs, where they learn about the array of available programs to enhance their education and develop a four-year engaged learning development plan.

Students who complete the first-year honors experience and students who are admitted to university honors after their first year take a sequence of honors classes over the next three years. In the fall of their second year, they take HON 200. Service and Leadership. In this class, they discuss the ethics and challenges of leadership, talk with experienced professionals, and develop their personal mission statements. In the spring of their third year, they take HON 300. Research and Inquiry, and they learn about the transdisciplinary process of knowledge creation and refine their research interests. In the fall of their fourth year, they take HON 400. Mission and Vocation, which allows them to align their personal missions and research interests with their career plans and to prepare materials to apply for the next step in their development after graduation. Students also complete an engaged learning pathway that enhances their learning experience.

Students admitted to engineering honors take EGR 101 and EGR 102 in their first year, which exposes them to areas of faculty research and design techniques. They take EGR 201 and 202 in the second year, and they begin to develop a research or design project and learn how to generate research posters and presentations. In their third year, they take EGR 301 and 302, and they begin working in a faculty member’s lab on a research or design project. They take EGR 401 and 402 in their fourth year and complete and present a research or design project.

Students who are enrolled in accelerated programs can complete the university honors curriculum in three years by taking HON 200 in the fall of their second year, HON 300 in the spring of their second year, and HON 400 in the fall of their third year. They will be required to complete an engaged learning pathway.

Generally, however, attempting to complete the program in less than four years is discouraged. The curricula for both university honors and engineering honors are designed for four years to allow time for the students’ intellectual growth and personal development.

The engaged learning pathway allows university honors students to participate in an experience that enhances their skill development through undergraduate research, service learning, international study, internship experience, or application for a postgraduate fellowship. After completing the pathway, each student shares their experience by giving a presentation at BEAR Day or another appropriate venue. Once the student declares for graduation, they will be asked to complete a reflection on their engaged learning pathway.

Engineering honors students satisfy the engaged learning pathway through their research design project.

Mercer Honors students are eligible to apply for honors global education grants to use for Mercer On Mission or faculty-led summer programs in the summer of the second, third, or fourth year. The grants subsidize student participation in the programs and can be used in addition to other forms of state and federal financial assistance to reduce the cost of these transformational experiences. Applications are made available at the beginning of spring semester. Special consideration will be given to students receiving Pell grants who have also applied for Gilman scholarships and to students who have been unable to participate in international programs.

Mercer Honors students in their second year are eligible for consideration for Stamps walk-on scholarships, which cover the full cost of attendance plus up to $8000 in enrichment funds. Mercer Honors students are automatically considered based on their academic excellence, engaged learning and leadership experiences, trajectory of achievement, and personal mission.

Graduating with university honors is a major distinction, and it merits significant recognition. Students who graduate with university honors wear a distinctive hood at commencement, their honors are announced when they are called across the stage at commencement, and they are listed in the commencement program. University honors is also printed on the student’s diploma and on their academic transcript.

University honors is a special designation, and only students who complete the curriculum receive the recognition. There are, however, three others ways to receive honors recognition for exceeding graduation requirements. Students with high grade point averages will receive Latin honors: cum laude for at least 3.5, magna cum laude for at least 3.7, and summa cum laude for at least 3.85. Students who complete thesis requirements in one of their majors will receive honors in their discipline. Students who meet certain academic requirements may be invited to join an academic honor society, such as Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, or Tau Beta Pi.