Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the benefits of the Honors College?»
Q: How can I find out if I have been accepted into the Honors College?»
Q: What is the Honors College Living Learning Community (LLC)?»
Q: What are the benefits of the LLC?»
Q: Is it possible to participate in the LLC activities without living in the LLC?»
Q: Where are students in the LLC housed?»
Q: What are some additional features of the Honors College?»
Q: What is the University Scholars Program?»
Q: What are general education requirements (gen. ed.), and how does the Honors Curriculum satisfy them?»
Q: What GPA do I need to stay in the Honors College?»
Q: What are the LASS and STEM tracks?»
Q: How do I sign up for the honors section of a course on the STEM track?»
Q: How do AP/IB scores and dual-enrollment courses work for the Honors Curriculum?»
Q: What about AP/IB scores and dual-enrollment courses for STEM track courses?»
Q: Who is my Advisor?»
Q: How do I make an appointment to meet with an Advisor?»
Q: I am leaving the Honors College without completing the curriculum. What is your recommendation for transferring credits?»
Q: What are the hours of the Honors College Study Lounge and offices?»
Q: Where are the Honors College Offices and Study Lounge located?»
A: Benefits provided by the Honors College include:
- Challenging courses in the Honors Curriculum which fulfill core academic requirements at Mason
- Small classes taught by senior faculty
- Participation in a diverse living learning community
- Individualized academic advising and priority registration opportunities for close interaction with faculty for one-on-one mentoring and graduate & professional advising
- Participation in the Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program
- Opportunities to apply for Honors College study abroad and other Honors College scholarships
- Guidance in pursuing postgraduate fellowship and scholarship opportunities
- Access to Washington, D.C. for internships and cultural activities
- Special lectures, events, and field trips
- Participation in the University Scholars Program for a select group of students
A: The Admissions office at Mason sends out the acceptance letters for the Honors College. To check on your status, call the Admissions office at 703.993.2400 and ask to speak with a counselor.
A: All Honors College students taking the Curriculum, including those selected as University Scholars, receive priority housing and the opportunity to live in the Honors College LLC, which provides living, learning, and recreational space designed to foster the development of community among Honors College students. Under the leadership of the Honors College LLC Coordinator and the Director of University Scholars, students who choose to take advantage of the LLC are given opportunities to participate in activities organized by the Honors College and plan extra- and co-curricular activities both on campus and within the larger community. Each floor in the LLC has a Resident Advisor (RA) to help plan activities and assist students in their transition to life at Mason. One area is specifically designated for University Scholars. For more information go to Honors College LLC website.
A: The benefits on the Honors LLC are:
- Living with other Honors College students
- Many students take the same courses
- Some classes held within the residence hall
- Special programming held for students in the halls
- Access to LLC Coordinator to help plan events and activities to meet the needs of residents
- Specially trained RA’s who have been part of the Honors College
- Access to a specially trained Resident Director and Area Coordinator
- Peer Mentors
- Four year LLC
A: All students are encouraged to live in the LLC, and most students choose to live there during their freshmen year. Although participation in the LLC is not required, all Honors College students are invited to participate in LLC events and activities.
A: The Freshman LLC will be housed in Eastern Shore which is a brand new building, featuring suite-style living in 16-person units. These clusters will be used to establish tight-knit communities of students and allow for special programming activities. Well-trained hall staff will plan events such as lectures with Mason faculty and outside experts, field trips, social gatherings, and other activities designed to help students successfully transition into their first year of college.
The LLC for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors will also be expanded this year with Sophomores living in Blue Ridge and Juniors and Seniors continuing to reside in Northern Neck. We will also further develop the activities offered to the upper level LLC by providing more opportunities to take on leadership roles within the LLC and Honors College in general and by preparing our students for life after college through career planning, graduate admissions workshops and specific social and networking opportunities.
A: The Postgraduate Scholarships and Fellowships Program provides advice and information to high-achieving Mason undergraduates and recent alumni about the application process for nationally competitive fellowships. Mason students have recently achieved significant success by being awarded the prestigious Marshall Scholarship, which fully funds the pursuit of a master’s degree at any university in the United Kingdom, and the Truman Scholarship, which provides juniors interested in public service careers with $30,000 of funding toward a graduate or professional degree, as well as leadership training and other opportunities in Washington, D.C. Additionally, several Mason students have received competitive Fulbright awards, which fund a year of research, study, or teaching in one of over 140 countries worldwide. For more information on these and other awards, go to: http://www.gmu.edu/student/fellowships.
The Undergraduate Apprenticeship Program provides a research stipend to a group of students who wish to work closely on a research or creative project with a faculty mentor of their choosing. In addition to working with a faculty mentor, students meet regularly as a group with the director of the program and a small group of like-minded peers to learn more about research and publication opportunities and preparing one’s research for presentation. They also learn more about applying to summer research programs across the country, as well as to competitive graduate and professional programs. Apprentices are provided with many opportunities to present their work at university-wide research events and at national undergraduate research conferences. These opportunities are open to the entire Mason community. The Postgraduate Scholarships and Fellowships Program and Undergraduate Apprenticeship Program are housed within the Honors College For more information, visit: http://uap.gmu.edu.
A: From among the candidates invited to be a part of the Honors College, a small cadre of approximately 25 of the most outstanding students are selected as University Scholars, Mason’s highest academic distinction. Students selected for this recognition are awarded the most competitive and distinguished four-year merit scholarship that Mason offers to undergraduate students.
This select group of students enjoys:
- Enhanced academic advising from Honors College faculty to meet their specific needs
- Opportunities for educational experiences beyond the classroom, including exposure to an environment that facilitates academic and social interaction with other Scholars at all levels, including a dedicated study lounge reserved for University Scholars
- A devoted staff of mentors who provide guidance, encouragement, support, and opportunities for the development of practical and effective leadership skills, community involvement, educational interests, personal growth, and professional aspirations
- Participation in programs that promote public service opportunities, campus-wide programming, and civic engagements
- An active role in building a community that jointly supports the goals of all Scholars and Honors College students in a designated area in the Honors College Living Learning Community
A: To receive a degree at George Mason University all students must complete a set of core academic requirements (known at Mason as General Education requirements), as well as courses required in their major. General Education requirements ensure that students are introduced to a broad range of subjects that contribute to a liberal education, and provide instruction in writing and research skills that will enhance success in any field. By completing the Honors curriculum, students satisfy the University’s humanities and social science general education requirements through five specially designed HNRS courses, called the Core courses. There is also a math requirement and a two-semester lab science requirement. AP/IB credits may substitute for some of these courses (see below). There are additional requirements depending on the type of degree and major.
A: To receive Honors in General Education on their transcript, students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.00 in HNRS courses and supporting courses required for their approved Honors Curriculum. Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.00 may complete the program but will not receive Honors recognition on their transcripts.
A: Within the Honors Curriculum, students have a choice of two tracks, determined by their majors and degrees. Each track consists of an additional two courses, beyond the Core Honors courses. Those pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree have further general education requirements which are satisfied through our LASS track (Liberal Arts and Social Science). Hence, BA students should choose the LASS track.
Students in a BS degree program may choose either track. To satisfy the STEM track requirements, students take at least two sections of department- and Honors College designated Honors courses.
A: To sign up for the Honors section of a course on the STEM track, email Ms. Anderson (handers4@gmu.edu) with your g-number and the CRN of the course and lab, when applicable, to request registration. Make sure there is space in the lab you have selected before sending an email registration request. Students are signed up for these courses on a first-come, first-served basis.
A: George Mason University awards credit for many AP and IB exams. Once you take an AP/IB exam or complete a dual-enrollment course you need to have the results/transcripts sent to the Admissions Office at Mason. The required scores for which credit is awarded can be viewed on the Admission web page (admissions.gmu.edu/exams). Any exam for which you received a high enough score will show up on your Mason transcript as college credit, as will any course you have completed before you attend Mason. Students who have achieved the required exam scores may substitute many of their exams for Honors Curriculum courses. Exams that are not used for Honors Program requirements will be used for major, minor, or elective requirements. The entire Honors Curriculum, with the exception of two courses, HNRS 110: Research Methods and HNRS 353: Technology in the Contemporary World, has AP and/or IB exam equivalents.
Once credit at Mason is given for AP/IB exams or dual-enrollment courses, those credits can be used to fulfill requirements at Mason, either in a major (or minor), or for your Honors Curriculum requirements. Those courses that do not fulfill specific requirements will be used toward the 120 credits that are required to graduate.
For example, if you receive a 4 on the AP Environmental Science exam, the Admissions Office will give you credit for EVPP 110 and 111, an eight-credit lab science course. The Honors Curriculum will use those courses to fulfill your lab science course requirement. Also, if you receive a 5 on the AP United States History exam, the Admissions Office will give you credit for HIST 121 and 122. HIST 121 can be used to substitute for HNRS 240: Reading the Past. HIST 122, however, cannot be used by the Honors Curriculum, or for any regular general education requirements, since you will have already fulfilled your general education history requirement with HIST 121. The three credits you received for HIST 122 could possibly be used in your major. If they cannot be used in your major they will be applied as elective credits toward the 120 credits that are required to graduate.
Honors Course Substitutions:
| HNRS Course | AP/IB Exams Required |
| HNRS 110 | All Honors Program students are required to take HNRS 110 |
| HNRS 122 |
|
| HNRS 125 | Calculus AB or BC |
| HNRS 130 |
|
| HNRS 131 |
And one of the following:
|
| HNRS 227 |
|
| HNRS 227 HNRS 228 |
|
| HNRS 230 | One of the following:
|
| HNRS 240 |
|
| HNRS 353 | All Honors Program students are required to take HNRS 353 |
A: Once Mason course credit has been awarded for your AP/IB exams and dual-enrollment courses, Honors will award a substitution for at most one STEM honors section. The Honors Curriculum requires all honors students who choose the STEM track to take at least one STEM honors section. If you have received credit for all STEM track sections appropriate to your major, contact Dr. Alligood (alligood@gmu.edu).
A: If you are pursing a Bachelors of Science or a Bachelors of Arts in a STEM degree, your advisor is Dr. Alligood.
If you are pursing a Bachelors of Arts, your advisor is Ms. Anderson.
If you are undecided or interested in pursing a degree in English, your advisor is Dr. Burr.
A: If you would like to make an appointment with your advisor, call the office (703-993-1110) directly to set-up a time for advising.
A: Recommendations for course transfers are:
LASS Track Transfer Guide
| General Education Requirements | Honors Courses |
| Written Communication (lower, ENGL 101) | HNRS 110 (must earn a C or better) |
| Written Communication (upper, ENGL 302) | HNRS 353 (must earn a C or better) |
| Oral Communication | HNRS 110, 122, and 353 |
| Information Technology | HNRS 110 and 353 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | HNRS 125 |
| Literature | HNRS 131 or 230 |
| Fine Arts | HNRS 122 |
| History | HNRS 240 |
| Social and Behavioral Science | HNRS 131 and 230 * |
| Global Understanding | HNRS 131 * |
| Philosophy and Religion | HNRS 130 |
| Non-Western | HNRS 230 * |
| Natural Science | HNRS 227 and 228 |
| Synthesis | HNRS 353 |
*A student who leaves the program before completion must select one of these courses to fulfill the requirement. An Honors course in this category may fulfill only one university general education requirement.
STEM Track Transfer Guide
| General Education Requirements | Honors Courses |
| Written Communication (lower, ENGL 101) | HNRS 110 (must earn a C or better) |
| Written Communication (upper, ENGL 302) | HNRS 353 (must earn a C or better) |
| Oral Communication | HNRS 110, 122, and 353 |
| Information Technology | HNRS 110 and 353 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | HNRS 125 |
| Literature | HNRS 131 or 230 |
| Fine Arts | HNRS 122 |
| History | HNRS 240 |
| Social and Behavioral Science | HNRS 131 and 230 * |
| Global Understanding | HNRS 131 * |
| Non-Western | HNRS 230 * |
| Natural Science | Honors Approved Lab Science Sequence |
| Synthesis | HNRS 353 |
*A student who leaves the program before completion must select one of these courses to fulfill the requirement. An Honors course in this category may fulfill only one university general education requirement.
A: Honors College Study Lounge Hours (during fall and spring semesters):
Monday – Thursday 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM
Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Sunday 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
(closed on Saturdays)
Honors College Study Lounge Hours (outside of fall and spring semesters):
Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
The Study Lounge will be close 12/23/2011 through 1/2/2012 for the holiday season.
Honors College Office Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
The Office will be closed 12/24 through 1/3/10 for the holiday season.
A: They are located on the 3rd floor of Enterprise Hall.
Study Lounge: Room 300 and Office: Room 302
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