Chancellor’s Honors Program

Dr. Pat Akos, Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director

Dr. Francis Canedo, Director

https://studentsuccess.utk.edu/honors/

The Chancellor’s Honors Program is the university’s largest interdisciplinary honors program. Through a dedicated first-year honors seminar and honors composition coursework, strategic pursuit of honors courses offered by academic departments across the university, and completion of a faculty-mentored honors capstone project, the Chancellor’s Honors Program offers a dynamic academic environment for UT students with outstanding potential to benefit from and contribute to a community of undergraduate scholars. Chancellor’s Honors students also participate with the larger campus community through engagement in leadership and service projects, intercultural and international experiences, internships, and research.

Eligibility

The Chancellor’s Honors Program is available to entering first-year students. High school seniors with superior academic and extracurricular credentials are invited to apply. Current first- and second-semester students, as well as qualified transfer students, are eligible to apply for membership.

Curricular Requirements

Similar to the university’s Volunteer Core curriculum, which requires students to complete coursework from among several contemporary thematic categories, the Chancellor’s Honors Program curricular requirements encourage students to pursue an array of honors coursework that broadens their understanding within and beyond their chosen majors.

University Honors Induction

• UNHO 101 : Honors First-Year seminar (1 hour)

College/Departmental Honors Courses

• Five honors courses (15+ hours) selected from at least three of the following categories:
  • Artistic Expression and Humanistic Thought
  • Behavioral, Social, and Communication Sciences
  • Natural Sciences
  • Human Cultures and Civilizations
  • Logic, Mathematics, and Quantitative Reasoning
    • A complete, up-to-date list of honors courses by category is maintained on the University Honors website (https://honors.utk.edu/honors-courses/).

Communication Enhancement

• One Vol Core approved Honors Written Communication course¹ (3 hours)

Capstone Requirement

• UNHO 497 : Honors Capstone (3 hours req; variable credit and repeatable) or approved equivalent. 

TOTAL: 22+ credit hours of Honors coursework

Chancellor’s Honors students are also encouraged and supported to deepen their Honors experience by participating fully in campus life, serving the community, and pursing experiential learning opportunities, such as internships, research, and study abroad. Chancellor’s Honors students are also encouraged to participate in one or more of the University of Tennessee’s many specialized college or departmental honors programs.

Chancellor’s Honors students are expected to make timely progress towards honors graduation while maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5. Students not meeting expectations will be required to complete supplemental academic coaching and support with University Honors staff.

In recognition of their exceptional academic achievement, Chancellor’s Honors students receive special graduation accolades.

1	Students will complete at least one honors English WC course using pathways designated by first-year composition.