honors college
Maggie McCafferty ‘24, ‘25
Bioengineering
Physics major, Zachary Pereira ‘25 , outside the Hirshfeld-Dowd Observatory located on campus.
20 maximum number of students in an honors class
1:1 student-to-faculty research ratio
Innovative Thinking
Honors College students push the boundaries of the known. We advance beyond learning facts to understanding, evaluating, and discovering them.
Our Honors College will immerse you in a vibrant and innovative learning environment that engages and challenges academically talented students across all majors. We offer our honors students extraordinary learning experiences in the classroom and through independent research and extracurricular activities.
As part of the Honors College, you will benefit by getting more out of your major and preparing for the future, whether you are interested in graduate school or a career in the rapidly changing job market.
Honors doesn’t mean more work— it means different work. First-year seminars, small group discussions, collaborative projects, and enrichment opportunities prepare honors students to thrive in their careers. Our curriculum encourages thought-provoking conversations among professors and classmates and helps you develop new ideas, a deeper understanding of material, and skills including critical thinking and the ability to apply knowledge broadly.
59 Honors College course sections
4.2 average incoming high school GPA
The most rewarding aspect of working with Honors students is witnessing their relentless curiosity, unwavering commitment to excellence, and their ability to transform challenges into opportunities for growth.”
Brian J. Ayotte Associate Professor of Psychology
25% of honors students are first-generation college students
Alejandra PonceLopez ‘24 Psychology
Enjoy special opportunities
• early registration for classes
• funding for research and conference travel
• mentoring, networking assistance & preparation for internships and career placement
• eligibility for Honors scholarships
• take graduate courses to fill Honors credits
• designated Honors College housing in Balsam & Spruce residence halls for first-years and junior & senior housing available for sophomores
• leadership roles on the Honors College Student Council
• free student-run movie nights, paint nights, Six Flags trip, apple picking, game nights, and more
• free admission to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Institute of Contemporary Art, RISD Museum in Providence & admission to regional theater performances
Take unique courses
• Friends with Benefits: Interpersonal Relationships and Health
• The U.S. Civil Rights Movement with a spring break trip to Alabama
• American Democracy in Crisis
• Making Sense of Transnational Terrorism
• Cryptids: An Honors College Podcast
• Health Myths
• What is Antisemitism?
• Early Christian Women Saints
My honors advisor made my college experience easier. She made sure that my course load was planned out and organized. Knowing I had all of my requirements fulfilled allowed me to pursue extra opportunities.”
Zoi Burns ‘24 Political Science
APEX project: DEI pilot mentorship program outline for Pine Street Inn
Discipline-specific opportunities
Many of our programs offer distinct benefits for Honors students.
Pre-Law
• Honors-only course sequence in the Political Science Department
Honors students visited the Dexter Avenue Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where Martin Luther King lived and worked during the 1955 bus boycott. They are pictured with Wanda Battle (center), director of tour ministry.
• UMass Law partnership including permission to take classes at the Law School, and access to talks and events
• trips to Washington DC and Massachusetts government sites
Pre-Med/Health
• housing & meal funding for the Chan Medical School Baccalaureate MD Program Pathway
• physician shadowing experience and mentoring
Psychology
• Honors pathway through foundation courses
• guaranteed summer research funding in 4+1 Research MA program in first year
• enrichment opportunities such as visiting MIT accessibility engineering lab
Biology
• Honors pathway through freshman-sophomore sequence
• lab research placement and funding
You’ll make an impact
Research projects completed by Honors College students include:
• the impact of celebrity endorsements
• the effect of microplastics on zebrafish and possible risks for human development
• the relationship between resilience and positive outcomes in young adult friendships
• diagnostic methods in non-industrialized countries
• the production of materials to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and waste streams
Our Honors College students successfully compete for top jobs and admission to prestigious graduate schools.
• Quality Control Analyst at Thermo Fischer Scientific
• Member of the Boston Bruins marketing team
• PhD candidate at UMass Medical in the laboratory of Dr. Craig Mello, a Nobel prize winner
• Physican’s Assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
• Quantitative Research Associate at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute
• Associate Director, Regulatory Affairs at CRISPR Therapeutics in Boston
• Research technician at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Enrolled in graduate schools at Bentley MBA program, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Northeastern, JD program at Roger WIlliams University, West Virginia University, and more
• Awarded the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Marshall Scholarship, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, and the Michael S. Dukakis Internship in Public Service
Admission to the Honors College
You will automatically be evaluated for admission to the Honors College based on your application to UMass Dartmouth. Criteria includes:
• minimum GPA of 3.5
• SAT 1200/ACT 25*
• evidence of engaged learning and ambition, such as AP courses *Scores are optional, not required.
Honors College graduation requirements
• Complete at least 24 honors credits (built into your program of study, requiring no extra credits or time to your degree).
• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.2.
• Earn a B or better in honors courses.
• Complete the final Academic Project or Experience (APEX).
The APEX experience changed what I expected out of school. There was a butterfly effect of going from a student who went to class and work to someone who was much more involved. It led to a ton of valuable connections and experiences.”
Jordan Tavares ‘24
Marketing
APEX project: Marketing Internship in an Offshore Wind Stakeholder Start-Up
umassd.edu/honors
Professor Ziddi Msangi assisting Monika Kristjansdottir ‘25 , Graphic Design (major), Fashion (minor) on a project.
Arts & Sciences
Biology
– Cell and Molecular Biology*
– Conservation Biology*
– Ecology and Evolutionary Biology*
– Marine Biology*
Chemistry
– Biochemistry*
Communication
Crime & Justice Studies
– Pre-Law*
Data Science (interdisciplinary)
Economics
English
– Creative & Professional Writing*
– Literature & Criticism*
Health and Society
Healthcare Administration
History
Liberal Arts
Mathematics
– Applied and Computational Mathematics*
– Applied Statistics*
Bioengineering
– Biomedical Engineering*
Civil Engineering
– Environmental Resources Engineering*
Computer Engineering
– Cybersecurity*
Computer Science
– Artificial Intelligence*
– Cybersecurity*
– Game Design*
– Software Engineering*
Data Science (interdisciplinary)
Electrical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
– Energy*
– Manufacturing*
Physics
– Astronomy/Astrophysics*
– Computational Physics*
Minor only
Engineering programs
Multidisciplinary Studies
Philosophy
– Pre-Law*
Political Science
– International Politics*
– Pre-Law*
Portuguese
Psychology
Public Administration
Sociology and Anthropology
Spanish
Women’s and Gender Studies
Minor only
Aging & Health
Applied Ethics
Black Studies
Data Analytics
French
Leadership & Civic Engagement
Legal Studies
Religious Studies
Sustainability
Urban Studies
Writing, Rhetoric & Communication
Business
Accounting
Finance
General Business Administration (transfers only)
Human Resources Management
Management
– Entrepreneurship*
– General Management*
Management Information Systems
– E-commerce/Digital Business*
– Technology & Management*
Marketing
Operations Management
– Business Analytics*
– Service Operation Management*
– Supply Chain Management*
Minor only
Business Administration
International Business
Mobile Applications Development
Nursing & Health Sciences
Medical Laboratory Science
Nursing
Minor only
Global Health
Visual & Performing Arts
Animation + Game Arts
Art Education
Art History
Fashion Design
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interior Architecture + Design
Music
Music Education
Music Performance
Photography
Studio Art + the Expanded Field
Minor only
Ceramics
Drawing
Film + Media Studies
Fine Arts
Jewelry + Metals
Painting
Printmaking
Sculpture
Textiles + Fiber Arts
Still can’t decide?
You can apply to UMassD without declaring a major.
Arts & Sciences Undeclared
Business Undeclared
Engineering Undeclared
Studio Arts Undeclared
*concentration/option