Williams Honors College

Selective Admission

Students who have been accepted to The University of Akron, who are pursuing a bachelor's program as a full-time student, and who meet the Williams Honors College criteria may apply separately for admission to the Williams Honors College. A student may be admitted to the Williams Honors College upon graduation from high school, upon transfer from another college or university, or as a continuing student at The University of Akron.

The selective admission is based on a holistic review of each applicant’s file.  Submission of standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) is optional. Each applicant must file an application to the Williams Honors College in addition to applying to the University of Akron and must be pursuing a bachelor’s program.

First consideration will be given to students with the following academic credentials:

  • 3.50 GPA on a 4.00 scale
  • 27 ACT composite or 1280 SAT (total)

Other applicants, whether transfer students or continuing undergraduates, must satisfy the following:

  • Grade-point average of 3.6 or above
  • Completed fewer than 64 credits of college coursework

Honors Curriculum

Academic Majors

A Williams Honors College student completes the requirements for a major in one of the colleges awarding bachelor’s degrees and enrolls in select Honors classes. The Honors Research Project counts as advanced coursework.

Honors Distribution

In place of The University of Akron General Education requirements, a Williams Honors College student completes an individually selected set of courses to meet the Honors distribution. The Honors distribution consists of the following four group requirements totaling at least 25 credits:

The Humanities (Group I)

Six credits in courses offered below:

  • WMST: Women’s Studies
  • PAFS: Pan-African Studies (except PAFS:256)
  • CLAS: Classical Studies
  • HIST: World Civilizations
  • HIST: Humanities in the Western Tradition
  • HIST: History
  • PHIL: Philosophy (except PHIL:170)
  • ENGL: English (except ENGL:112 English Composition and ENGL:222 Technical Report Writing)
  • MUSIC: 351 & 352 Music History I & II
  • ART 100 & 101 Survey of History of Art I & II

 Writing, Languages, and the Arts (Group II)

Three credits of ENGL:112 English Composition- Honors or ENGL:222 Technical Report Writing; and three credits in NON-ENGLISH courses offered below:

  • ARAB: Arabic
  • CHIN: Chinese
  • JAPN: Japanese
  • FREN: French
  • GERM: German
  • ITAL: Italian
  • RUSS: Russian
  • SPAN: Spanish
  • LATN: Latin
  • ART: Art
  • MUSIC: Music (except MUSEN, MUSIC:351, MUSIC:352)
  • MUSAP: Applied Music Lessons
  • COMM: Communication
  • SLPA: Sign Language
  • THEA: Theatre
  • DNCE: Dance

The Social Sciences (Group III)

Six credits in courses offered below:

  • ILSD: Institute for Life-Span/Gerontology
  • ANTH: Anthropology (except ANTH:105)
  • ANTH: Archaeology
  • ECON: Economics
  • GOEG: Geography and Planning
  • POLIT: Political Science
  • PSYC: Psychology
  • SOCIO: Sociology
  • CRJU: Criminal Justice
  • SOWK 230 Human Relations
  • PAFS 256 Diversity in American Society

The Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Group IV)

Three credits in Mathematics, computer science, statistics, or PHIL:170; and four credits in natural science lab courses offered below:

  • BIOL: Biology
  • CHEM: Chemistry
  • ANTH:105 Human Evolution 
  • GEOL: Geology
  • MATH: Mathematics (135 or higher)
  • CPSC: Computer Science
  • STAT: Statistics
  • PHYS: Physics
  • PHIL:170 Introduction to Logic

Each student must complete at least 17 Honors credits of coursework prior to graduation. Students should select an Honors section of a course if an Honors section is offered. Suggested courses and special cases are noted on the Williams Honors College web page.

Honors Colloquia

All Williams Honors College students participate in the Honors Colloquium series: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural Sciences. These one-semester, three-credit courses are interdisciplinary seminars open only to Williams Honors College students.

HONOR:340Honors Colloquium: Social Science3
HONOR:350Honors Colloquium: Humanities3
HONOR:370Honors Colloquium: Natural Science3

Honors Research Project

Williams Honors College students are required to complete an Honors Research Project. This capstone of the WHC student’s academic and pre-professional studies begins with a choice of faculty adviser and submission of a proposal in the junior year. Students work intensively, with the guidance of a faculty sponsor, on a thesis, investigation, production, or problem of the student’s choice. In designing, completing, and reporting on their Honors Research Projects. The students have unique opportunities to apply their learning and test their abilities. Students should register for Honors Research Project course credit, totaling at least 2 credits but not more than 6 credits, in their major department.

Other Features

Scholarships

Students admitted to the Williams Honors College are eligible for academic scholarships awarded by the Office of Admissions, ranging from $1000 to $6000. The Lisle M. Buckingham/Orr Prestigious Scholarships, which provide tuition and general fees, room and board, for up to eight continual semesters, is awarded to students who are selected after an interview process.  

Advising

An Honors Faculty Adviser is available to advise Williams Honors College students in each academic department. With this Honors Faculty Adviser’s guidance, the student plans the Honors distribution and schedules what is needed to meet departmental, college, and Williams Honors College degree requirements. Professional Honors advisers are also available in the Williams Honors College office to assist with general academic advisement issues, personal and career counseling.

Priority in Registration and Residence Assignment

Williams Honors College students are among the first students to register for classes each semester. In addition, new Williams Honors College students have exclusive access to the Honors complex, which also houses the Williams Honors College offices, computer facilities, seminar, individual and group study rooms, and meeting spaces for the use of commuting WHC students.

Access to Graduate Courses

With the permission of the WHC Faculty Adviser and the graduate program instructor, a Williams Honors scholar may enroll in graduate courses for either undergraduate credit or up to 12 credits of graduate credit.

The Honors Advisory Council

Consisting of faculty representing the colleges granting the bachelor’s degree and the Dean of the Williams Honors College, the Honors Advisory Council is responsible for decisions on the definition of policies and procedures appropriate to the mission of the WHC.

Academic Standing in the Williams Honors College

A student's term GPA and cumulative GPA determine whether a student is in good academic standing in the College.  A student whose GPA falls below a 2.0 for any given term will be dismissed from the Honors College.  Otherwise, evaluation of status is updated at the end of each spring semester.  Students not in good academic standing in the College may be on placed on probation or suspension, or dismissed from the Williams Honors College.  Specific details on the process are found at Williams Honors College Retention (probation, suspension, and dismissal) policy.

Students are also subject to University of Akron probation and dismissal policies.

Requirements for Graduation as an Honors Scholar

  • Compliance with University requirements and major requirements
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher
  • Completion of all required Honors curriculum with a grade of "B" or higher.