The Honors Program provides opportunities for gifted, talented and motivated students to pursue the enriching experiences in academics and research at UConn.    Students completing the program get an “Honors Scholar” designation on their final transcript, which can be helpful if you think you’ll be applying to grad schools or to jobs that value academic success.
To be eligible as an Honors Scholar in Marine Sciences you must have a total GPA of 3.4 or higher. Students who wish to become Honors Scholars need to be rising sophomore or rising junior and formally apply to the Honors Program at Storrs, including approval from the Honors Advisor in Marine Sciences (Claudia Koerting) and the Marine Sciences Department Head (Dr. Jim Edson).   By requiring departmental approval, the Honors Program (based at Storrs) seeks to ensure that departments will provide the student access to 12 credits of honors coursework (via honors courses, conversions, graduate courses or independent studies) and a faculty mentor who will work directly with the student for the student’s honors thesis.

Applicants for the Honors Program need to plan how they would fulfill Honors and departmental requirements in their major and get approval from Claudia Koerting for their “Honors Preliminary Plan of Study”.   Although some of these courses might change, this form documents how the student intends to meet the Honors Program graduation requirements.   Students also have a chance to discuss the specific departmental requirements and how they will meet them.   An “Honors Final Plan of Study” will be due from the student at the end of his/her next-to-last semester.

Rising Sophomore Application and Checklist- Minimum Criteria for Admission:

• Three years remaining in your program of study
• 24 credits/two semesters (taken at UConn or another institution of higher education)
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.4
• Sophomore Application Cover Page
• Essay A and Essay B
• Complete the top portion of the Faculty Evaluation Form and give it to the faculty member
• Unofficial Transcript from Student Admin System (Official copy from previous institution for transfer students)
• Due: early summer (check website for exact deadline)

Admission of sophomores to the Honors Program is based on space available

Rising Junior Application and Checklist-Minimum Criteria for Admission:

• Two years remaining in your program of study
• 54 credits/four semesters (taken at UConn or another institution of higher education)
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.4 at UConn or previous institution
• Junior Application Cover Page
• Essay A and Essay B
• Preliminary Plan of Study (now includes Departmental Consent form)
• Complete the top portion of the Faculty Evaluation Form and give it to the faculty member
• Unofficial Transcript from Student Admin System (Official copy from previous institution for transfer students)
• Due: Early applications by February or regular applications by June (check website for exact deadline)