Honors Requirements

The Honors Program is designed to enable seniors with demonstrated ability to undertake substantial independent work that culminates in a project of exceptionally high quality. Departments or programs that participate in the Honors Program have designed specific criteria and procedures for pursuing Honors work in their department or program. Departments and programs that have Honors programs are so indicated within their individual sections of the college catalog. Detailed information about the specific expectations of the individual departments or programs is available from the departments or programs themselves or from the Director of Academic Programs. The minimum cumulative grade point average established by the College for entrance into the Honors Program is 3.30; however, some departments or programs may require a higher grade point average. Students undertaking research projects with human participants are expected to comply with the guidelines established by Macalester’s Institutional Review Board 

Students expecting to apply for acceptance into the Honors Program should consult with their particular department or program early in their junior year as the official application deadlines are normally during the second semester of the student’s junior year.

Students pursuing an IDIM should work with their IDIM committee to describe the procedures to be followed as well as the type of project to be completed for an Honors project. This information should be included in the original proposal for the IDIM and will be examined as part of the review of the IDIM proposal.

Students in the Honors Program are invited to occasional special events and colloquia. Bound copies of the completed Honors projects are added to the library collection, and successful completion of an Honors project is noted on the student’s transcript following graduation.