Sophomore Honors Award

The Sophomore Honors Award (SHA) recognizes outstanding student achievement and engagement within the LSA Honors Program within one’s first two years as an undergraduate. It incorporates participation in Honors Core Curriculum, Honors engagement activities, and GPA. All recipients are recognized by the director at the time they receive the award, as well as being acknowledged at the time of their graduation. The award carries no monetary value; it is a validation of one’s successful pursuit of a rigorous and well-rounded undergraduate experience from the beginning of undergraduate study through sophomore year.

You may copy and paste all or parts of the above paragraph into your resume/c.v., cover letter, personal statement, or other application materials.

Tracking Engagement Points and Applying for the Award

Award Requirements effective for incoming Fall 2022 cohort and subsequent cohorts

Standard Requirements:

The Sophomore Honors Award recognizes students who have:

1. Taken at least two (2) Honors Core courses, one of which must be an Honors Core First-year Writing Requirement Course (FYWR)
2. Earned at least 24 engagement points
a. Maximum of 12 points may come from research or co-curricular activities
i. Maximum of 6 research points (independent research earns 2 points per semester)
ii. Maximum of 6 engagement/co-curricular activity points
b. There is no cap on the number of points earned through curricular engagement
i. Honors Core Courses (inclusive of #1 above)
ii. Departmental Honors courses or Honors sections of departmental courses
iii. Honors Conversions
iv. Advanced courses (e.g., 300- or 400-level courses, or other specially-designated courses; see GradeCraft point tracker for specific details)
3. Taken no more than one optional P/F course (this does not include courses graded on a Credit/No Credit basis)
4. Earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.4.

Points may be earned through the end of winter term in one’s second year. You should log points in GradeCraft (information will be provided to you about using GradeCraft for this purpose). Applications for the Sophomore Honors Award are due May 30, and award announcements will be made by or at the beginning of fall semester.

Award Requirements effective Summer 2019 to Winter 2022

Covid SHA amendments for students admitted summer 2019, fall 2019, winter 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020:

1. P grades for winter 2020, spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, winter 2021, spring 2021, and summer 2021 are acceptable and will not impact your eligibility for the SHA.

2. Honors has waived the requirement that you take an average of 14 credits per term across fall and winter terms.

3. The number and type of Core courses required for SHA and SHA with distinction eligibility still apply:

a. Three Core in at least two distribution areas for SHA and SHA with distinction

b. Honors has WAIVED the requirement of three Core in at least three distribution areas for SHA with distinction.

4. The GPA minimum requirements for the SHA and the SHA with distinction still apply:

a. SHA: minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA.

b. SHA with distinction: minimum 3.7 GPA.

5. The minimum number of Engagement Points required for SHA eligibility (both levels of the award) still applies: 30 points.

For students admitted summer 2021 and fall 2021:

1. No elective P/F grades.

2. Honors has waived the requirement that you take an average of 14 credits per term across fall and winter terms.

3. The number and type of Core courses required for SHA and SHA with distinction eligibility still apply:

a. Three Core in at least two distribution areas for SHA and SHA with Distinction.

b. Honors has WAIVED the requirement of at least three Core in at least three distribution areas for SHA with distinction.

4. The GPA minimum requirements for the SHA and the SHA with distinction still apply:

a. SHA: minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA.

b. SHA with distinction: minimum 3.7 GPA.

5. The minimum number of Engagement Points required for SHA eligibility (both levels of the award) still applies: 30 points.

Are you a joint student with the Residential College or another U-M School or College?

Were you admitted to LSA Honors after your first term?
Are you a transfer student from another university or U-M college or school?

If any of the above applies to you, check your admissions letter or contact your advisor regarding specific award criteria and the timeline for meeting award requirements.

If none of the above applies to you, determine when to apply as follows:

Regular summer and fall admission 2019: apply end of summer 2021
Regular summer and fall admission 2020: apply end of summer 2022
Regular summer and fall admission 2021: apply end of summer 2023
Regular summer and fall admission 2022: apply end of winter by May 30, 2024

Looking for engagement points opportunities outside the Honors Core? Click here.