Why the Davidson Honors College?
At the Davidson Honors College, we strive to combine the best of the ³Ô¹ÏÍø (think: research, D1 athletics, clubs, the great outdoors) with a highly engaging supportive, interdisciplinary community of scholars The DHC accepts talented, motivated students from all majors at UM and offers students like you the opportunity to make the most of your college experience.
Beatrix Frissell
Events and Community Building
If you were to ask our students or our faculty and staff what defines the DHC, most would say community. Professor LeBihan (Philosophy and Pre-Law) says "the DHC is an incredibly supportive and fun community. It's like a family away from home. The friends made here will likely last forever. They'll also likely provide a support network for whatever meaningful endeavors DHC students will get involved with over the course of their lives." DHC student Vivi says "When I walk into the DHC, I see people who make me smile – classmates and professors who ask about my day and genuinely care. They’re the best part of my honors experience." The DHC is unlikely to be your only community on campus, but it might just be your first and most enduring, giving you a solid foundation from which to explore majors, clubs, intramural teams, Greek life, service, and more.
The opportunities for you to forge your own community and find your reasons to smile abound and include early morning Friday hikes, a fall float trip, service projects, tea times, book clubs, and living and learning in Knowles Hall. Students have opportunities to make friends at our spaghetti suppers, trivia and open mic nights, to join student organizations like our Honors Student Association, Ambassadors, Student Advisory Council and Roots Music ensemble, and celebrate academic milestones with your peers and our DHC team. No matter what ways you choose to engage with your honors education, you’ll have opportunities to think deeply, work (and play) hard, build deep connections, have fun, and make meaning at the confluence of rivers, valleys and mountain ranges of beautiful western ³Ô¹ÏÍø.
Personalized Approach to Your Education
The honors curriculum provides students with flexible requirements that complement any major, minor, and/or certificate. Honors is a great way to take your academic interests to the next level based on your unique interests, ideas, and questions. Our smaller class sizes allow for seminar style, discussion-based experiences in the classroom. Our experiential learning requirement allows for enriching and transformative experiences outside the classroom. An honors education helps connect you to your aspirations and make meaning out of your experiences that will informs your path forward. Honors students in the DHC are encouraged to contemplate big questions, hone communication and critical thinking skills, develop strategies for collaboration and problem solving, and serve their communities with compassion. We empower interdisciplinary innovation and believe that when it comes to your education, the sky is the limit!
Honors Courses
We support a transformative academic experience for motivated students from all majors. Each semester, we offer more than 50 honors courses across campus. Some of these courses will satisfy general education or major requirements. These courses are capped at 20 students which allows our faculty to support your learning through innovative teaching methods and better engagement between and among your classmates. These small engaging classes that develop critical thinking, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and leadership skills.
All students must take a minimum of eight honors experiences and maintain a 3.0 GPA to graduate as a University Scholar.
Honors Advising
We have two dedicated honors academic advisers who supports students in designing individualized educational plans and completing their honors requirements. These advisors work with you and your majors advisors to ensure you are on track for a timely graduation. Honors students have priority registration which helps secure your spot in popular courses.
Career Preparation
Our career advisor helps assist students in procuring and getting credit for internships. Additionally, they will review resumes, cover letters, personal statements and help you prepare for internships and negotiations.
Experiential Learning
Students have countless opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges through research, internships, study abroad, field courses, and more! Students may receive honors credit or major credit depending on circumstances. All students must complete a capstone research project under the supervision of a UM faculty member.
Scholarships
The Davidson Honors College (DHC) offers academic scholarships to incoming students to recognize outstanding talent, academic performance, and leadership. These are the ³Ô¹ÏÍø's premier academic scholarships and include the Presidential Leadership Scholarship (PLS), Provost’s Honors Scholarship (PHS), and the Dean’s Leadership Scholarship (DLS).
The DHC also offers annual scholarship support for study abroad, national exchange, research and independent study.
People Who Care
In the DHC, we care about our students. Our staff, faculty, and alumni are rooting for our students every step of the way. With additional advising services, opportunities to connect with alumni, and smaller class sizes, our students are never just numbers.