Honors Student Resources and Requirements

Students enrolled in the Honors College who are to receive the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering must complete a minimum of 12 hours of honors credit. At least 6 hours must be completed within the Civil Engineering program including at least 3 hours resulting in an Honors Thesis. The CVEG honors courses are acceptable as technical electives. The following Civil Engineering courses are offered for honors credit:

  • CVEG 491V H Honors Studies in Geotechnical Engineering (1-6)--The study of advanced topics in the geotechnical engineering field. May include participation in geotechnical engineering courses normally available only to graduate students. Course may be repeated for up to 6 hours total credit with approval of the CVEG honors advisor. Prerequisites CVEG 3133 and enrolled in the Honors College.
  • CVEG 492V H Honors Studies in Environmental Engineering (1-6)--The study of advanced topics in the environmental engineering field. May include participation in environmental engineering courses normally available only to graduate students. Course may be repeated for up to 6 hours total credit with approval of the CVEG honors advisor. Prerequisites CVEG 3243 and enrolled in the Honors College.
  • CVEG 493V H Honors Studies in Structural Engineering (1-6)--The study of advanced topics in the structural engineering field. May include participation in structural engineering courses normally available only to graduate students. Course may be repeated for up to 6 hours total credit with approval of the CVEG honors advisor. Prerequisites CVEG 3304 and enrolled in the Honors College.
  • CVEG 494V H Honors Studies in Transportation Engineering (1-6)--The study of advanced topics in the transportation engineering field. May include participation in transportation engineering courses normally available only to graduate students. Course may be repeated for up to 6 hours total credit with approval of the CVEG honors advisor. Prerequisites CVEG 3413 and enrolled in the Honors College.
  • CVEG 4983 H Undergraduate Honors Thesis--Prerequisites: enrolled in the Honors College.

Civil Engineering Honors Student Advisor

Dr. Rick Coffman

Admission requirements

  • Entering first-year students must have at least a 3.75 high school GPA and at have at least a 28 composite score on the ACT
  • Entering transfer students must have a 3.50 GPA on their transfer work
  • Students not initially qualifying for the Engineering Honors Program are eligible after one year if they earn at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA

Honors Graduation Requirements

  • Complete a minimum of 12 hours of Honors courses
  • A minimum of 6 of these 12 hours must be in engineering. The available engineering honors courses are found in the departmental requirements section below.
  • For the honors courses outside of engineering, there are many options that will count toward your engineering degree requirements. Many courses on the approved humanities/social science elective list also have honors sections. Calculus and physics honors courses are also available.
  • Participate in an undergraduate research or design experience, and prepare an undergraduate thesis
  • Fulfill any additional departmental requirements.

To retain status in the Engineering Honors Program, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.50, the student will receive a warning from the Dean’s office. If the student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.50 for two consecutive semesters (not including the summer), the student will be dropped from the Honors College. The student may reapply once his/her cumulative GPA is 3.50 or above.

Students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance in baccalaureate degree programs will be recognized at graduation by the honors designation of cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude. To earn this distinction, the student must meet the following criteria:

  1. Must have completed at least one-half of his or her degree work at the University of Arkansas
  2. Must have at least a 3.50 GPA on University of Arkansas coursework, computed at graduation
  3. Must successfully complete the Engineering Honors Program, which includes a minimum of 12 hours of Honors courses (at least 6 of these hours in engineering), an undergraduate research/design experience and thesis, and any additional departmental requirements
  4. Research and thesis material shall be evaluated by each department
  5. For the student to earn the designation cum laude, the student must achieve a GPA of 3.50 or higher
  6. For the student to earn the designation magna cum laude, the student must achieve a GPA of 3.75 or higher
  7. For the student to earn the designation summa cum laude, the student must achieve a GPA of 3.90 or higher.

The criteria may be evaluated and changed periodically by the College of Engineering.

Requirements to Graduate with Distinction

Students who have not completed the Engineering Honors Program but have demonstrated excellent academic performance in baccalaureate degree programs will be recognized at graduation by the designation of “with distinction,” “with high distinction,” or “with highest distinction.” To earn these designations, the student must meet the following criteria on his or her University of Arkansas course work

  1. Must have completed at least one-half of his or her degree work at the University of Arkansas
  2. For the student to earn the designation “with distinction,” the student must achieve a GPA of 3.50 or higher
  3. For the student to earn the designation “with high distinction,” the student must achieve a GPA of 3.75 or higher
  4. For the student to earn the designation “with highest distinction,” the student must achieve a GPA of 3.90 or higher.

The criteria may be evaluated and changed periodically by the College of Engineering.