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Honors College

Eric Lau, Dean
ASM East
1924 Las Lomas Rd. NE
MSC06 3890
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
(505) 277-4211
https://honors.unm.edu/ 

Faculty
Sarita J. Cargas, D.Phil., University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Leslie A. Donovan, Ph.D., University of Washington
Myrriah Gómez, Ph.D., University of Texas at San Antonio
Christopher L. Holden, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Megan Jacobs, M.F.A., University of New Mexico
Amaris Ketcham, M.F.A., Eastern Washington University
Gregory Lanier, PhD., University of Michigan
Troy Lovata, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
Jason R. Moore, Ph.D., University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
Ryan Swanson, Ph.D., Georgetown University

Emeritus Faculty
Rosalie C. Otero, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Ursula Shepherd, Ph.D., University of New Mexico

Retired Faculty
Richard Howell, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Celia López-Chávez, Ph.D., University of Seville (Spain)
V.B. Price, Hon. Litt.D., University of New Mexico
Diane Rawls, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Ronald Reichel, Ph.D., University of New Mexico
Michael Thomas, Ph.D., University of Washington

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Introduction

The Honors College at the University of New Mexico is located on the first floor of the Anderson School of Management building. The College provides a liberal arts education to highly motivated and academically committed undergraduates from all University of New Mexico colleges and schools. The Honors College offers a Bachelor of Arts in Honors Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts and an undergraduate minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts. Students can also choose to participate in the UNM Honors Scholar Designation program. All options complement a student’s academic work in other University of New Mexico Colleges or Schools.

The Honors College features small interdisciplinary seminar courses that allow for lively discussion, student participation and the opportunity to work with outstanding faculty selected for their commitment to students, scholarship, and teaching. Students receive individual advisement, extensive interaction with faculty, and opportunities for independent research and field-based learning here and abroad.

Application for admission to the Honors College is required. Undergraduates interested in a challenging intellectual program are encouraged to apply online. The Honors College applies a holistic approach to the admission process and aims to select those who will contribute to the university community in meaningful ways. Academic potential (ACT or SAT scores), high school grade point average, college-level coursework, and intellectual motivation are all considered. Students are encouraged to apply to the Honors College during the first semester of their freshman year. Second-semester freshmen, as well as sophomores and first-semester juniors, may, however, also apply to the College.

Honors seminars are offered at the 1000-, 2000-, 300- and 400-levels. The Legacy Seminars offered at the 1000-level introduce Honors students to interdisciplinary scholarship while meeting the General Education Area 5: Humanities requirement. Seminars offered at the 2000-level continue students’ exposure to interdisciplinary work. In addition, 2000-level seminars are offered that meet General Education curriculum requirements in all areas except Area 6: Second Language. Upper-division seminars allow students to deepen their understanding of the interconnectedness of academic disciplines; 400-level seminars are explorations of topics that are more in-depth than those of lower-level seminars, and students assume greater responsibility for their own learning. Capstone senior options (Senior Colloquium with Service-Learning, Senior Thesis, or Senior Teaching) allow students to examine personal value systems and social ethics, gain experience as student teachers, or pursue independent research.

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Admission Information

The Honors College at UNM welcomes applications from motivated students seeking a rigorous liberal arts experience. Admission decisions are based on a holistic review of the student’s application which includes the applicant’s high school curriculum and GPA, standardized test scores (optional), and evidence of leadership and community involvement. 

To apply to the Honors College, incoming freshmen, current UNM students, or transfer students must submit a completed Honors College application.

Requirements

Incoming Freshman

While the Honors College has no absolute admissions criteria, incoming freshmen with a high school cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 and either an ACT composite test score of 28 or higher or an SAT score of 1320 or higher are automatically admitted following submission. However, test scores are optional. Additionally, freshmen who are National Merit Scholars and Finalists, National Hispanic Scholars, National Achievement Scholars, American Indian Scholars, and recipients of UNM's Presidential and Regents Scholarships are automatically admitted following submission of an application. 

Transfer and Current Students

Transfer or current UNM students are required to have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher and must have completed ENGL 1110 or the equivalent with a grade of "B" or better to be considered for admission to the Honors College. Transfer students who meet these requirements are admitted on a rolling basis.

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