Honors at App State

The required first, second, and third-year Honors seminars (examples of Honors seminars) are taught in a discussion-based, student-focused style (12-18 students) and fulfill general education requirements. You will learn in an engaging environment with motivated students from diverse majors and a passionate professor who designed and applied to teach this specific course.

Honors students’ initial academic advisors, which we call academic mentors, are based in the Honors College. After declaring your major, you will keep your Honors mentors and add a major advisor to your mentoring team. Honors mentors are established and well-connected in their areas. They prioritize understanding your goals to connect you with relevant opportunities.

Students frequently cite our community as their favorite part of Honors. As part of the Brad and Carole Wilson Honors and Engagement Community, First-year Honors students live together in Cone Hall, and continuing students can live in Summit Hall. Living and learning together fosters strong bonds within a supportive community of peers, faculty, and mentors. Our student-run Appalachian Honors Association (AHA!) organizes monthly community activities in our Honors College living/learning space.

Our international education requirement can be fulfilled on campus, but most students choose to study abroad through faculty-led abroad trips (including Honors seminars abroad) or semester‑long study abroad programs. Studying abroad allows you to immerse yourself in the unfamiliar, which in turn provides opportunities to examine the importance of understanding, respecting, and valuing difference in building strong communities.

Your Honors thesis is a 3-credit, often year-long, project conducted in collaboration with your thesis director. Academic mentors can share strategies for finding research or creative project directors aligned with your goals. Working closely with you in a shared exploration, your thesis director will help you develop teamwork, critical thinking, research, and communication skills. They will also make an amazing professional reference.

Benefit from personalized advising that supports your academic and personal growth. Our mentors are dedicated to helping you connect with opportunities that align with your goals and values.

Get involved with student organizations and community activities that reflect our commitment to collaboration and leadership. Our student-run Appalachian Honors Association (AHA!) and other groups foster a sense of belonging and engagement.

For first-year students, our primary financial support is the Chancellor’s Scholarship, awarded to ten exceptional students each year. Once enrolled, all Honors College students have access to additional funding to support experiential learning, including an international education scholarship to support study abroad, the Garrett and Dane Ward scholarships to support student researchers, and a special research grant that can fund both research and conference travel.