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College Honors vs. Departmental Honors
There are two types of honors degrees at the University of Washington. The first type of degree is is a four-year track (generally started as a freshman) known as Full College Honors. Completing the Honors core curriculum in addition to departmental Honors requirements results in a degree "With College Honors." Students must apply to both College Honors as either an incoming freshman or through Late Admission as well as to their department and to Departmental Honors for that specific department to complete this degree. The second type of degree is Departmental Honors. Departmental Honors students begin honors when they enter their department; students must apply to both their department and to Departmental Honors for that specific department (requirements and procedures vary from major to major). Completion of the Departmental Honors track results in a degree "With Distinction."
College Honors
Students who complete both their general educational requirements and their specific departmental major requirements in an Honors program receive a degree "With College Honors."
Students who complete this two-tier Honors Program are exempt from the University's standard general education requirements (the "areas of knowledge"), though they must still fulfill requirements such as math and English composition. In place of the University's general education requirements, Honors students complete a separate program designed to establish foundations of knowledge and reasoning skills in three areas : Western Civilization, World Civilization, and Natural Science. These requirements are collectively called the Honors Core. For specific information about Honors Requirements for the various colleges on campus, please click here.
After completing the Honors Core, College Honors students must also complete Honors in their department as described below in order to earn their degree "With College Honors."
Departmental Honors
Each department at the University of Washington has a unique set of Departmental Honors requirements. For specific information about each department, click here for links to our departments.
For admission into a Departmental Honors Program, please speak with a departmental advisor. If students complete Honors in their major, they will graduate "With Distinction."
Last Updated: Thursday, January 3, 2008