Calhoun Honors College
Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  Are honors courses harder?
A:  Not necessarily. Honors instructors have been challenged to make courses more enriching.

Q:  Will honors courses take up too much of my study time?
A:  Not necessarily. Honors courses tend to be faster paced and more intellectually challenging, but they should not require significantly more time than non-honors courses.

Q:  What do I do if I can’t find an honors course that fits my schedule?
A:  If you are having difficulty finding an honors course during orientation, seek help from your academic advisor or come to the Honors Office in 105 Tillman Hall.

Q:  What do I do if I can’t find an honors course that meets General Education or major requirements?
A:  You will need to look for an honors course that will broaden your education and count the course as an elective.

Q:  Is my GPR calculated differently for honors courses than from my non-honors courses?
A:  No. All courses at Clemson University are calculated the same.

Q:  If I drop my only honors course, will I be removed from the honors residence hall?
A:  No. Students are not removed mid-semester from Holmes Hall.

Q:  If my GPR drops below a 3.40, will I be removed from the honors residence hall in the spring semester?
A:  Freshmen residents of Holmes Hall whose first semester GPR is below 2.80 may be reassigned to other campus housing effective the next semester.

Q:  If I take two honors courses in the fall semester, do I have to take one in the spring semester?
A:  Yes. Members of the Calhoun Honors College are required to take and complete at least one honors course each fall and spring semester regardless of how many they have taken previously or plan to take in future semesters.

Q:  Does the Calhoun Honors College provide academic advising?
A:  Yes. In addition to the academic adviser in your department, the Honors Office staff provides advising support on an appointment or drop-in basis.

Q:  Who is my advisor in my major?
A:  To find out who your advisor is in your major, contact the department (i.e. English, biological sciences, general engineering, etc.).

Q:  If I drop my only honors class and I am removed from honors, can I rejoin the Calhoun Honors College later?
A:  Yes. Students can rejoin honors after they have been out one complete semester, have achieved the requisite cumulative 3.40 GPR and have at least four semesters remaining to complete degree requirements.

Q:  Do honors students have to complete General Honors before beginning their Departmental Honors requirements?
A:  No. Honors students can complete General Honors at any time through the last semester of their senior year.

Q:  Can an honors course count for both General and Departmental Honors?
A:  No. Courses taken to fulfill General Honors cannot be applied toward Departmental Honors requirements and vice-versa.

Q:  If I start taking Departmental Honors courses but decide not to complete the requirement, can I count the honors courses toward the General Honors requirements?
A:  Yes. Any 300- or 400-level (of at least three credit hours) course that is not graded pass/fail will count.

Q:  As a member of the Calhoun Honors College, do I automatically receive a scholarship?
A:  No. There are no scholarships linked to membership in the Calhoun Honors College. All scholarships are administered by the Office of Financial Aid.