There are four paths in the Honors College:
- Science and Technology Honors Program
- University Honors Program
- Global Community Leadership Program
- Personalized Pathway
You will have an honors advisor in addition to your engineering advisor to help you navigate both your major and honors requirements.
Science and Technology Honors Program
| Requirements | Courses | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Honors Seminar | STH 199: Intro to Scientific Process | 3 |
| Scientific and Technical Communication | EH 102: English Composition II STH or EH 202: English Composition II: Scientific and Technical Communication |
3 |
| Research Methods and Applications | STH 201: Research Approaches: EGR | 3 |
| Advanced Honors Seminars | STH 240: Big Ideas: Science and Innovation STH 299: Interdisciplinary Seminar STH 340: Challenges Translating Science |
1 3 1 |
| Leadership Preparation | STH 151: Leadership Project Planning STH 250: Leadership Preparation II |
1 1 |
| Statistics | Select one course – PUH 250, PY 216, PY 226, or BME 423 | 3 |
| Honors Proposal and Thesis Seminars | STH 395 Honors Proposal Preparation STH 400 Honors Thesis Preparation |
1 1 |
| Honors Research | STH 398 Honors Research or STH 399 Honors Thesis Research |
6 |
| Honors Electives | EGR 103 Computer Aided Graphics and Design - Honors, EGR 150 Computer Methods in Engineering - Honors, honors sections of other required courses, etc. | 6 |
TOTAL HOURS = 30
An Option for a 4-year Plan for Engineering Majors
| Term | Courses | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman: First Term | STH 199: Intro to Scientific Process EH 102: English Composition II STH or EH 202: English Composition II: Scientific and Technical Communication EGR 103: Computer Aided Graphics and Design - Honors |
9 |
| Freshman: Second Term | STH 151: Leadership Project Planning STH 201: Research Approaches: EGR |
4 |
| Sophomore: First Term | STH 250: Leadership Preparation II STH 299: Interdisciplinary Seminar |
4 |
| Sophomore: Second Term | Approved statistics course – PUH 250, PY 216, PY 226, or BME 423 EGR 150: Computer Methods in Engineering - Honors |
3 |
| Junior: First Term | STH 240: Big Ideas: Science and Innovation STH 398: Honors Research |
3 |
| Junior: Second Term | STH 395: Honors Proposal Preparation STH 398: Honors Research |
2 |
| Senior: First Term | STH 340: Challenges Translating Science STH 399: Honors Thesis Research |
3 |
| Senior: Second Term | STH 399: Honors Thesis Research STH 400: Honors Thesis Preparation |
2 |
TOTAL HOURS = 30
University Honors Program
| Term | Courses | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman: First Term | Enroll in three 100-level Honors courses | 9 |
| Freshman: Second Term | One Honors Seminar or departmental honors course* | 3 |
| Sophomore: First Term | Enroll in three 100-level Honors courses | 9 |
| Sophomore: Second Term | One Honors Seminar or departmental honors course* | 3 |
| Junior: First Term | One Honors Seminar | 3 |
| Junior: Second Term | One Honors Seminar | 3 |
| Senior: First Term | One Honors Seminar | 3 |
| Senior: Second Term | No requirements | 0 |
TOTAL HOURS = 33
*Options include:
- EGR 103 Computer Aided Graphics and Design - Honors
- EGR 150 Computer Methods in Engineering – Honors
- Departmental Honors Research
- Engineering Electives taken at the 500- or 600-level
Global and Community Leadership
| Requirements | Courses | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Honors Seminar HC 110-120 | Seminar on a topic related to GCL's mission; topics vary annually | 3 |
| GCLH 150 | Burning Issues: Overview of various issues facing society (e.g., human rights, sustainability, healthcare access, educational reform). Course includes guest speakers, topical readings, and significant reflective writing. Ultimately, students will identify an issue that ignites their passion – their “burning issue.” | 3 |
| Variable courses | Fanning the Flame: Student will select a course that provides further exploration of the student’s “burning issue.” | 3 |
| GCLH 350 | Stoking the Fire - Leadership in Action: Students will learn, develop, and put into practice a pragmatic skill set for management and operations in social change leadership. | 3 |
| Required honors coursework | Students should take the remaining hours from approved honors courses relevant to GCL’s mission. GCL administration will designate appropriate honors courses for GCL students each semester, and students will choose the courses that are most applicable to their own passions and goals. | 3 |
| Additional honors coursework – optional* | For students who choose to earn 30 hours of honors credit, the additional 12 hours of honors coursework can be earned through non-GCL specific honors seminars, honors sections of core courses, honors by contract, and/or school/departmental honors programs. | 12 |
| Experiential Learning | GCL students are required to complete a minimum of one experiential learning course at UAB. These courses may include service learning, study abroad, research, or internships. If taken for honors credit, the experiential learning course may help fulfill the honors requirement. If not taken for honors credit, the course will not be applied to the total number of honors credit hours but can still satisfy the experiential learning requirement. |
TOTAL HOURS = 18-30
* Options include:- EGR 103 Computer Aided Graphics and Design - Honors
- EGR 150 Computer Methods in Engineering – Honors
- Departmental Honors Research
- Engineering Electives taken at the 500- or 600-level
Personalized Pathway
UAB Honors College students on the Personalized Pathway must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours of honors-level coursework in order to graduate with Distinguished Honors. Students who choose to earn 30 or more honors credits will graduate with High Distinguished Honors. In a Personalized Pathway, students earn honors credit in various ways. Honors classes are smaller in size (generally 25 or fewer students) and provide students with uniquely engaging curricular experiences. Options for honors credit include:
- Honors Seminars: These multidisciplinary seminars cover topics not typically offered at UAB and are taught by some of our most outstanding faculty. Prior examples include: Justice for All? Education and Opportunity in America; Persuasion: How to Get More of What You Want and Make Others Feel Good About Giving It to You; and 100 Things About the Brain.
- Students are required to complete at least one honors seminar during their first year in the Honors College. Available seminars will be communicated each semester through the honors advisors.
- Honors Courses: These include enhanced sections of courses offered through regular academic departments that provide students with a high level of engagement and critical thinking as well as courses required for departmental honors programs.
- Honors Experiential Learning Courses: The UAB Honors College offers specific experiential courses, including recent study abroad courses in Cuba and Iceland as well as service learning with local community partners. Students may also participate in individual projects in service learning, research, internships, or education abroad.
- Students are required to complete a minimum of one experiential learning course at UAB. These courses may include service learning, study abroad, research, or internships.
- Honors by Contract: Students may augment their experiences in upper-level standard courses. An interested student should meet with a faculty member to devise an honors contract. Contract details vary, but they share a commitment to academic excellence above and beyond the minimum requirements for the course. Students interested in Honors by Contract should download the appropriate forms in the Honors College Canvas site. Except in rare circumstances, honors by contract is restricted to courses at the 300/400 level.
- Graduate Courses: All graduate-level coursework counts towards the Honors College requirements. See a list of recommended courses that can be taken for graduate credit. Honors students are encouraged to explore graduate courses and consider Accelerated Bachelors/Masters Programs or Fast-Track/Fifth-Year Masters Programs.
| Term | Courses | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman: First Term | HC 100-level seminar EGR 103: Computer Aided Graphics and Design – Honors Honors Math or Science course |
7-10 |
| Freshman: Second Term | EGR 150: Computer Methods in Engineering – Honors* Honors Math or Science course |
4-7 |
| Sophomore: First Term | Honors Math or Science course | 3-4 |
| Sophomore: Second Term | Blazer Core: honors section | 3 |
| Junior: First Term | Blazer Core: honors section | 3 |
| Junior: Second Term | Blazer Core: honors section Graduate-level engineering elective or departmental honors research |
6 |
| Senior: First Term | Blazer Core: honors section Graduate-level engineering elective or departmental honors research |
6 |
| Senior: Second Term | Blazer Core: honors section Graduate-level engineering elective or departmental honors research |
6 |
TOTAL HOURS = 38-45
* BME majors should delay to sophomore spring.
Graduate Courses for Honors Credit
Any engineering course can be taken at the graduate level for honors credit, however the following courses may be most accessible for undergraduates:
BME Majors
- BME 543: Medical Image Processing
- BME 535: Tissue Engineering
- BME 562: Cardiac Electrophysiology
CE Majors
- CE 530: Water Supply & Drainage
- CE 546: Green Infrastructure and Transportation
- CE 547: Principles of Sustainable Development
- CE 597: Construction Engineering Management
EE Majors
- EE 526 – Control Systems
- EE 521 – Communications Systems
- EE 531 – Analog Integrated Electronics
ME Majors
- ME 577: Systems Engineering
- ME 580: Instrumentation and Measurements
- ME 530: Vehicular Dynamics
- ME 578: Automated Manufacturing
MSE Majors
- MSE 501: Materials Processing
- MSE 513: Composite Materials
- MSE 530: Polymeric Materials
- MSE 564: Metals and Alloys