Honors Program

The Honors Program at Concordia has been designed for you if you are an academically gifted student who wants to be challenged to use your intellect to its highest ability along with fellow Honors students who share your love of learning.

The program consists of a series of courses offered each semester throughout your undergraduate years. If you are admitted to the Honors Program, you will take an average of seven-eight hours a year in special Honors courses. Most of the courses in the Honors Program serve the dual purpose of partially fulfilling the general education requirements of all baccalaureate-level programs at Concordia.

Each of the honors courses is limited to 25 students to ensure close contact with the professor. All students in the Honors Program are selected based on a variety of criteria including prior academic achievement, evidence of critical thinking skills, and perceived ability to contribute to the Concordia Mission Statement

The Honors Scholarship

Admission to the Honors Program provides an academic scholarship equal to half tuition per academic year for qualifying new freshmen studying for a BA degree. Eligibility for renewal of the Honors Scholarship depends on maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.25, full-time status as a student at CU, enrollment in an average of seven-eight credits of honors courses per year in each of the first three years, and completion of the Honors Capstone Seminar during the senior year.

Courses in the Honors Program

The City as Text

The Honors Program also includes a strong service component and opportunities to utilize the tremendous resources of Portland to expand the classroom beyond the traditional building walls. Honors students, together with faculty members, will use the city to connect theoretical learning to the real world.

Honors Program Admission Criteria

In order to be admitted to the Honors Program, you must:

  1. Be admitted to Concordia University as a full-time student leading to a BA degree. You can apply online.
  2. Have a minimum high school GPA of 3.65 on a 4.00 scale.
  3. Achieve a combined SAT score of 1725 or ACT composite score of 26.
  4. Complete and submit an Honors Program Application. In addition, provide a copy of your high school (and college, if applicable) transcripts, a 500-word essay (See Honors Program Application), and two letters of recommendation from teachers who have had you as a student in class, at least one of which should specifically address your qualifications for the Honors Program.

Once all of the above items are received, the successful candidate will be notified within two weeks of their approval by the Honors Program Advisory Committee.

For more information, or to ask a question, contact Dr. Richard Hill, Honors Program Director, by e-mail dhill@cu-portland.edu or by phone 503-493-6227.