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Global Honors
The Global Honors Program is the University of Washington Tacoma's interdisciplinary campus honors program, adding distinction to the bachelor's degree.
Global Honors offers students a stimulating learning environment and an innovative and experientially rich curriculum that integrates theory with practice. Connecting students to the places and people they are studying, community-engaged seminars and study away courses are taught by internationally renowned and highly invested faculty and community partners in-residence.
Open to students from all majors, the Global Honors Program (between 17-23 credits) offers unique benefits, globally themed classes, and enhanced/exclusive access to additional funded opportunities. Students in some majors should explore Major-Integrated Global Honors Pathways which will allow them to use a course in their major towards earning this distinction.
Global Honor students are encouraged to consider the benefits of the full Minor in Global Engagement (25-28 credits). Students who complete the Minor in Global Engagement with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher are automatically considered for Global Honors Distinction.
Global Honors Program Benefits
- Small, seminar-style globally-themed classes promoting a high level of engagement and sense of community. (Global Honors students repeatedly cite the learning environment as one of the best aspects of the program.)
- Becoming a member of a close-knit, active learning community of intellectually curious students.
- Exclusive or enhanced access to additional funded opportunities
- Individualized attention and support from the Global Honors staff relating to their academic interests and resources such as scholarship, research, internship, and conference opportunities.
- Opportunity to work closely with a faculty member of their choice when writing their capstone.
Video Overview
Explore the Global Honors program at UW Tacoma
To apply for the Global Honors program students must have:
- A 3.3 or higher cumulative grade point average (either from UW Tacoma or as an incoming transfer)
- A minimum of 45 credits at the time of admission
- Less than 135 credits at the time of admission
To apply, interested students should complete the Global Honors online application. (If you would like to request a paper application, please contact the Global Honors office at ghonors@uw.edu.)
Students who complete the application will be notified of their acceptance decision via email.
Students who successfully complete the Global Honors program earn Global Honors Distinction.
Completion Requirements
- Must complete the required Global Honors curriculum (between 17-23 credits)
- Maintain a GPA of 3.3 or above in all Global Honors courses as well as a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above from UW Tacoma to earn Global Honors Distinction.
- Complete a capstone thesis or project, study abroad, or internship under the supervision of a faculty advisor, earning a 3.3 minimum grade
- Present at the annual Global Engagement Conference
Global Honors Distinction:
- Global Honors Distinction is included on your University of Washington transcript
- Graduates receive a certificate and pin. Global Honors regalia include an ivory cord.
The Global Honors curriculum is highly interdisciplinary. Research and experiential learning projects are driven by compelling questions that require rich diversity in academic background and lived experience. With an emphasis on depth and rigor of research, students develop expertise in areas familiar to their major, and are also able to stretch their thinking and studies to include new academic territory. Classes may include presentations, individual or group projects, research papers and peer reviews.
Our students tackle the challenges and rewards of this holistic experience as part of a close-knit cohort. They come to trust in one another's support in a way that isn't easy to reproduce in a conventional classroom setting. They also enjoy a highly individual learning process, drawing their own conclusions based upon personal areas of interest, experience, and aspiration.
STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
Study abroad is strongly encouraged in the Global Honors program. It is an outstanding opportunity for students to develop empathy and understanding about the topical issues and themes examined throughout the Global Honors curriculum. Students have the opportunity to substitute one core Global Honors course (T GH 301, T GH 302, or T GH 303) (up to 5 credits) through participation in a UW study abroad program. Program duration must be a minimum of 3 weeks in order to qualify for course substitution and funding opportunities offered by the Global Honors program.
Information about UW study abroad opportunities can be found on the Office of Global Affairs website.
LEARNING OUTCOMES AND ASSESSMENT
Global Honors students will:
- Demonstrate enhanced skills in research, critical thinking, writing, working cooperatively, and oral communication
- Demonstrate ability to produce collaborative solutions for global challenges
- Demonstrate understanding of global interdependencies in economic, political, social, and cultural systems
- Demonstrate understanding of processes of globalization
- Demonstrate proficiency in researching, synthesizing, and presenting global topics
- Demonstrate understanding and appreciation of interdisciplinary perspectives
Assessment
- Papers and projects in Global Honors core seminars, maintaining a 3.3 overall grade point average
- Completion of a capstone thesis, study abroad, or internship under the supervision of a faculty advisor, earning a 3.3 minimum grade
- Presentation at the annual Global Engagement Conference.
Questions?
Still have questions about the Global Honors Program? Complete our online interest form for a personalized follow-up from our academic advisor, email us at ghonors@uw.edu, or book an advising meeting with our academic advisor.
Online Interest Form
