Lower Division Advising
Who is my Advisor? How do I make an appointment to meet with an advisor in the Honors College?
Honors College students receive special lower division advising in DM 233. Please call 305-348-4100 to schedule an appointment.
Can I make an appointment for Honors College advising at the Biscayne Bay Campus?
Yes! A BBC Advisor is available for appointments upon request. Please contact the main office at 305-348-4100 to schedule an appointment.
What does the University Core Curriculum (UCC) mean?
The University Core Curriculum, also referred to as the “UCC,” is composed of seven different subject areas along with a First Year Experience course. The seven areas were created to give FIU students a well-rounded academic background. The UCC requirements and courses are listed in the UCC Check Off Form. (Click here to open a printer friendly version - UCC ). Make certain you read and understand the form completely, including the important notes and restrictions at the end of the form. Do not take courses that are not listed on the UCC Check Off Form in hopes that they will fulfill the requirements. Only the exact courses listed in each category fulfill requirements.
What Honors courses fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements?
Successful completion of both IDH 1001/1002 and IDH 2003/2004 Honors Curriculum will satisfy the Art Requirement, Foundations of Social Inquiry, and Societies and Identities of the UCC. Students who begin in the 2nd year may only satisfy Societies and Identities. For a full description of Honors course equivalencies, please refer to the UCC Equivalency Information page located at http://honors.fiu.edu/pro_ucc_equivalency.htm.
What is a SASS report and how do I acquire one?
Your SASS is a degree audit that tells you what you have taken, how it applies to your major, and what courses you have left to take in order to fulfill your degree requirements. You should view your SASS report at least once ever semester.
You can view your SASS report at www.facts.org > College Students > Graduation Check. You will need your Panther ID and pin number to log in.
My AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment classes/credits do not appear in my SASS report. What should I do?
If you are certain that you have provided the Registrar’s Office with your official transcripts/test scores, look for these scores in your unofficial transcript through MY FIU. If you still do not see the scores in your records, please make an appointment to see an Honors College Advisor.
Do I have to satisfy a foreign language requirement?
The Florida Board of Education requires a completion of two years in the same foreign language in preparation for college. To satisfy this pre-collegiate requirement, you should have taken two consecutive years of foreign language in high school. If the foreign language course credit were on your final high school transcript, it should have been accepted by the FIU system. If it has been entered into the system, the FLENT/FLEX foreign language portion of the SASS will say "OK." If the SASS still says "NO" and you have completed two years of language in high school, you need to check with an advisor to see what is missing and what corrective actions you need to take.
The College of Arts and Sciences has an additional foreign language requirement. This requirement states you must have proficiency equivalent to the second semester university level in a foreign language. This proficiency can be met by receiving credit for the second semester of a foreign language or higher (i.e., SPN 1121 or higher.)
Do I have to take a First Year Experience course?
Yes, Honors College students will take a First Year Experience course with other Honors College students. Students are introduced to all of the resources the University has to offer, as well as the added privileges of Honors. If you have any questions regarding this requirement, please contact an Honors College Advisor.
What does it mean to be on Probation / Dismissal with the Honors College?
Honors College students are required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 (reviewed annually). First-, second-, third- and fourth-year students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will be dismissed from the College. First and second year students with a grade point average between 3.0 and 3.29 will be placed on probation for one year, and are required to achieve a 3.3 by the end of the academic year (summer) in order to be promoted to the succeeding year. Third year students must achieve a 3.3 grade point average in order to be promoted to the 4th year. Only graduating seniors with a grade point average of 3.3 or higher will graduate through the Honors College and be so recognized at commencement ceremonies.
The Honor College Probation/Dismissal Policy is independent of the FIU Academic Warning and Probation Policy. For more information on the general University requirements, please contact an Honors College Advisor.
What is the Forgiveness Policy?
An undergraduate student has a total of THREE forgiveness opportunities. The forgiveness policy allows a student to improve his/her cumulative GPA by repeating the exact same course and achieving a higher grade than the previous attempt. By completing a form in the Registrar's office requesting substitution of the second (better) grade for the first (poorer) grade, the GPA can be improved. Do not complete the forgiveness policy form until you have repeated the class the second time and see your grade. If you complete the form too soon and the second grade is lower, your GPA will decrease (not increase) because only the second grade is counted in the GPA. When a forgiveness policy is used, the first grade stays on the transcript, but only the second grade will be calculated in the cumulative GPA.
What is a Major / Minor?
Majors require anywhere from 36-60 credits of upper division work. Minors generally require 15-21 credits of upper division work. In order to graduate, every student must be fully admitted to a major course of study in one of the university's colleges or schools. Freshman and sophomore students do not officially have a major but may declare an "intended major" after completing approximately 30 credits.
How do I intend / declare my major and when should I do it?
Contrary to popular belief, you do not enter your major upon acceptance to the University. Intending your major is done when you complete 30-36 credits and have fulfilled the majority of the UCC requirements.
You will declare a major upon completion of the University Core Curriculum requirements with the college or school that houses the major you wish to pursue. This request should be done when you have completed approximately 60 credit hours and any pre-requisites required by the major.
How do I find out about the Honors College Fourth Year Options? Where can I find the required forms?
To fulfill the Fourth Year Honors Requirement students must successfully complete 6 credits in one of the following options: 1) IDH 4007 and IDH 4008 courses held in a seminar format; 2) Departmental Honors Thesis; 3) Honors Study Abroad Programs organized through the Honors College; 4) Research projects through the Student Research and Artistic Initiatives Program.
Students will learn about all the available options through information sessions held during Honors Hour in the spring semester. Students are notified of the dates of these sessions through their FIU e-mail and are required to attend.
The Honors College advisors are available to advise you about the options and to explain the program to individuals in your major department. For more information, or to obtain forms, visit: http://honors.fiu.edu/current_upperdivision_fourthyear.htm.
Can I take courses elsewhere?
You have chosen to attend FIU, so it is assumed you will complete your course work here. If you are going home for the summer, participating in the National Student Exchange, or studying abroad, you can be approved to take courses elsewhere. Check with an Honors College advisor about the procedures for taking classes elsewhere and keep in mind that National Student Exchange and study abroad programs require specific paperwork. Also, if you If you are planning to participate in a Study Abroad or NSE Program during a fall or spring semester, you must make an appointment with an Honors College Advisor to make arrangements to complete your required Honors coursework.
Gordon Rule classes (required math and writing courses) are required to be completed at FIU and cannot be taken elsewhere. Other UCC courses are approved by filling out the transient student form on the www.facts.org > College Students > Take class at another college (Transient Student Form). It is necessary to be a non-degree seeking student with the host institution before filling out the transient student form. Also, it is imperative you talk to an advisor before applying to discuss the requirements and how this decision may impact you.
How do I make the Dean’s List?
An undergraduate degree-seeking student who earns an FIU cumulative GPA of 3.5 or more on the basis of nine or more credit hours earned during any semester will be placed on the Dean's List for that semester.
What are the requirements to graduate Summa Cum Laude? Magna Cum Laude? Cum Laude?
To graduate Summa Cum Laude, the student must have completed 40 semester hours at FIU for which grade points are awarded and a GPA of 3.900 and higher.
To graduate Magna Cum Laude, the student must have completed 40 semester hours at FIU for which grade points are awarded and a GPA of 3.700-3.899.
To graduate Cum Laude, the student must have completed 40 semester hours at FIU for which grade points are awarded and a GPA of 3.500-3.699.
How do I get involved? How do I join an Honors Student Organization?
There are many student organizations on campus, but the Honors College student has the opportunity to join student organizations that are exclusive to Honors College students. To get information on these student groups and to find out how to join, please contact the Coordinator of Student Enrichment by phone at 305-348-4100. You may also visit the “student enrichment” link on our website to browse through the many extra-curricular activities and groups that exist in the Honors College community.
What do I do if I have a time conflict with my Honors Seminar?
Honors College seminars are year long (fall and spring) and involve year long projects and course work. It is an Honors College policy that students cannot switch their Honors seminar between a fall and spring semester unless it conflicts with a course required for graduation. If you were placed in an Honors seminar that conflicts with a course you are required to take to graduate on time, please contact an Honors College Advisor.
Honors College Admission
How do I apply to the Honors College?
Print out and complete the online Honors College application located at http://honors.fiu.edu/pro_forms_brochures.html or request a brochure with the application. Return this application with required documents to the Honors College, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, DM 233, Miami, FL 33199. Before being admitted to the Honors College, students must first complete the University Admissions process (http://admissions.fiu.edu).
When should I apply for admission to the Honors College?
The Honors College accepts FALL admissions only. The priority registration deadline date is February 15th. Students who are interested in competing for Honors College Scholarships must meet the priority deadline date.
The final day to submit an Honors College application for admission into the Honors College is June 1st.
Can I apply to Honors College if I am already an FIU student?
Do you have a 3.3 FIU GPA or above? Do you have at least 60 credits remaining in your degree program? If you can answer “yes” to these two questions, the answer is most likely “yes.” If you are unsure if you are eligible to apply to the Honors College as an FIU student, please contact Lili Hernandez, the Coordinator of Recruitment, by email at lhernan@fiu.edu.
How do I arrange for an Information Session at the Honors College?
Information sessions take place in the Honors College conference room (DM 233) every Friday at 12:00 PM. Call 305-348-4100 to confirm your attendance or RSVP online at http://honors.fiu.edu/pro_rsvp2.htm. If you need to make special arrangements or would like to schedule a personal appointment, please contact Lili Hernandez by email at lhernan@fiu.edu with your request.
Honors College Scholarships
What are the different types of scholarships FIU has to offer?
Please refer to a list of detailed scholarships for eligible incoming freshmen at: http://admissions.fiu.edu/financial/scholarships.php
Are there any scholarships available from the Honors College?
The Honors College has scholarships available to transfer students from in-state and out-of-state colleges. There are also a number of competitive scholarships available to current Honors College students each academic year.
Please refer to a list of detailed scholarships for current students at:
http://honors.fiu.edu/hcscholarships.
Please refer to a list of detailed scholarships for transfer students at: http://honors.fiu.edu/pro_scholarships_trans.htm.
Who is my contact in the Honors College if I have questions on Honors College Scholarships and the Admission Process?
Lili Hernandez is the Coordinator of Scholarships and Recruitment. She can be reached by email at lhernan@fiu.edu or by phone at 305-348-4100. |
