Coronavirus Information
As we work together to battle the coronavirus, we will continue to offer safe and secure online sessions . Even though our physical office is closed, in accordance with the guidelines recommended by CDC, we are working remotely and continuing to provide student, staff, and faculty assistance. We can be reached Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Mountain Standard Time at 520-621-3565 or by email – please refer to the iSchool Directory. Please allow up to 24 hours response time. Faculty and Adjuncts will respond as their schedules permit.
Get COVID-19 updates and information for the University of Arizona community. Also, see SBS resources for continuing instruction and learning.
Honors Program
Graduate with honors from any of our three undergraduate majors and complete independent research with our renowned faculty.
Honors Courses
All honors students need 30 honors units to graduate with honors (see Honors graduation requirements). We currently offer ISTA 498H: Senior Capstone and ISTA 499H: Independent Study for honors credit.
We also encourage students to contract our classes for honors credit. Additionally, we offer co-convened undergraduate/graduate-level courses, for which you can earn Honors credit.
Honors Thesis or Project
To graduate with honors, you must complete an honors thesis or professional project. Honors College students must also complete and submit the Honors Thesis Prospectus at the end of the semester prior to beginning the thesis or project.
The Honors Thesis requires six units of honors credit, taken over two semesters; additionally, many honors student take a one-unit honors class in preparation for their thesis.
You must apply to the School of Information to register for ISTA 498H: Honors Thesis and complete your honors thesis (Standard ISTA majors take only three units of in-person ISTA 498; honors students may register for six units of ISTA 498H over two semesters, and work individually with their faculty supervisor).
To register for ISTA 498H:
- Complete an Honors Thesis Prospectus and secure a faculty advisor
- Sign in to UA Handshake to start your application
- In "Career Center" choose "Experiences" (Career Center has a drop-down menu)
- Select "Request an Experience"
- Select University of Arizona iSchool Faculty-Supervised Undergraduate Individual Studies Request (492, 498H, 499)
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Fill out the form and include your Faculty Supervisor's contact information.
Once you are approved, the department will register you for ISTA 498H credit with your faculty advisor, who will submit a grade for you at the end of the semester.
Honors Advising
Visit our advising page for schedule an appointment or view walk-in hours for Laura Owen, the School of Information's academic advisor.
Interested in exploring our majors? Learn more about our three degrees—Information Science & eSociety, Information Science & the Arts, and Information Science & Technology.
See the Honors College information page for questions about Honors College requirements, programs, status, or how to apply to the Honors College.
Study Abroad
The Honors College offers honors credits in the five study-abroad programs that they sponsor. We do not offer direct credit in any current study abroad program, but you may talk to the School of Information advisor about getting study abroad credit pre-approved for your major or Gen Ed credit.
Questions?
If you have any questions on this process, please contact the Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Danny Downes. Holly Brown, Program Manager, will register you for your Honors thesis credit (you cannot enroll yourself).