Norwich University Honors Program
Seek Challenge. Achieve Distinction.

Mission: The University Honors Program supports an enriched university experience for highly motivated students with demonstrated academic abilities and strong interests in research, service, and leadership
Who Are Norwich Honors Students:
Honors students are drawn from across the university, allowing students to work through problems from a variety of disciplinary lenses. The University Honors Program challenges students, providing them a collaborative environment to examine society’s most pressing problems.
Why Join Norwich Honors:
Honors students thrive because of the mentorship from devoted faculty. Students get the opportunity to work closely in dedicated Honors classes and independent research projects, including HN 101, the Honors Seminar, and Honors General Education courses. New courses that explore current problems and employ hands-on, experiential approaches are regularly being offered for Honors students.
Honors students receive mentorship during independent research by faculty. Honors research culminates in the defense of an undergraduate thesis project. With the one-on-one mentorship of faculty, students have completed exceptional projects that include fieldwork, lab work, and research presentations at academic conferences.
University Honors Program Requirements
The University Honors Program requires more than strong academic standing. It is an academic program designed to enhance the students’ experience and expose them to scholarly debates. The program has several requirements that are scaffolded to foster increasingly independent thinking and research skills.
- HN 101: Introductory Honors Seminar – completed during the first year of the program.
- Honors General Education Course – students are required to take one Honors General Education course although they can take multiple courses to fulfill degree requirements. New courses are offered every semester allowing students to take advantage of the smaller class sizes.
- HN 301: Honors Thesis Preparation – taken during the junior year. With the help of the Honors Program Director, students outline their undergraduate thesis project.
- Defend Senior Honors Thesis.
Who Is Eligible and How Do I Apply for the Norwich Honors Program
Entering First-Year Students
Entering first-year students that rank in the top 5 percent of applications to Norwich University will be invited to apply to the program. If you are selected, then you will receive a personal invitation that will include full information on the application process. The Honors Program application packet consists of:
- Two letters of recommendation from faculty familiar with the student’s academic profile
- A resume outlining student’s academic achievements, work experience and service credentials
- A response essay to writing prompts
The Norwich University Honors Council will consider the credentials of an applicant and an announcement of acceptance will be made in April of each year.
Existing NU Student Applicants
Students completing their first or second semesters at NU with a 3.2 GPA and showing an outstanding academic aptitude may be invited to apply.
If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to submit the Honors Program application packet that consists of:
- Two letters of recommendation from Norwich University faculty from two different disciplines
- A resume outlining student’s academic achievements, work experience and service credentials
- A response essay to writing prompts
It is strongly encouraged that NU student applicants work with their academic advisors to prepare an application packet to ensure the success of the process. Questions? Contact Honors Program Director, Michael Thunberg at 1 (802) 485-2374 or mthunber@norwich.edu.
Meet the Faculty: The Honors Council
Faculty across the university provide oversight of the Honors Program, ensuring the program maintains its academic rigor, serving on thesis committees, and advocating for Honors students. Honors Council members are a valuable resource for Honors students. They represent every college and can help navigate any challenges or opportunities Honors students encounter.