Exceptional students deserve exceptional programs! The Honors Program at Francis Marion University is designed to serve the needs of students with the potential for high academic achievement and the desire to make the most of their undergraduate experience.   It offers smaller classes, seminar-style teaching and frequently special topics courses available only to Honors students.

Honors students enjoy various opportunities and activities during the semester, including Honors housing, social events, and access to The Washington Semester internship program as well as international travel.   One of the most popular activities is the annual Honors Student Association trip to, for instance, New York City, Washington DC, Boston, and Philadelphia. 

The Honors Program is open to eligible students with strong academic records. (Other students may apply for admission to a specific Honors Course.) Initial eligibility for the Honors Program is determined by SAT or ACT scores. A minimum score of 1100 on the combined math/critical reading SAT or 24 on the ACT qualifies an entering student for the Honors Program.

Freshmen must earn an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above order to become or remain eligible for the Honors Program. Sophomores, juniors and seniors must earn an overall grade point average of 3.25 or above in order to become or remain eligible for the Honors Program.

The program is implemented through an interdisciplinary “gateway” course designed to introduce Honors students to the Honors program, Honors Sections of regular courses, an interdisciplinary Honors Colloquium, and an Honors Independent Study.