Four-Year Learning Community:

Benefits - University Honors students take classes with other students in their cohort and receive support and resources from University Honors faculty and staff.  

Expectations – Students are expected to fully engage in Honors course and non-course requirements,  to participate in Honors living learning communities if living on campus, and to adhere to the UCR’s Principles of Community.

Honors Courses:

Benefits - Honors courses feature small, seminar-style settings (capped at 15–20) led by research-active faculty. These intimate classes foster deep material exploration, sharpening analytical skills and building vital social connections. They also provide the essential academic framework for students to successfully develop and complete their capstone projects.

Expectations - These courses may add additional units to a student’s course load and will ask students to intellectually engage with material above and beyond standard sections. As such, students should proactively manage their respective workload.

Priority Registration: University Honors Students receive priority registration, which allows students to get the courses they need to graduate on time.

Capstone Development & Completion:

Benefits - The capstone is a core requirement and significant undertaking within University Honors, as students participate in a series of courses and experiences that prepare them for undergraduate research and the completion of a capstone project. The capstone project can consist of research, creative activity, or experiential learning. Students learn how to interact with faculty and select a faculty member to be their mentor while designing a project plan and honing research and writing skills. This signature experience applies classroom learning to professional goals, distinguishing graduates in competitive career and graduate school applications.

Expectations – The capstone requires independent drive and perseverance beyond standard classroom work, to include identifying a faculty-mentor through proactive networking and building professional connections, and progressing through the capstone course sequence (HNPG149, HNPG150, HNPG198H, and HNPG199H) to successfully design and execute their project. As these Honors courses and experiences are typically undertaken during the junior and senior years, students should strategically manage their schedules to accommodate the academic rigor, additional workload, and independent research inherent in completing a capstone project.

Honors Student Community:

Consisting of just over 900 students on a campus that enrolls more than 27,000 students, University Honors provides the feeling of a small, liberal arts college within a major, research university.

Living-Learning Community:

Benefits - University Honors students can live in exclusive communities with other Honors students and faculty-in-residence in Honors-only communities (Pentland Hills Residence Hall or Glen Mor student community) where they receive mentoring, support, programming, and resources. All placement/housing concerns are overseen by UCR Housing Services, not University Honors

Expectations - The value of the living-learning experience depends on a student's level of engagement with peers and faculty within this space. Through active participation, proactive utilization of available resources and contribution to the community, students can build a strong foundation for personal growth and future professional success.

Community/Faculty Engagement: 

Benefits - Beyond the classroom, engagement activities connect students with faculty and peers to foster professional networking, personal growth, and well-rounded learning.

Expectations - Students are encouraged to engage in community activities and network with faculty through their own initiative and professional persistence to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world application to become well-rounded, active learners.

Personalized Counseling: 

Benefits - With smaller caseloads than academic advisors, Honors counselors provide frequent, personalized guidance to help students navigate and reach their personal, academic, and professional goals.

Expectations - Ultimately, students who take initiative to leverage and engage with one-on-one personalized counseling for tailored guidance around strategic planning and their own self-reflection can develop the practical strategies for success within University Honors and UCR.

Scholarships & Other Resources

Awards and Fellowships Preparation: University Honors faculty and staff prepare students for the application process for prestigious awards by helping them to develop portfolios that strongly position them for competitive local, national, and international academic fellowships and awards.

University Honors Scholarships: University Honors provides a diverse range of exclusive scholarship and funding opportunities tailored to our student community. These awards support various facets of the academic journey, including, but not limited to, research, travel, civic engagement, and the completion of the capstone project. For a comprehensive list of available funding and eligibility details, explore our scholarship resources.

Leadership Positions: University Honors offers competitive leadership positions to our students that provide them with professional development and compensation with a scholarship.

Research and Internship Positions: University Honors faculty and counselors provide one-on-one support to help students secure research and internship opportunities both on and off campus, to include education abroad and specialized UC internship programs. These and other opportunities are regularly promoted through personalized appointments, weekly emails, and social media.