Program Description

The SPU Honors Program is an accelerated alternative to the regular General Education curriculum for intellectually curious and academically motivated students at Seattle Pacific University. It requires fewer overall credits, but in a challenging, inquiry-based, and inclusive program that asks University honors students to go deeper into the key questions at the heart of our lives, our faith, and our world. Honors students will receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Honors Liberal Arts,alongside their regular disciplinary major (and any second major, if applicable), upon successful completion of the program. A minor in Honors Liberal Arts is also available for interested students.

SPU Honors is also a close-knit community of students and faculty members committed to academic excellence in a spirit of dialogue, collaboration, and intellectual hospitality. We are guided by the key liberal arts question “What does it mean to be human?” and the foundational curricular values of interdisciplinarity, critical inquiry, equity, inclusion, and service.

Learn more about the BA in Honors Liberal Arts.

Honors Graduation Requirements Checklist

The following coursework is required to complete a baccalaureate degree for students admitted to the Honors major at Seattle Pacific University. Students completing the Honors minor must follow the standard graduation requirements. Students should refer to their online Degree Check in Banner to track their progress towards completion of their degree.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Total College-Level Credits (Minimum) A		180
Upper Division Credits (Minimum) B		60
Honors Major C
Major D
Minor E
General Education
Foreign Language Competency
"W" Writing Requirement F		3-8
Cultural Understanding and Engagement		3
Common Curriculum
University Foundations G		10-15
UFDN 1000	The Christian Faith
UFDN 2000/3001	Christian Scripture G
UFDN 3100	Christian Theology
Exploratory Curriculum
Ways of Knowing Quantitative Reasoning		5
Ways of Knowing in the Sciences		5

A

Courses numbered 1000-4999 are considered college level. At least 45 of the 180 credits must be completed at SPU as a matriculated student, including 25 of the last 45 credits for the degree. All college-level courses for which credit is received (for example, general education or courses in the major) apply to the 180 credit requirement.

B

Upper Division courses are numbered 3000-4999 and carry the UD attribute. At least 15 Upper Division credits in the major (10 in the minor) must be completed at SPU as a matriculated student.

C

Completion of the Honors major is required.

D

The completion of one major is required, in addition to the Honors major. See the Standards Governing Completion of a Major for details.

E

The completion of a minor is optional. See the Standards Governing Completion of a Minor for details.

F

Students admitted as First Year or Sophomores are required to take 8 credits. Those admitted as Juniors are required to take 5 credits, and those admitted as Seniors are required to take 3 credits.

G

Students admitted as Juniors or Seniors complete only 10 credits of University Foundations: UFDN 3001 and UFDN 3100.