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Honors Programs

Helen Hardin Honors College

The Helen Hardin Honors College has a reputation for attracting the brightest students. They come largely because of our extraordinary professors, small classes, and never-ending opportunities to do research in a variety of disciplines. Our students are award winners, having won the Truman, Goldwater, Fulbright, and Rotary scholarships in recent years, as well as major campus awards. The Helen Hardin Honors College provides intellectual challenge and opportunities for outstanding students. The overall goal of the Helen Hardin Honors College is to cultivate a community of intellectually curious and motivated students, while providing opportunities for success while at the University of Memphis and after graduation. There are many advantages associated with membership in the Honors College. 

Herff Honors Program

Honors programs are offered at the departmental level in the Herff College of Engineering. Those who are eligible for and complete the requirements of the honors program will be recognized at the commencement ceremony and have their degree conferred "With Honors" in the appropriate discipline. Specific details for these programs are listed in the undergraduate catalog and summarized below.

Biomedical Engineering Honors Program: The Biomedical Engineering Honors Program is for highly motivated and high achieving students and provides special opportunities to advance the career and professional development of the student. The program aims to develop student talents, interests, and abilities within a curriculum and to encourage independence and creativity. Students are eligible for the honors program in biomedical engineering if they have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.4 with at least junior standing and have received approval from the departmental honors committee. The honors program in biomedical engineering requires a minimum of 10 hours of honors courses in upper division biomedical engineering courses including both BIOM 4800 BME Honors seminar and completion of an honors thesis (BIOM 4999). Those students who complete the program and the regular B.S.B.E. requirements will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degree conferred "With Honors in Biomedical Engineering." Honors designation will also appear on student's diploma and academic transcript.

Civil Engineering Honors Program: Students are eligible for the honors program in Civil Engineering if they have an minimum overall GPA of 3.25 with a junior or senior standing or have received approval of the departmental honors committee. The honors program in civil engineering requires 12 hours of upper division honors courses. Those students who complete the program and the regular B.S.C.E. requirements will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degree conferred "With Honors in Civil Engineering." Moreover, the student's diploma and record at the University of Memphis will reflect this accomplishment. Details concerning this program and honors course offerings are available in the Department of Civil Engineering.

Computer Engineering Honors Program: Students are eligible for the honors program in computer engineering if they have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.4 with at least junior standing and have received approval of the departmental honors committee. The honors program in computer engineering requires a minimum of 8 hours of honors courses in computer engineering and must include honors sections of EECE 4279 and EECE 4280 [W], along with the completion of an honors thesis. (EECE 4999). Those students who complete the program and the regular B.S.C.P . requirements will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degree conferred "With Honors in Computer Engineering." Moreover, the student's diploma and record at the University of Memphis will reflect this accomplishment. Details concerning this program and honors course offerings are available in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Electrical Engineering Honors Program: Students are eligible for the honors program in electrical engineering if they have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.4 with at least junior standing and have received approval of the departmental honors committee. The honors program in electrical engineering requires a minimum of 8 hours of honors courses in electrical engineering and must include honors sections of EECE 4279 and EECE 4280 [W], along with the completion of an honors thesis. (EECE 4999). Those students who complete the program and the regular B.S.E.E. requirements will be recognized at the commencement ceremony by having their degree conferred "With Honors in Electrical Engineering." Moreover, the student's diploma and record at the University of Memphis will reflect this accomplishment. Details concerning this program and honors course offerings are available in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering Honors Program: Incoming freshmen who score a minimum of 26 on the ACT or its equivalent are invited to participate. Transfer students or students previously enrolled at the University of Memphis are eligible for the program if they have an overall grade point average of 3.00 and a grade point average of 3.25 for course work within the Herff College of Engineering. The departmental honors committee admits eligible students to the program upon approval of Intent to Pursue Honors application. Students with academic records that fall short of these requirements may apply for provisional acceptance.

Participants must maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.00 and a minimum grade point average of 3.25 for course work within the college to continue in the program. The departmental honors committee may grant participants failing to meet this requirement a one semester probationary period before they are dismissed from the program.

To qualify for "With Honors in Mechanical Engineering", a student must successfully complete a minimum of 18 semester hours from the following: 1) MECH 4395 and MECH 4396, 2) 9 credits of upper division mechanical engineering honors courses, and 3) 3 credits of MECH 1395, MECH 2395, or MECH 3395. A minimum grade of "B" is required in each honors course for it to count toward fulfilling the honors course requirement, but regular credit for the course will be earned if the grade is lower than a "B".

A participant must select a major advisor during the first semester senior year and enroll in MECH 4395. Successful completion of this course requires acceptance of a thesis proposal by the departmental honors committee. During the second semester of the senior year a participant must enroll in MECH 4396. Successful completion of this course requires acceptance of a thesis by the departmental honors committee.

Students successfully completing the prescribed course work will have earned the designation of "With Honors in Mechanical Engineering." This designation will be recognized at the commencement ceremony and it will appear on the transcript and diploma.


Honors Assembly

Honors Assembly is an annual university event in which outstanding students from across the university are recognized for their accomplishments. Awards by department include: 

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Outstanding Senior Award
Presented annually to the outstanding senior in biomedical engineering based upon scholarship, leadership and service.

Department of Civil Engineering

Dr. Fred H. Kellogg Award
Presented annually to the student graduating in that academic year, who, in the opinion of the faculty, is most likely to be an outstanding professional engineer. In selecting the recipient, the faculty will consider a combination of academic performance, demonstrated design capability, and those qualities of leadership, personality and character that will contribute to the successful practice of Civil Engineering.

Dr. Thomas S. Fry Award
Presented to the graduating student who has demonstrated academic achievement with a minimum of the last 60 credit hours of course work at The University of Memphis, and who has earned the highest GPA.

Dr. T. S. Wu Award
Given annually by the Civil Engineering Department to the senior who exemplifies the engineering design qualities and characteristics which were exemplified by Dr. T.S. Wu, Professor Emeritus, of the Civil Engineering Department.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Outstanding Senior Award :  Presented annually to the outstanding senior in electrical and computer engineering based upon scholarship, leadership and service.

Department of Engineering Technology

Outstanding Senior Award
Presented annually to the outstanding senior in engineering technology based upon scholarship, leadership and service.

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Outstanding Senior Award
Presented annually to the outstanding senior in mechanical engineering based upon scholarship, leadership and service.

College-Wide Awards

Dean's Award
Presented annually to the graduating student who has complied the highest academic achievement in the Herff College of Engineering.