Frequently Asked Questions

No. Students in the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College pay standard SDSU rates for tuition and fees. There is no additional cost to enroll in Honors courses. 

Yes. The Honors curriculum is very flexible and can work with any major on campus. Your academic advisor in your major and your Honors College adviser will work with you to design a plan of study that includes all of your major and Honors requirements in a way that fits with your academic and professional goals. 

Not necessarily. Students use Honors courses to fulfill requirements for their major and minor fields of study. Honors general education coursework automatically counts toward university general education requirements, contracted courses fulfill upper-division course requirements in your major, and the Honors Colloquium and independent study experiences may be used as electives within your program. At most, students will enroll in 3-6 additional credits to complete the Honors requirements. 

No. You decide which classes you want to take as Honors sections, and Honors students enroll in both Honors and non-Honors classes each semester. 

Honors courses are not meant to be more difficult, but rather offer an enriched experience with the same subject matter as the non-Honors sections. For example, students in Honors Calculus don't just learn the equations--they learn about the history and the people who discovered them. Students in Honors Sociology are asked to find their own real world examples of the concepts they are learning about to go along with class lectures and readings. 

Students in Honors courses are asked to think critically and deeply about what they are learning, and there tends to be more discussion and interaction among the students and faculty in Honors courses. There are high expectations in Honors courses, but those expectations come with high levels of support from your instructor and fellow students.

No. Honors is the ultimate well-rounded student experience. Grounded in an intense intellectual approach to academics, the Honors experience is also fun and can open doors to opportunities for leadership, service, travel and friendship. Honors students make the most of their time out of class as athletes, musicians, undergraduate researchers and leaders of student organizations.

Honors students are some of the most involved students on campus. Some are varsity athletes or members of the Hobo Day Committee, while others become involved in service organizations or march in the Pride of the Dakotas. Many students have part-time jobs. The Honors curriculum is flexible, so you can be involved with Honors while still having all of the other experiences you are hoping for in college. And you will have support from the Honors staff as you figure out how to best integrate the Honors requirements with your broader university experience. 

You have several options: Request an Honors appointment when you visit campus. Visit with a representative from the Fishback Honors College. Sign up for an Honors course at New Student Orientation. Send us an email! Just get started. Truly extraordinary opportunities await.