James Scholar Honors Program
The James Scholar Program encourages high achieving undergraduates to expand scholastic opportunities beyond the minimum requirements. Named for one of the University of Illinois's distinguished presidents, Edmund J. James, this program recognizes students of extraordinary ability and achievement.
DGS James Scholars are encouraged to develop transferable skills and academic discipline around the following themes:
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Becoming a James Scholar
Our Honors Director invites eligible students to the program based on the folowing criteria:
- Admitted freshmen in the top 13% of the class, based on academic factors from high school
- Admitted transfer students with a 3.65 cumulative GPA from their previous institution
- Continuing DGS students with a 3.65 cumulative Illinois GPA
Requirements
- Complete two courses for honors credit each academic year
- Maintain a semester and Illinois cumulative GPA of at least 3.50
- Enroll in at least 12 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters
Benefits
- Foster close relationships with faculty and instructors through honors projects
- Access to smaller courses (30 or fewer students) reserved only for James Scholars
- Early registration priority
- Honors recognition on official transcripts and at graduation
Honors Study Abroad Trip
We piloted an exciting DGS study abroad trip this Spring 2013 semester.
Fifteen students enrolled in a short course led by our Executive Director, Keith Marshall, and two of our DGS advisors. The group then traveled to Belgium and Austria during spring break to explore majors and careers in a global context, meet with current Illinois students studying abroad, and visit the European Union and United Nations.
The trip costs for the students were substantially subsidized by the DGS Honors Program. We plan to offer this experience next spring and are looking to add at least one other DGS study abroad destination at a different time of the year.
Learn more about the Spring 2013 DGS Honors Study Abroad Trip
Declaring a Major
Each college offers a James Scholar Program, but requirements may vary. Familiarize yourself with your new college once you declare your campus major:
- Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences
- Applied Health Sciences
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
- Fine and Applied Arts
- Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Media
- Social Work
What if I am also a Chancellor's Scholar?
The James Scholar Honors Program and the Campus Honors Program are designed to allow students invited to both programs the ability to participate fully in each. Therefore, a student can be both a James Scholar and a Chancellor's Scholar at the same time. Campus Honors courses also satisfy James Scholar honors requirements.
Questions about our Honors Program?
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