Skip to main content

Qualifications and Requirements

Guidelines for the Art and Design Department's Academic Honors Program (New guidelines will begin Spring 2021)

The honors program recognizes highly outstanding students in studio practice, research, and artwork who have above-average “A” quality dedication and an exemplary commitment to enhance their ideas and accomplish their goals as artists.

Requirements Specific to Art and Design Majors:

  • Must be a declared Art and Design Major.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.75 in major-specific courses.
  • Must maintain a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.5.
  • Must complete 9 credit hours of honors work in advisor approved electives and a special Capstone Project, which may be either an exhibition, a thesis, or a published work that is presented at Student Showcase.

Nomination Procedures:

Students are nominated by full-time faculty. Students (Junior) should participate in an Art & Design Academic Program and have earned at least 45 semester credit hours with a minimum 3.75-grade point average (GPA) at the nomination time. The honors program nomination process takes place during the Spring semester. 

  • Full-Time Faculty Nominate junior students by Feb. in Spring Semester.
  1. All students completing an Academic Honors program of study are expected to complete a senior capstone activity. The activity can range from an honor’s thesis to a creative work to an undergraduate research project.

  2. Students must present the result of their activity in a scholarly venue approved by their Academic Honors Program Advisor/Mentor (e.g., CMU’s Student Showcase, a regional meeting for the relevant discipline).

  3. All nominees will be reviewed again in their senior year by the Art and Design Department full-time faculty. Nominees will be ranked (method to be determined by the Art and Design full-time faculty), and the honors award will identify top candidates.
  • Studio Art: Honors program candidate students will present their BFA show, and studio faculty will pre-review their performance and discuss in February.

  • Graphic Design and Animation, Filming, Photography, and Motion Design: Honors program candidate students will submit their portfolio and full-time faculty will review, and discuss in February.

    Program Contact
    Professor Suzie Garner
    970.248.1444
    [email protected]

Guidelines for the Art and Design Department's Academic Honors Program Prior to Spring 2021

Students seeking participation in an Academic Honors Program must have earned at least 45 semester credit hours with a minimum 3.50 grade point average (GPA) at the time of application.

All students completing an Academic Honors program of study are expected to complete a senior capstone activity. The activity can range from an honor's thesis to a creative work to an undergraduate research project. Second, students must present the results of their activity in a scholarly venue approved by their Academic Honors Program Advisor (e.g., CMU's Student Showcase, a regional meeting for the relevant discipline).

Admission to the Honors Program is competitive. Applications will be reviewed by the department's faculty members and applicants will be notified on their acceptance status within the timeframe set by the department.

Application Process and Requirements Specific to Art and Design Majors

  • Must be a declared Art and Design major.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.50 in major courses.
  • Must complete the following 9 upper-division credit hours: 6 credit hours of Honors Work by Contract in 300- and/or 400-level courses and a Special Capstone Project which may be either an additional exhibit, a thesis, or a published work that is presented at Student Showcase (3 credit hours).

The Honors Program application process takes place each spring semester.

In addition to meeting the credit hour and GPA requirements, students applying to the Art and Design Honors program should also submit:

  • completed application form; link to form here
  • a cover letter that explains how the Art and Design Honors Program will benefit you and what you will bring to the program
  • your unofficial CMU transcript
  • a portfolio including images of 10-15 different artworks; please limit detail shots to one per artwork. Portfolio must be submitted via one of two methods: either provide a link to your web site or save portfolio images to a flash drive.

Program Contact
Professor Suzie Garner
970.248.1444
[email protected]