ACADEMIC STANDARDS
The Honors Program administers high academic standards. Honors Program staff are responsible for tracking student performance and ensuring that Honors graduation requirements are met. Staff members maintain regular communication with Honors students to update them on their status within the program, to remind them of important deadlines, and to help them to succeed in their academic endeavors.
To maintain "good standing" in the program, Honors students must meet minimum GPA requirements, complete their Honors curriculum in a timely manner, and maintain good character. A student's Cal Poly cumulative GPA is used as the primary measure of academic performance. This GPA must be at least 3.3 at the end of a student's first year. By the end of the second year, this GPA must be at least 3.4. By the end of subsequent years and at the time of graduation, this GPA must be at least 3.5. Students not meeting these academic standards may be disqualified from the Honors Program and prohibited from enrolling in Honors courses.
Current Cal Poly Honors students are encouraged to visit the Honors Program Handbook for more information on academic standards. Please contact the Honors Program office if you have difficulty locating this information.
CURRICULUM
Please see the Quarters to Semesters Link for more information about the Honors Requirements starting Fall 2026.
HONORS COURSES
Students satisfy their elective Honors course requirements by completing HNRS (standard) courses.
HNRS: Courses with this prefix are primarily General Education (GE) courses available through different campus departments. GE Honors courses represent alternatives to the regular GE course offerings and are degree applicable for nearly all majors. These courses are reserved for Honors students and typically have a lower enrollment cap (25 students). The subject matter in these courses is explored with greater depth and focus on interdisciplinary learning. In addition to GE courses, Honors offers seminars and special program courses.
Capstone Seminar: Honors Capstone Seminars (HNRS 4461) are for graduating seniors only. As part of the Honors requirements, students are required to enroll in one capstone seminar during their senior year. The goal of the Honors Capstone Seminar is for students to bring what they have learned in their time at Cal Poly to critically evaluate a topic from an interdisciplinary perspective. Seminar topics will vary depending on faculty expertise.
SCHEDULING
The Honors Program offers a variety of Honors courses every semester. The number of Honors courses offered each semester depends on several factors, including student enrollment, instructor availability, and departmental/program budget constraints. Here you can view Honors Tentative Course Offerings for upcoming semesters. Honors students who pre-plan their course schedules several semesters in advance, allow for some flexibility in their general education course selections, and communicate regularly with Honors Program staff will complete their Honors graduation requirements in a timely fashion.
