New Honors Program Offered at TAMIU This Fall

Texas A&M International University students interested in challenging themselves with advanced coursework will get that chance starting this Fall.

The TAMIU Honors Program will provide options for outstanding students to acquire University honors certificates or diplomas.

Dr. Deborah Blackwell, TAMIU Honors Program director, said the program provides students an added opportunity to join the University’s most talented undergraduate students and take rigorous courses that will prepare them for the future.

There are several benefits to participating in an honors program, Dr. Blackwell said.

“It gives students the opportunity to work closely with other talented students as well as professors to hone their critical thinking skills,” Blackwell said, “Honors program coursework demands a higher level of reading, writing, and class participation on the part of the students, which enriches their educational experience.”

Recruiting for the TAMIU Honors Program is currently underway, Blackwell said.

First-time freshmen interested in applying for the program must be in the top 5% of their graduating high school class and or have minimum SAT/ACT scores of 1600/24 respectively. Students with at least 12 semester credit hours of TAMIU coursework must have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA to apply. Honors program students must maintain full-time enrollment at TAMIU in order to remain in the program.

There are two options that students can pursue as a part of the TAMIU Honors Program. To receive the honors certificate, students must complete at least 18 semester credit hours in honors coursework. Also, to receive an honors diploma, students must complete at least 36 semester credit hours in honors coursework. In both cases, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 during their freshmen and sophomore years, and a 3.25 during their junior and senior years.

For more information about the TAMIU Honors Program, please contact Dr. Blackwell at 326.2628,
e-mail dblackwell@tamiu.edu or visit the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center, room 323.

University office hours are 8 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu