Thomas More's prestigious University Honors Program, named after former Thomas More president Msgr. William F. Cleves, fosters a learning environment with an expansive interdisciplinary curriculum and a focus on diverse contributions to the community. The Honors Program engages emerging scholars from the top 10% of their high school class with honors-specific courses, research opportunities, and activities centered around academic and personal growth and development. The honors scholarship is renewable for four years and varies in amount depending on your academic record and the strength of your application. To be eligible to apply for the Honors Program, you must be admitted to Thomas More University and have achieved a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA in high school. A standardized test score is not required. Applications are not accepted from students currently enrolled full-time at Thomas More University. Upon enrollment at Thomas More as an honors student, you must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA and participate in honors programming to maintain your membership. Senior honors students will receive the honors cord and designation on their diplomas at graduation. Please submit the application form below to apply for the Honors Program. The deadline for this competitive scholarship is January 1, 2027. Official admission letters will be released after January 1. If you have any questions about the Honors Program, please contact Dr. Maria C. Garriga, director, at garrigm@thomasmore.edu. Questions about the scholarship application process may be directed to Nathan Connor in the Office of Admissions at connorn@thomasmore.edu or (859)-344-3643. Students who have been notified of their admission into the Honors Program may click here to submit their contract and secure their place as an Honors student.
Goals
Build and sustain a learned community through engagement with a (co)curriculum that is expansive, inter-disciplinary, and distinctive.
Foster the life of the mind and perspectives that enable members to thrive in the community they help create at Thomas More University.
Benefits to Students
Opportunities to interact with a group of like-minded individuals.
Core course options of honor-designated courses.
Prestige and academic challenge in a supportive environment.
Fostering the life of the mind.
Learning better together.
Completion of the program is recognized by a special cord at graduation and MCUHP designation in the graduation program.
Entrance Requirements
High school GPA that places a student on the top 10% of last year’s entering class
Optional ACT score
300-word essay
Post-acceptance conversations with Honors Faculty
Scholarships
MCUHP designated scholarships may be available. The disbursement of scholarships is the purview of Enrollment Services through the Office of Financial Aid. Typically, scholarships automatically renew for four years. They have the following requirements: Policy - Scholarship Renewal Policy (thomasmore.edu)
Program Requirements Completion of three honor designated core courses during their time at Thomas More. (Major-specific honor designated courses available at the purview of each individual department in consultation with the MCUHP steering committee.)
Completion of a CHP course each semester of enrollment at Thomas More.
Maintaining a 2.75 or higher GPA
A student who completes all requirements will receive a cord to wear at graduation and achieve the “Honors” designation on the Commencement program and on the diploma.
Honor-designated core courses
MCUHP students will get first opportunity to enroll in the honors-designated core curriculum courses. These honor-designated courses will be part of the core requirements.
If the student does not “need” the course to count for their core curriculum, they are able to request to take the course P/F.
If the student does not “need” the course to count for their core curriculum, they are able to take the course as an elective.
As upper classmen (third and fourth year), a student may request the Honors designation in a major course if this is allowed/encouraged by their major advisor. The major advisor will then work with the steering committee of the MCUHP to document additional work to be completed.
Proposed Program Structure
CHP designated courses are 0 credit and are graded on P/F scale.
First year
Students enroll in CHP100 in the fall and spring.
CHP100 in the fall meets weekly to discuss a variety of topics. The goal is to create a sense of community, meet the MCUHP faculty team, and increase wellness and academic literacy while acting as a support structure for the first-year student.
CHP100 in the spring meets once a month for diverse activities.
An honors designated core course in the spring is highly recommended.
Second year
Students enroll in one honors-designated course from core offerings (fall or spring)
Students enroll in CHP200 for fall and spring. CHP200 meets monthly to do the activities the group had suggested and designed.
Summer Study Away experience (recommended before their third year)
Third year
Students take one honors designated course from one of the 300-level interdisciplinary honors offerings (fall or spring).
Students enroll in CHP300. CHP300 has designated monthly meeting times to be used as a resource for academic/personal time.
It is recommended that students participate in the Student Research Forum in the spring.
It is recommended that students complete a summer internship project/faculty-led student research project (before their senior year)
Fourth year
Students enroll in CHP400 and help mentor first years.
Faculty Leadership Team
Team’s role:
To facilitate students’ examinations and reflections on the impact of the college experience in their life-long personal growth and ongoing professional development.
Professors Adam Stier (English and Creative Writing),