The Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) Honors Program takes students from all majors and professions and joins them in a community where they can reach their full academic potential! The Honors Program distinguishes its students from the rest of their class with permanent transcript notations indicating their Honors status. Being in the Honors Program also gives students the opportunity to network with professionals in their field while also getting to go on extraordinary trips for close to no cost. There are so many benefits to the IUSB Honors Program, and it’s easy to join!

What are the benefits of the Honors Program?

There are a countless number of benefits to being in the Honors Program, including but not limited to:

Honors Scholarships for every Honors student during the Fall and Spring Semesters.

Attainment of the IU Honors Diploma in addition to your degree, giving you a competitive edge in the job market and graduate school.

Priority class enrollment (Honors students enroll in classes before Seniors, meaning that Honors students are almost never locked out of a class they want).

Membership to the Honors Club where you can meet with similar students and go on great club trips.

Research opportunities with professors and other students.

Access to the Honors study lounge (DW 3248).

How do I join the IUSB Honors Program?

For High School Seniors:

Many times, students with outstanding academic standing in high school are automatically admitted to the program.

If you still want to join but were not automatically admitted, you may contact Victoria Pontius at vpontius@iusb.edu or 574-520-4491, and they'll be glad to work with those who want to join!

Fill out this application and turn it into Honors Office (3286 Wiekamp Hall).

For current IUSB and Transfer students:

Fill out this application and send it to vpontius@iusb.edu.

Have a GPA of 3.5 or greater.

Put together a personal essay and resume and turn it in with your application (it’s really not as scary as it sounds).

How to stay in the Honors Program

Once you’re in, you only have to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.3.

Take an Honors Course every Fall and Spring semester (either take a designated Honors class, or convert a current class by approaching one of your professors and filling an honors contract out to turn into the Honors office).

Get a B+ or higher in each of your Honors courses.

Take Hon-H100 (Honors Seminar) in one of your first two semesters with the Program (this counts as an Honors course).

Have taken a minimum of 18 credit hours of Honors courses before graduation.

Complete at least 10 hours of community service per semester (writing for Odyssey at IUSB counts, by the way).

Attend at least three Honors events every semester and turn in a filled out verification sheet.

For more information, visit the FAQ page on the IUSB Honors website and contact either Dr. Karakatsanis at nkarakat@iusb.edu or Victoria Pontius at vpontius@iusb.edu.

The IUSB Honors Program is first and foremost a family. As a family, we help each other reach our full potential. Don’t worry about the program negatively impacting your GPA or overburdening you. Personally, I go to school full time (15-18 credit hours per semester), work full time (38.5 hours a week), write for Odyssey (a few hours every week) and am still in the IUSB Honors Program. You’ll find that there are many people in the same boat as you when you join the Honors Program.

Either way you look at it, there are virtually no negatives to being in the IUSB Honors Program, and you have everything to gain! So what are you waiting for? Join today!