Non-Course Credit Guidelines
Honors students have often earned a significant number of credit hours before they enter the Reaud Honors College at Lamar University and thus, may encounter challenges in earning honors hours in the core curriculum.
In order to be eligible for non-course credit, you must have earned at least 15 credit hours prior to entering LU's Reaud Honors College.
If this applies to you, non-course credit enables you to address potential shortfalls by earning honors credit for Honors-type activities. Please consult our honors graduation counselor to confirm this option is appropriate for your honors journey.
A student may receive no more than 6 non-course credits:
- Up to six hours of lower-level honors credits
- Up to three hours of upper-level honors credits for research (if not used for HIEP)
You may submit a request for non-course credit for activities you completed outside of Reaud Honors College graduation requirements. (Your non-course credit activities cannot count toward High Impact Educational Practices or Honors Experiences.) You must include documentation demonstrating you completed the activities.
The dean of the Reaud Honors College shall determine whether your activities qualify for honors course hours.
EXAMPLES OF HONORS-TYPE ACTIVITIES SUITABLE FOR NON-COURSE CREDIT
A written report is required to receive non-course credit. The following count as lower-level honors:- Presents or holds a leadership position at academic competitions or in academic or professional development conferences (eg. Honors Councils) – up to three credits
- Research experiences for undergraduates, summer undergraduate research fellowships and O.U.R. grants - six credits
- Model United Nations - three credits
- Stepping Up Civic Leadership - three credits
- Study Abroad – three credits
- Unpaid internships – three credits
- Partners in the Parks – three credits
- Honors Summer Reading Club – one credit (may be repeated for up to three credits total over three summers)
- Honors Conversations – one credit (may be repeated for up to three credits total)
- Job shadowing (if credit hours are not otherwise earned) - three credits for every 15 hours of shadowing, up to six credits
The above examples may count toward your lower-level honors credits.
If you have an undergraduate research project that you are not counting as your HIEP, it may be eligible for up to three hours of upper-level honors credits.
Please contact your Honors Graduation Counselor for guidance.