Study Abroad/Away and Honors
Honors requirements that can be fulfilled:
HNR 300: Campus/Community Engagement
- Substitute any course you complete during your study abroad for HNR 300.
HNR 401 and HNR 499: Senior Project Proposal and Honors Senior Project
- Substitute any course you complete during your study abroad for HNR 401/499. Reflection paper required.
Course Approval Process
After completing your program, submit the Study Abroad Proposal to tell us which course(s) you completed that will satisfy your Honors requirements.
HNR 401/499 Reflection Paper
Submit this reflection paper with your Study Abroad Proposal to fulfill HNR 401/499 through a course taken abroad.
Please compose a 1- to 2-page, single-spaced reflection on how your experience contributed to your honors education. Reflect on the entirety of your experience, including your course work and your experiences outside of the classroom (i.e., sight-seeing, mass transportation, lodging, encounters with other people, buying food, etc.). Be sure to include some attention to what you consider an honors education to be.
Current programs within the Honors College:
Water in the West
Join Professor Wampler for this high-impact learning experience. This program is a deep dive into learning about water issues first-hand through experts and experience. Students will earn 6 credits and travel to the southwestern United States (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico). Learn more here
Finding a Program
Honors students can participate in any available program! Visit the Padnos International Center to begin your study abroad journey.
Study Abroad FAQs
Why should Honors students consider studying abroad?
Studying abroad allows students to embody the Honors College motto of "live, learn, lead". Imagine walking through a crowded street filled with the aromas of the food vendors and fish dealers in Costa Rica, or studying development and social change in Nepal. Honors students who choose to study abroad will live in a foreign country, immersed in a culture different from their own!
Am I required to obtain the GVSU course equivalency from each academic department for my study abroad courses before submitting my reflection essay and Study Abroad Proposal?
Yes. You must secure the departmental approval for each course you complete abroad before you can complete the Study Abroad Proposal. All courses completed abroad are assigned a GVSU course equivalency by the relevant academic department. The course equivalency is a required field on the Proposal form.
Can I obtain approval for my Study Abroad Proposal prior to departure?
Students will not receive final approval prior to studying abroad. The Study Abroad Proposal form requires a written reflection essay to be attached when you are requesting approval to fulfill the HNR 401/499 requirement. Students may check with an Honors Advisor prior to studying abroad to make sure their requirements will be fulfilled, but this is not required.
How will I know if the course I complete abroad will fulfill my Honors requirements if I cannot request prior approval?
The requirements for fulfilling HNR 300 and/or HNR 401/499 are: The course(s) you complete abroad must each be approved as a minimum of a 3-credit course at GVSU. It can be more than 3 credits, but it must be a minimum of 3 GVSU credits.
Can I get credit for Honors and my major/minor with the same course?
Yes. If the course you complete abroad meets a major or minor requirement, it can also be used to meet an Honors requirement.
When will my myPath be updated to reflect that HNR 300 and/or HNR 401/499 are complete?
It may take several weeks for your myPath to be updated. You will only hear from the Honors College Office staff if there are any concerns or questions about your proposal.
Can Semester in Detroit fulfill HNR 300 or HNR 401/499?
Yes, Honors requirements can be completed through the Semester in Detroit program.