Cleves Honors Program

• To build and sustain a learning community through engagement with a (co)curriculum that is expansive, interdisciplinary, and distinctive.
• To foster the life of the mind and perspectives that enable members to thrive in the community they help create at Thomas More University.
• Opportunities to interact with a group of fellow gifted individuals.
• An outer core curriculum composed of Honors-designated courses.
• Completion of the program is recognized by a special cord at graduation and Honors designation in the graduation program.

• Complete the online application located at thomasmore.edu/honors.
• If you have not already done so, submit your high school transcript. A GPA placing you in the top 10% of last year’s entering class increases your chances of selection.
• ACT/SAT score submission is optional. If you choose to submit, composites of 25+ (ACT) or 1210+ (SAT) strengthen an application.
• Upon receiving an admission offer, selected students will be invited to discuss their goals and interests with the Honors faculty.
• Scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $2,000 per academic year are available for the most gifted Honors applicants. The disbursement of scholarships is overseen by the Office of Enrollment Services. Scholarship awards are renewable for up to four academic years provided that students maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in their college coursework.

• 9-12 credit hours of outer core classes with the Honors designation
• Capstone thesis/project under the direction of a faculty member (may be in the major discipline)
• Maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA
• Completion of Honors non-credit courses
• Positive contributions to Honors programming

A student who completes all requirements receives a cord to wear at graduation and achieves the “Honors” designation on the Commencement program and on the diploma.

Cleves Honors Program (CHP) courses are 0 credits and are graded pass/fail.

FIRST YEAR

• Students enroll in CHP100 in the fall and spring.
• CHP100 in the fall meets weekly and discusses a variety of topics. The goal is to create a sense of community, meet the Honors faculty team, and increase wellness and academic literacy while acting as a support structure for the first-year student.
• CHP100 in the spring meets on the first Monday of the month for diverse activities.
• An Honors-designated core course in the spring is highly recommended.
• The Spring 2024 Honors-designated outer course is LAW/HIS255: Constitutional History, taught by Dr. Robert Stern.

SOPHOMORE 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 activities the group has suggested and designed.
• Summer Study Away experience (recommended before the junior year).
• For Fall 2024, the Honors-designated core course is an English course taught by Dr. Adam Stier.

JUNIOR 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.
• For Spring 2026, the Honors-designated interdisciplinary course is a psychology course taught by Dr. Whitney Pugh.
• Students participate in the Student Research Forum in the spring.
• Summer internship project/faculty-led student research project (before the senior year).

SENIOR YEAR

• Students take one Honors-designated course related to the thesis (fall or spring).
• Capstone thesis/project.
• Students enroll in CHP400 and help mentor first-year Honors students.

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