Skip to main content
Penn State Altoona
Hotline Give Visit Apply
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Research and Engagement
    • Eiche Library
    • Learning Resources Center
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • New Student Orientation
  • Admissions & Financial Aid
    • Visit Us
    • Admissions Overview
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Tuition and Financial Aid Resources
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
  • Student Success
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness
    • Diversity at Penn State Altoona
    • Student Diversity and Inclusion Programming
    • Housing
    • Athletics
    • Career Services
    • Safety and Security
  • Information For
    • Prospective Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Current Students
    • International Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Parents & Families
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Altoona
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Hotline Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • College Leadership
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Learning Resources Center
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Center for Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Student Diversity and Inclusion Programming
    • International Student Services
    • Housing
    • Parking
    • Diversity at Penn State Altoona
    • Police and Safety
    • Career Services
  • Research and Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Community-Based Studies
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame

Find Information For:

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • International Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families

Helpful Links

  • Campus Map
  • Academic Calendar
  • Campus Calendar
  • Faculty & Staff Directory
  • Offices and Divisions
  • Employment Opportunities

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • flickr
  • linkedin
  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Honors Program

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Will being an Honors Student increase my workload? Will I be taking on too much?

Answer: This varies with each student. The purpose of the Honors Program is to make Penn State Altoona a more exciting school for motivated students. The Honors Sections and Honors Options should be qualitatively deeper rather than quantitatively more. It is true that this might involve a bit more reading and writing than a "normal" class. However, this should not take a significantly greater amount of time. Students who already feel overworked before they enter the Honors Program may find the additional Honors requirements to be a chore. However, students who are well prepared and motivated will not notice much difference - except that their classes are more interesting!

Question: If I am already a Penn State Altoona student, what is the deadline for applying to the PSA Honors Program?

Answer: Your application must be in by the second week of the semester in which you intend to start your honors work.

Question: For Penn State students, why is the GPA requirement for entry into the Honors Program 3.50, but the requirement for retention only 3.33?

Answer: Most honors programs adopt such a policy. It does not make good sense to admit students into the Honors Program if they are performing right at the retention cut-off. This puts them in danger of being dismissed from the program during an ensuing semester. Because many students tend to get somewhat higher grades early in their college careers (when classes often are a bit easier), this policy provides a cushion.

Question: Can non-Honors students register for Honors Sections?

Answer: Yes! The Honors Coordinator will sign in non-Honors students (bring a filled-out Drop/Add from the Registrar's Office) as long as they understand that an Honors Section is intended for motivated and engaged students. Honors Sections are NOT available to students who simply are looking for a convenient way to complete their schedule. As the first question (above) notes, the workload for an Honors Section is not greater in quantity. However, if a student is not motivated, then the higher quality of the class will no doubt translate to greater difficulty.

Question: Non-Honors students can take Honors Sections. Does that mean that non-Honors students also can turn one of their standard classes into a special Honors Option?

Answer: No. The Honors Option is available only to students in the PSA Honors Program or the Schreyer Honors College.

Question: Is being a member of the Penn State Altoona Honors Program the same as being a member of the Schreyer Honors College?

Answer: No. The Penn State Altoona Honors Program is distinct from the Schreyer Honors College (SHC). However, the Penn State Altoona Program maintains academic standards that are consistent with SHC. To apply to SHC at the same time that you are applying for admission to Penn State University as a First-Year Student, visit the Application Process page of the Schreyer Honors College site. For all other current students, Schreyer has a Gateway Admission process. For the application, visit the Apply as a Current Student page of the Schreyer Honors College site.

Honors Program

  • Request Information about the Honors Program
  • Criteria for Admission
  • Program Benefits
    • International Education Scholarship Application
  • Curriculum
    • Curriculum Policies
  • Scholarships
  • Schreyer Honors College
  • Administration and Governance
  • Forms
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Events for Honors Students

×

See Also

  • Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Fair
  • Common Read
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Altoona highlighted

Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • flickr
  • linkedin
Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • College Leadership
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Learning Resources Center
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Center for Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Student Diversity and Inclusion Programming
    • International Student Services
    • Housing
    • Parking
    • Police and Safety
    • Career Services
    • Diversity at Penn State Altoona
  • Research & Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Community-Based Studies
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame
  • Stay Connected
    • Faculty and Staff Directory
    • Offices and Divisions
    • Campus Calendar
    • PSUAlert Text Messaging Service
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Penn State Altoona Connect
    • Penn State Student Engagement Network
Penn State University
3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601 814-949-5000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Directory
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2023
  • We Are Penn State