Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Honors College?

The Honors College is the academic home for Prairie View scholars who want their undergraduate years to be intellectually demanding, creatively alive, and oriented toward purpose. What began as an honors program has grown, over more than a decade of work, into a full college with its own curriculum, faculty, co-curricular labs, national fellowships advising, and a culminating senior thesis. Our inaugural class enrolled over 170 scholars.

Admission and Eligibility

Do I fall into this category?
You do if any of the following describe you:

  • You are currently in high school and entering PVAMU as a new freshman.
  • You have never attended another college after graduating high school. College courses taken while you were a high school student do not count against this.
  • You hold dual-credit or AP/IB credit, and you have not enrolled as a college student since graduation.

What are the eligibility criteria?

  • Cumulative GPA: minimum 3.50 unweighted
  • Standardized test scores: minimum 1240 SAT or 25 ACT
  • University admission: acceptance to Prairie View A&M University for the fall semester

Reach out to the Honors College office directly and we will walk through your scores with you.

Applicants who receive one of the university merit scholarships are automatically accepted.

  • Cumulative GPA: minimum 3.70
  • Academic status: sophomore standing in the fall semester; no juniors or seniors will be accepted.
  • Transfer students are accepted with a merit scholarship
  • Credit hours: minimum of 15 credit hours earned at PVAMU (for non-transfer students)

Scholars maintain the academic standing described in the Student Handbook, complete the honors curriculum, participate in co-curricular workshops and labs, and finish the senior thesis.

Curriculum and Coursework

Four components carry a scholar from arrival through graduation:

  1. The First Year Experience course
  2. Honors Colloquium
  3. Honors Labs/Workshops in teaching, research, and service
  4. Senior Thesis

The college runs a workshop and lab series each semester covering research methods, writing, presentation, graduate school preparation, and professional development. The fall schedule is published in the Student Handbook and distributed through scholar communications.

Yes. Prairie View maintains an active presence at the National Collegiate Honors Council and the National Association of African American Honors Programs, where scholars present research and represent the university.

Fellowships, Awards, and What Comes After

Yes. National fellowships and awards advising is a core function of the college, supported by a dedicated Program Coordinator for the National Fellowships and Awards Program. Scholars have prepared for opportunities including the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, aerospace research fellowships, and the Fashion Scholarship Fund's Virgil Abloh "Post-Modern" Scholarship, with reference guides available through the office.

Yes. The college hosts admissions officers and alumni from graduate and professional programs, builds relationships that become pipelines for Prairie View scholars, and works with students on personal statements, research portfolios, and application strategy.

The first year is not too early. Many national awards ask for a record of sustained research, service, and leadership that takes three years to build. Come talk with us early, and let the timeline work in your favor.

For Families

The Honors College exists to support the scholarly development of each student it serves, drawn from every college and school on campus. Their degree comes from their home college, and the Honors College works alongside that college to add what an undergraduate rarely receives at scale: a research trajectory guided by a mentor in their own discipline and a scholarly community that crosses majors. Your scholar keeps the full strength of a large public university and gains a smaller academic home inside it.

Encourage early use of the office. Scholars who visit us in their first semester tend to find their footing faster, connect with mentors sooner, and arrive at the thesis with a clearer question. Encourage them to read their scholar communications, since course placement, deadlines, and opportunity announcements arrive that way.