In general, the concept of academic honors programs in higher education focuses resources on especially able students who are interested in challenging themselves at unusually high levels. This concept does not translate to the College of Engineering programs. All engineering classes are challenging, focused, and require high academic ability in math and science. Further, in engineering, resources must be used to make sure all engineering graduates—not just a few—excel in every respect. Nonetheless, honors opportunities are available on a limited basis in the College of Engineering.
EHLA allows for a small group of highly motivated students who have special, broad interests in liberal arts to take challenging background courses in physical science, natural science, humanities, foreign language, and social science to supplement their engineering program. The EHLA program will allow students access to honors sections in these College of Letters & Science courses. Honors courses in physical and natural science are available to invited engineering freshmen whether or not they are selected for EHLA. Conversely, no engineering courses are available as honors courses. Admission to EHLA is based on applications from high school students submitted before May 23 of their last year in high school. Fewer than 30 students are admitted each year. Interested students can find the application on the College of Engineering website and should contact Dr. Andrew Greenberg at greenberg2@wisc.edu with questions.
The EHLA designation will be awarded to those admitted to the EHLA program who meet the following requirements when they graduate with an engineering degree:
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 in all honors courses through the semester in which all criteria for EHLA are met;
- Completion of at least 24 credits in Honors courses with grades of B or better;
- Completion of at least 6 credits in Honors courses in the humanities, 6 credits in social sciences, and 6 credits in natural sciences;
- Completion of at least 15 Honors credits in courses with the designation "H" or "!" (honors sections).
Because the classes for which Honors designation is available are taken mainly in the first year, students do not apply to the EHLA program once they begin in the College of Engineering. Students can, however, transfer from the College of Letters & Science Honors in Liberal Arts program into the EHLA program provided they transfer into an engineering program in their first two years.