About The Honors College

The Honors College at Radford University exists in order to assist highly motivated and intellectually mature students in making the most of their education. At Radford University making the most of your education means interacting in an academic setting with not only your fellow students, but also working collaboratively with your professors. It also means developing leadership skills and an appreciation for other cultures. Finally, it means that the knowledge gained through all these endeavors does not remain as isolated experiences. Instead, honors students begin to see that there is continuity among all these sources of knowledge. The Radford University Honors College is a member of the National Collegiate Honors Council, the Southern Regional Honors Council, and the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council.

Definition of Honors at Radford University:

Honors at Radford University is an academic program and community defined by intellectual curiosity and active engagement in the educational process. In turn, these qualities are expected to result in the pursuit of excellence in one's scholarly and creative activities.

Mission of the Honors College at Radford University:

  1. Give recognition for academic excellence
  2. Provide opportunities for more academic rigor
  3. Foster a community of distinction

Outcomes of an Honors Education at Radford University:

As a result of completing the honors curriculum and participating in the community at Radford University, graduates will be able to:

  • Embrace challenging, novel situations that require creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability
    • seek out situations that expand one's intellectual and interpersonal boundaries
    • display an enthusiasm for learning
    • integrate knowledge across disciplines
    • seek experiences with persons whose ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic background is different from one's own
  • Solve meaningful problems through research and creative activities 
    • participate in research/creative activities with faculty mentors
    • produce their own research