Honors - What is Involved

Honors - What is Involved

Highly qualified students may pursue advanced work leading to graduation with honors in the major. Students are eligible for honors coursework if they meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of a minimum of 75 credit hours, including COMM 200 and two of COMM 300, 301, 302, 305.
  • Minimum GPA of 3.25 in all coursework completed at George Mason University.
  • GPA of 3.50 in all communication coursework completed at George Mason University and applied to the major.

To remain eligible for honors coursework, the student must

  • receive a grade of 3.00 (no lower than B) in COMM 490;
  • have the research prospectus approved by the COMM 490 instructor and the honors director; and
  • maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 and a minimum GPA of 3.50 in all COMM coursework  completed at George Mason University and applied to the major.

The Honors program is a fall-spring sequence. COMM 490 in the fall, COMM 491 in the spring.

If eligible to pursue honors coursework, the student will be given a course override and must then enroll in COMM 490. Under the guidance of the COMM 490 instructor, the student will complete a research prospectus for an honors project to be implemented in the following semester in COMM 491.

In the following semester, the student enrolls in COMM 491, Honors Research Project in Communication, which is ordinarily taught by the Honors Program Director. The student conducts his/her research and prepares a written project conforming to the standards set by the instructor. Upon completion of the project, the COMM 490 and 491 instructors and the honors director will determine if the project is of honors quality, which is then indicated by the grade earned in COMM 491. For honors designation, the student must achieve an average grade of 3.50 across COMM 490 and 491 and must also maintain minimum GPA eligibility requirements outlined above.

At the end of the graduating semester, if eligible for honors designation, the student will be contacted to pick up their complementary honors medallion to wear at graduation.

For more information, please contact Dr. Wright, Undergraduate (BA) Program Director at combadir@gmu.edu

Honors in Communication Sequence Topics

The Honors in Communication sequence is completed by fewer than 10 percent of the students in the Department of Communication at Mason.  This prestigious sequence is a unique experience for the students as they are guided through original research by a dedicated faculty member.  Look below to see what previous years' students have researched.  For more information, please contact the Undergraduate Program Director, Dr. Wright (combadir@gmu.edu).