uc approved honors level classes

Freshman requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)

GPA requirement

• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
• Health care & insurance

AP & Exam credits

Applying as a freshman

• Filling out the application
• Dates & deadlines
• Personal insight questions
• How applications are reviewed
• After you apply

Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

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• Who can get financial aid
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Apply for financial aid

• Cal Dream Act application tips
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• Santa Barbara
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For California residents

For nonresidents

California applicants must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and nonresidents must earn a minimum 3.4 GPA in all A-G or college-preparatory courses to meet this requirement.  To see how to calculate your UC GPA, follow our instructions below. 

How to calculate your UC GPA

1. convert your grades to grade points..

Convert the letter grades earned in all A-G courses completed between summer after 9th grade through summer after 11th grade to grade points: A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 points. (Pluses and minuses don't count.)

If you're a California resident and want to know which of your classes count as A-G courses, see your  high school’s A-G course list .  If you're not a California resident, referring to the A-G course list site (a database of UC-certified course lists in California schools) and the 15 college-preparatory course categories can provide guidance on the types of courses that have been UC-approved.

2. Give yourself an extra point for each semester of a UC honors-level course, with a maximum of 8 points between 10th and 11th grades.

For California residents: 

• Honors courses are Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate Higher Level (IB HL) and designated Standard Level (IB SL) courses, UC-transferable college courses and UC-certified honors courses that appear on  your school's course list .
• For 10th grade, you cannot use more than 4 honors points.
• Grades of D or F in an honors course do not earn an extra point.
• Grades of CR (credit) or P (pass) in an honors course do not earn an extra point.
• Classes taken during the summer after 9th grade count as 10th grade; classes in summer after 10th grade count as 10th grade; classes in summer after 11th grade count as 11th grade.
• One college course = one grade = one honors point.

Nonresidents: 

In calculating an out-of-state student's GPA to determine if the 3.4 minimum has been met, UC will grant honors weight for AP or IB courses only, but not for school-designated honors courses. The weight is given to letter grades of A, B, or C. School-designated honors courses may be considered in the campus comprehensive review process.

3. Add up all the points to find out your total grade points.

4. divide your total grade points by the number of letter grades earned in courses taken between the summer after 9th grade through summer after 11th grade..

This is your UC GPA (for example: 3.57). Do not round up or down.

Competency-based learning and assessments

Students attending a school exclusively using a non-traditional, narrative or ‘mastery’ transcript for assessment can only be considered for admission by exception . If your school assigns grades in addition to the competency-based assessment, UC will use the grades from your GPA-based transcript to calculate a GPA for admission.

Freshman Application Tips

Tips for applying to uc davis as a freshman.

Learn best practices for filling out the  UC application .

Reporting coursework and grades

Your academic record is the core of your application. It’s important to report all your UC-approved college preparatory coursework — whether taken at a high school or college — completely and accurately. Include courses in which you have enrolled, regardless of grades, transferability, withdrawal or if they were repeated.

Honors courses

The honors box on the UC application form is used to designate a course for which an extra grade point is awarded for a letter grade of C or better. There are four different types of honors courses:

• Advanced Placement (AP)
• Designated International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
• College courses (CL); applies only to UC-transferable college courses
• UC-approved school-designated honors-level courses (HL)

If you attend a California public high school, see your high school’s UC-approved course list for more information about honors courses. Only UC-approved courses that are listed as honors are eligible to receive an extra grade point.

Nonresident applicants should check the honors box (AP, IB, CL)  for AP, IB and UC-transferable college courses as appropriate for all of the above.

Reporting international education

Non-letter grades

If you are a domestic applicant and your school uses a non-letter grade system, you will need to take some additional steps in completing the application. First, check with your high school counseling office to see if there is a conversion scale to the A-B-C-D-F letter grade system. If a conversion scale does not exist, do not attempt to translate your grades yourself. List the grades exactly as they appear on your transcript, and check the box that indicates your school uses a grading system other than A-B-C-D-F. Your application will be reviewed by a UC advisor who will translate these marks accordingly.  

College courses taken while in high school

If any college/university-level courses were completed while in high school, add the college information after the high school information.

If UC-transferable courses were taken at a California community college (CCC), a course list will appear:

• Select the course(s) taken, grade earned (or enter IP for In Progress, PL for Planned courses) and the "a-g" subject area in which the course fits. UC-transferable courses taken at a CCC can be found on Assist.org under the “College courses taken while in high school” section.

If non-UC-transferable or non-CCC courses were taken while in high school, students must manually input course information:

• Only non-UC-transferable courses in English and math can be reported in this section of the application.
• If there are other CCC courses that are non-UC-transferable, report them in the ‘Non a-g Coursework’ area later in the application.
• If college/university courses were not taken at a CCC, enter each course and grade earned as it appears on the official academic record from the college/university attended.

Any gaps in your educational chronology should be explained in the Additional Information section of the UC application; only a brief description of what you were doing during these breaks in your education is necessary.  Letters of recommendation and other materials

Please do not include letters of recommendation, copies of awards, transcripts or samples of your academic or creative work with your application. They will not be reviewed or returned to you.

Choosing a major

You should apply to a major that interests you, rather than to one in which you think you have the best chance of admission. We also suggest that you include an alternate major in case you are not admitted in your first choice.

How your application is reviewed

During the selection process, UC Davis conducts a comprehensive review of every freshman application to ensure each applicant is assessed thoroughly and fairly.

We evaluate every application using 13 criteria that all UC campuses adhere to. We consider a broad range of factors, from traditional academics to extracurricular achievement and response to life challenges, but we're looking beyond the numbers to find out who you really are!

Checking your status

In December, you should receive a confirmation email from UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions containing your UC Davis student ID number. Use your student ID number to set up your MyAdmissions account.

Palisades Charter High School

PALISADES CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL

UC Approved Honors Level on application

Is it OK to select “HL” for the honor code even though we are OOS? I’m hoping this will help the AO notice that my D took honors level courses, but at the same time I don’t want to raise a red flag.

btw, HL designates UC Approved Honors Level.

Honors level classes are not recognized by the UC’s for OOS applicants. Only AP and IB classes will be considered for the Honors points in the GPA calculation regardless of how the course is listed on your transcript.

OK, so it’s best to list them as “NH” no honors?

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Home » University Of California, San Diego » What Does Hl Mean In Uc Application?

What Does Hl Mean In Uc Application?

Table of Contents

honors-level courses. UC-approved school-designated honors-level courses (HL)

What does HL and NH mean in UC application?

Designate the Honors Type using: ∙ AP, IB, HL ( Honors Level ) or NH (Not Honors).

What are UC approved honors level?

There is no limit to the number of UC-designated honors-level high school courses that may be approved for an institution’s A-G course list. Honors-level courses are specialized, advanced courses designed for 10th-, 11th- or 12th-graders who have already completed foundation work in the subject area .

What does CR mean in UC application?

Credit Transcript codes vary by college; refer to campus for transcript legends. CR = Credit . NC = No Credit. PS = Pass.

What does units mean on UC application?

Units of Credit Most University courses are assigned a unit value. One unit represents three hours of work per week by the student, including both class attendance and preparation .

Is Pre IB the same as honors?

In order to prepare for the academic rigor of the eleventh and twelfth grade IB courses, during grades 9 and 10, IB students take state approved Pre-IB courses and some Honors courses; the Pre-IB courses at Gables are at a more accelerated level than corresponding Honors courses at regular high schools .

What does IB honors mean?

Honors courses are more academically challenging courses offered by a student’s high school . There is no standardization for what designates “honors,” and it can vary from school to school. Honors courses can prepare students for higher-level courses (AP/IB) and college work in the future.

What is honor type HL?

There are four different types of honors courses: Advanced Placement (AP) Designated International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. College courses (CL); applies only to UC-transferable college courses. UC-approved school-designated honors-level courses (HL)

What is a good GPA for UC?

A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. For the most competitive campuses—including UC-Berkeley, UCLA, and UC-San Diego— many students earn GPAs near 4.0 or higher . UC campuses also consider your senior year grades and courses before granting final admittance.

Is a 3.4 GPA good in college?

A 3.4 GPA will look good on your college applications . Being above the national average of 3.0 will work in your favor come admission time. That said, it’s a good idea to round out your college application with high standardized test scores and plenty of extra curricular activities to support your strong GPA.

What is WF in UC application?

WF means Withdrawal Failing Withdrawals after the last day to drop without a grade will result in a grade of W (does not affect the student’s grade point average nor is credit earned). Note: You can also find this information in the University Catalog, “Grades.”

What does WF mean in college?

Any course withdrawal made after the last day to withdraw without incurring a WF grade ( withdrawal failing ) that calculates as an “F” in the GPA.

What does PS mean in college application?

Professional Studies (PS) courses are designed to cultivate and enrich students’ knowledge and skills for and within the workplace.

Do UC schools accept C?

Very often the UCs accept a C grade ; in fact, I might say more often than not the odds are in your favor — but not always. And if they don’t accept the C, it usually revolves around one of the aforementioned items.

How many hours is 3 units in college?

Typically, one unit, or one hour of class, will require two hours of study time. Consequently, a 3 unit course would require three hours of lectures, discussions, or labs and six hours of independent studying . A 3 unit course will, therefore, necessitate about nine hours of your time.

Is 12 units a lot?

For many students on their parent’s insurance, tax or other purposes, 12 units is usually considered full-time . However, a new student working towards a two-year or Career Associate degree (90 units required) would need to complete 15 units a quarter for six quarters (3 quarters to an academic year).

Is Pre-IB the same as AP?

Pre-IB classes have a strong emphasis on developing speaking and listening skills. Pre-AP Advanced Level classes have a strong emphasis on problem solving and critical thinking skills. Pre-IB classes are more integrated than Pre-AP Advanced Level classes due to an interdisciplinary focus.

Do colleges prefer AP or IB?

Do Colleges Prefer AP or IB? Colleges typically do not state a preference for AP or IB courses . Both options are rigorous and can help you earn college credit depending on your exam scores. If your school only offers AP or IB, you may want to simply stick with what is available.

Is honors or AP better?

Are honors classes considered lower than AP? In a way, yes. AP classes typically have a higher GPA weight because of their difficulty, and they may cover more challenging material. Since AP classes provide college-level coursework, schools may value them more than honors courses .

What does IB stand for in school?

International Baccalaureate Organization © International Baccalaureate Organization 2012. The International Baccalaureate Organization (known as the IB) offers four high-quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools, aiming to create a better, more peaceful world.

What is IB in high school?

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a worldwide, nonprofit education program founded to give all students the opportunity to receive an education fit for a globalizing world . There are four IB education programs, all of which are intended to develop students’ intellectual, emotional, personal and social skills.

By Paul Arnold

Paul Arnold is an education expert with over 25 years of experience in the field. He has worked in both public and private schools, as well as colleges and universities. Paul is passionate about helping students learn and grow, and he has written extensively on the topic of education. He currently works as a professor at a local college.

When he's not teaching or writing, Paul enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. He also likes playing golf and watching sports. Paul is a big fan of the Boston Celtics and New England Patriots.

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College-preparatory elective

Course content guidelines.

All courses approved for college-preparatory elective (G) must satisfy the following:

• Be academically challenging.
• Involve substantial reading and writing.
• Include problem-solving and laboratory work, as appropriate.
• Show serious attention to analytical thinking and research skills
• Develop students’ oral and listening skills.
• Incorporate learning to develop skills and cultivate interest in the academic enterprise.

Courses specifically approved in the G subject area include those such as political science, economics, geography, humanities, psychology, sociology, anthropology, journalism, speech or debate, computer science, computer programming and others or be interdisciplinary in nature, drawing knowledge from two or more fields.

Approved courses that cannot be categorized in any of the A-F areas must provide academically challenging study at the same level of rigor as courses in the A-F subject matter fields.

One year of college-preparatory coursework required, chosen from: courses approved specifically in the elective (G) subject area, or courses approved in the A-F subject areas beyond those used to satisfy the requirements of the A-F subjects.

For information on how a student can fulfill UC A-G admissions requirements, please visit the UC Admissions website .

Honors Course Criteria & Guidance

Honors-level elective courses categorized specifically in the (G) subject area will demonstrate distinctive features that set them apart from non-honors coursework covering the same discipline(s).

UC honors-level elective (G) courses must also meet the general A-G honors-level course criteria .

Core Competencies

The intent of the college-preparatory elective requirement is to encourage prospective UC students to fill out their high school programs with courses taken in grades 9-12 that:

• Strengthen general study skills (e.g., analytical reading, expository writing, and oral communications).
• Provide students an opportunity to begin work that could lead directly into a major program of study.
• Expose students, at some depth, to new disciplines that might form the basis for future major or minor studies at the University.

Home » Campus Life » University Honors Program

University Honors Program

Passionate people changing the world.

The University Honors Program (UHP) is committed to helping students maximize their educational opportunities at UC while discovering and pursuing their passions in life and using their gifts and talents to make meaningful contributions to society. We believe experiential learning and consistent reflection can help students leave their unique imprint on campus and in their communities.

The University Honors Program comprises students in the top 7% of University of Cincinnati undergraduates, nearly 1500 in total across all nine undergraduate colleges. We offer an inclusive community in which students are inspired to make an impact from their very first semester on campus. Our students focus on UC's Next Lives Here core values of inclusion, innovation, and impact to then graduate among the most competitive professionals in the world.

To that end, we are invested in developing students into  global citizen scholars  who lead innovative efforts toward solving the world's complex problems.

We're hiring for a Student Assistant for Media and Design

The University Honors Program is hiring a Media & Design Student Assistant for Spring 2024. This opportunity offers 4-8 hours per week for Spring 2024. With good performance, you may be invited to return in future semesters at 10-15 hours per week. There is some flexibility for hybrid work. 

What makes UHP Different?

• Honors housing communities on campus
• Priority course registration
• Leadership opportunities
• Personalized Honors advising
• Exclusive research opportunities

Interested in Joining University Honors?

Do you strive to be an engaged student passionate about making an impact in your field, on campus, in your communtiies, or across the world? Are you looking for a program that will encourage you to explore your interests and provide support to maximize your opportunities? Each fall, the University Honors Program recruits new students who are excited to join this community of diverse scholars to be better leaders, innovators, and explorers.

Fall applications for current UC students will open September 13 and close November 26. High school students must indicate their interest in being considered through the Common Application, which must be submitted by December 1. Click the appropriate link below for more details.

Signature Programs

This signature undergraduate research program engages UHP students in full-time summer research with UC faculty mentors in the humanities, social sciences, education, business, music, arts, and other non-STEMM disciplines.

The Biomedical Research and Mentoring Program (RaMP) is a pre-approved honors experience geared towards first- and second-year UHP students interested in gaining research experience. Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows mentor undergraduate UHP students in their research labs.

Tales of Resilience is a pre-approved honors experience that promotes empathy and fellowship through shared storytelling. The group will engage in tabletop role-playing in a fantasy setting, using the Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition System. No prior experience with this game is required to participate.

UHP students are leaders in almost every aspect of the campus and local community, so we are providing a space for UHP student leaders across campus to collaborate with and learn from each other. Students will navigate the challenges and opportunities in leading student groups in today’s constantly changing landscape.

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Honors Program

• Types of Honors Courses
• Honors Teaching
• Creating an Honors Course
• Honors Conversions

Honors courses at UConn can take a variety of administrative forms. " Honors courses" are those in which enrolled students earn Honors credit automatically upon earning a B- or better (this is known as the Honors grading basis ), as opposed to Honors conversions , in which a separate contract is required.

In most cases, registration in Honors courses is limited to Honors students (the Honors reserve cap ), plus non-Honors students who have the permission of the instructor. We encourage instructors to allow Honors students sufficient registration time and then to issue permission numbers to non-Honors students who understand the heightened expectations and who, based on interest in the course material, demonstrated academic ability, and academic preparation, appear likely to succeed in the course.

All students enrolled in an Honors course earn Honors credit when they earn a B- or better , regardless of whether they are enrolled in the Honors Program. This Honors credit is denoted on the academic transcript.

Courses created as Honors

Some courses are created to only be offered as Honors. The  Honors grading basis  is set at the catalog level, so they  cannot be offered as non-Honors.

These courses might be alternatives to non-Honors courses that cover similar content. This allows the courses to have different catalog descriptions and pre-requisites. For example, MATH 1151Q can substitute for MATH 1131Q, and ENGL 2011 fulfills the university's first-year writing requirement.

Grade forgiveness : When non-Honors and Honors courses have different catalog numbers, they are considered different courses for the purpose of repeat registration and grade forgiveness. Therefore, if a student wishes to replace the grade earned in the Honors course, they must retake it as Honors.

Other courses do not have non-Honors equivalents. They incorporate content and pedagogy appropriate for the motivation and high academic abilities of Honors students, and they may include material that goes beyond any one non-Honors course. Several of these, such as AMST 1700 (Honors Core: American Landscapes); HIST/LLAS 1570 (Migrant Workers in Connecticut), were created for the Honors Core .

Honors versions of existing courses

Any letter-graded course may be offered as Honors by setting the Honors grading basis for the section. Usually the section will also have the Honors reserve cap, but this is not required. This is done through the standard course scheduling process; Honors Program approval is not needed.

Grade forgiveness : When the non-Honors and Honors courses have the same catalog number, the courses are considered identical for the purposes of grade forgiveness and repeat registration.

Graduate courses

Honors students who enroll in graduate courses (5000 or 6000 level) are treated as if they are enrolled in Honors courses. They should be held to the same expectation as the graduate students in the course. If they earn a B- or higher, they are considered to have earned Honors credit for that course, although it will not be shown on the transcript.

Honors and general education

In a Spring 2016 agreement among the Honors Board, the General Education Oversight Committee (GEOC), and the University Senate’s Curricula and Courses Committee (Senate C&C), all three groups affirmed that:

• Membership in the Honors Program may serve as a pre-requisite for enrollment in Honors classes, including those that hold general education designations. This pre-requisite is implemented through the Honors reserve cap.
• Instructors of Honors courses may issue permission numbers to otherwise qualified students who are not currently in the Honors Program.
• Departments may offer Honors versions of any course, including those with general education designations, at any time.
• Departments should not replace a general education course with an Honors version of the same course. The non-Honors version should be taught at least as often as the Honors version.

Honors discussion and lab sections

Some UConn courses consist of a large lecture with associated smaller discussion or laboratory sections. These are designated the  enrollment sections , and a student's grade is tied to their enrollment section.  The Honors grading basis is also attached to a student's enrollment section.

If all of a lecture course's enrollment sections carry the Honors grading basis, then the entire course is conducted as Honors. For example, this is the model used by Honors MCB 2410.

It is also possible to designate only a portion of the enrollment sections for a lecture as carrying Honors grading. For example, PSYC 1100 has both Honors and non-Honors labs that auto-enroll into the same lecture. In this case, approximately 30% of official contact hours is taught as Honors .

All students enrolled in the Honors discussion or lab section will earn Honors credit automatically if they earn a B- or better in the course .  Faculty should consider this when determining how grades will be computed.

Cross-listed courses

Cross-listing an Honors section with a non-Honors section can be a cost-effective way to offer an Honors option for a small number of students. As with the Honors discussion or lab sections above, the Honors grading basis is tied to a student's enrollment section, and all students enrolled in an Honors section will earn Honors credit if they earn a B- or better in the course.

If the non-Honors section is a graduate level (5000+) course , it may be appropriate for the Honors section and the graduate course to use the same syllabus, learning activities, and assessment. In this model, 100% of official contact hours would be considered Honors . When dealing with a requirement for a student's major, this type of cross-listing may be a useful alternative to having Honors students enroll directly in the graduate course.

If the non-Honors section is an undergraduate course,  some modification of the syllabus, learning activities, and assessment is necessary for the Honors section. Even if the Honors section includes additional meeting times, these changes ensure that the Honors learning experience is enriched and that students must meet Honors-level expectations in order to earn a B- or better in the course .

Note: Cross-listing courses is  not necessary if the only goal is to allow non-Honors students to take the course. All students completing Honors-level work should earn Honors credit. Enrollment restrictions are managed through reserve caps.