Learning happens as much outside the classroom as inside it.
The Honors College recognizes that some of the best learning is hands-on. Honors Units can be earned by participating in a broad range of cocurricular learning opportunities, from working in research labs to advancing sustainability initiatives. See the list and links below for inspiration, or propose a new idea.
7 Honors Units (8 with language immersion)
Where do you want to go? Spend a semester learning and living outside the US. Study abroad offers the chance to immerse yourself in another culture and learn the functions of their everyday life beyond just a vacation. You will interact with locals, meet others from all around the US, and have unique opportunities.
Variable Units
Honors College students work with UNH’s world-class researchers. Research opportunities can be paid, credit-bearing, or volunteer. The Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research provides competitive research funding opportunities and a listing of undergraduate research opportunities.
Variable Units
A national leader in sustainability, UNH offers students high-impact opportunities to create a better future. These include a summer Sustainability Fellowship (paid), B Impact and Climate Action Clinics (for credit), and the International Changemaker Grant. Learn more from the Sustainability Institute.
2 Units
Work with other students under a faculty member on a year-long research experience culminating in a presentation of your findings at the Undergraduate Research Conference. Only available to first-year students.
Teaching Assistantships
Variable Units
Many courses at UNH engage high-performing students to help younger peers. Taking part in Peer-Led Team Learning and other supervised teaching experiences can earn you credit or pay, as well as Honors Units.
2 Units
Learn about civil discourse and promote public dialogue by connecting research to social/civic policy and ethics. Take this class to learn about public engagement processes framed through a dialogic ethic that fosters relationships based on honesty, respect, reciprocity, humility, and trust.
Experiences Outside of UNH
Many Honors students take part in enriching and educational experiences that are external to the university, from field-related jobs and internships to research experiences with other universities or government agencies. Some, but not all, of these experiences can be approved to earn Honors Units.
- Experiences must be designed around learning outcomes that clearly advance a student's academic progress and support learning above and beyond a typical degree progression.
- Experiences must include at least 45 hours of documented work.
- Experiences must be overseen by a UNH faculty (or staff) member with content knowledge relevant to the experience. This faculty member is responsible for working with the employer to establish learning outcomes in advance, and for certifying successful completion of the experience. Students are responsible for finding an appropriate faculty supervisor.
- Research experiences at other accredited universities, such as REUs, may be overseen by faculty of those universities, rather than UNH faculty.
- An Honors advisor will help you complete the following required documents:
- Affiliation Agreement between UNH and the host
- Academic Learning Agreement for the specific experience
- Student Policies, Risk Acknowledgment, and FERPA Release
- Approval from NH Board of Labor (if the experience is unpaid or paid less than minimum wage, and takes place in New Hampshire)
- UNH Work-Based Learning Tracking Form
- To ensure legal compliance, external experiences must be approved and all necessary paperwork completed in advance. External experiences will not earn Honors Units retroactively.
Schedule a Meeting to Start the External Experience Approval Process
