Welcome to the University Honors Resources page!
This space is designed to provide students, faculty, and campus partners with easy access to important tools, forms, and information that support honors-level learning and engagement at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Here you will find direct links to key University Honors processes, including the Honors-by-Contract (HBC) Application, along with other academic and programmatic resources as they become available. These tools are intended to streamline communication, clarify expectations, and ensure a smooth experience for everyone involved.
If you have questions about any of the resources listed on this page, please contact the University Honors office—we are happy to assist.
Honors-by-Contract
Honors-by-Contract (HBC) allows undergraduate students to earn honors credit in non-honors courses by completing additional, academically rigorous work beyond the standard course requirements.
Through a collaborative agreement between the student and the instructor, an HBC project is designed to deepen learning, encourage critical thinking, and align with the goals of honors education. Once approved by University Honors, successful completion of the contract results in honors credit being added to the student’s transcript.
Students may use the link below to apply for Honors-by-Contract. Eligible courses must be at the 300 level or above. To apply, students should first speak with their course instructor to discuss an appropriate honors-level project. Once an agreement is established, students will submit the online HBC Application Form for review and approval by University Honors.
After the application is approved, the Honors-by-Contract Completion Form is automatically sent to the instructor for end-of-term verification. Instructors may also access the Completion Form directly through the University Honors page in the Employee Hub.
HONORS-BY-CONTRACT APPLICATION FORM
Student Leadership & Engagement
University Honors offers highly accomplished students the opportunity to expand their curiosity, collaborate with peers, discover their life-career direction, hone their academic and leadership abilities, and make an impact in Tennessee and beyond.
Students in University Honors find that they belong to a community of peers, faculty, and staff that share the same drive to challenge themselves and improve the world around them.
We foster this sense of community, in part, through our signature student leadership and engagement programs.
University Honors Events
University Honors offers dozens events for our scholars throughout the academic year!
With events ranging from watch parties to well-being seminars, Honors is happy to offer opportunities for all of our scholars!
Join us for events on-campus, off-campus, and virtually throughout the fall and spring semesters!