Honors Program

The Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) Honors Program, is a highly competitive program available for undergraduate students.

Honors Program students are provided opportunities to work closely with faculty and participate in international programs, community service, research and other high-impact learning practices.

Please read the eligibility and application requirements below for more information and apply using your TAMU email address.

Apply to HECM Honors

Review of applications is holistic, with the goal of identifying students who will benefit the most from and bring the most to the program.

The first year honors seminar is designed to enhance critical thinking and communication skills. Students will have access to:

• Research, service learning, and study abroad opportunities
• Faculty mentorship
• Priority registration
• HECM Honors distinction on transcript.

Incoming Freshman

• 1250 (V+M) SAT or 28 ACT composite and top 10% class rank (incoming freshman)
• Students must maintain a minimum of 3.5 GPR
• Two essays are required.

Current & Transfer Students

• Must have at least a 3.5 GPA in all previous college coursework and less than 60 credit hours.
• Two essays are required.

Incoming Freshman

Fall 2023 - Deadline has passed, please check back for Fall 2024 deadlines.

Current & Transfer Students

Fall 2023 - Deadline has passed, please check back for Fall 2024 deadlines.

• 1200 (V+M) SAT or 24 ACT composite and/or top 10% class rank (incoming freshman)
• Maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPR
• Transfer students must have at least a 3.5 in all previous college coursework
• Earn a total of 21 Honors points. Each credit hour of Honors coursework equals 1 point.
  • At least 6 hours in the Core Curriculum, ICD, or W courses, as specified in the student’s catalog.
  • At least 12 hours in upper-division 300/400-level courses,
  • At least 3 hours of a high impact learning experience, non-credit bearing experiences must be pre-approved by the program. Experiences include:
    • Honors undergraduate research course
    • Graduate level course
    • Honors Service-Learning course
    • Study abroad, internship

To maintain active status, students need to:

• Be in “good standing” with the university, as well as maintain at least a 3.5 overall GPA.
• Meet with Honors Coordinator during each regular semester (Fall or Spring) in which they attend courses at HECM.
• Submit an annual honors report in May of each year describing their honors experience for the past year and plans for the coming year.

Students who fail to meet any of these requirements will be given a semester of probation to correct any deficiencies. Students who fail to meet requirements after a semester of probation will be dismissed from the program. Students with a grade of “F*” (indication academic dishonesty) will be dropped from the program.