Overview
Overview
What is the Questrom Honors Program?
We are a prestigious academic community. An open and rigorous atmosphere designed to challenge students intellectually. An extraordinary opportunity to engage in deep discussions on business and the world we live in. A professional and social network.
A chance to create. A chance to make an impact.
Since 1998, we have invited the most academically talented sophomores to join our unique program and community.
What can I expect academically?
Honors Program members participate in small and specialized seminars designed to make students think independently and critically. Taught by leading faculty, these unique classes allow members to lead discussions and engage deeply in business topics.
What can I expect socially?
Honors program members become part of a tight and active social community. We organize social events such as brunches, a holiday party, city outings, and more.
How do I know it’s for me?
While the Boston University Questrom Honors Program offers extraordinary preparation to students, it is not for everyone. It is for those students who want to go above and beyond—who work hard, analyze deeply, and demonstrate tremendous motivation and commitment.
Requirements
Requirements
Honors students must complete the following to remain in the Honors Program:
- 3 honors program classes
- 1 sophomore year
- 2 over junior and senior year
- Capstone project in spring of senior year
- You will take part in experiential learning in one of three business-pillars: research, innovation or industry capstones.
Honors students must be registered for a minimum of sixteen academic credits in each semester that they are in the Program. Any variation to this policy must be approved by the Assistant Dean. The two-credit Honors Program seminars and the capstone project that are completed during junior and senior year may count towards that sixteen-credit total.
GPA Requirement for the Class of 2024 onward
Students will be reviewed for continuation at two points during their time in the Program:
| End of Fall Semester Junior Year – students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.45 to remain in the Honors Program
Honors Seminar classes – minimum grade of “B” |
Prior to Graduation – minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 to graduate from the Honors Program
Honors seminar classes – minimum grade of “B” |
Program Completion
Adjustments to the Honors Program curriculum will be made jointly by the Assistant Dean of the Undergraduate Program and the Faculty Director on a case-by-case basis.
Students who withdraw from, or otherwise fail to satisfy the requirements of the Program listed above, will receive full credit towards the BSBA degree for those Honors Program requirements that they have successfully completed, with the exception of the Honors Program Seminars and the Honors Program capstone project, which will count as additional coursework.
Successful completion of the Honors Program will result in the notation “Awarded School Honors” on the student’s official transcript and the student will be individually recognized at Questrom’s commencement ceremony.
Eligibility
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for selection as a member of the Questrom Honors Program Class of 2024 and onward, a student must:
- Currently be a Questrom sophomore having started Questrom as a freshman or transferred in from another college/university; a sophomore who has or is transferring from another school within BU; or a sophomore currently in the College of General Studies and planning to continue to Questrom.
- Understand that this is a 5-semester program.
- Complete a minimum of 12 academic credits in the fall semester of their sophomore year.
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.45 by the end of the fall semester of their sophomore year.
- Complete the 6-course gateway suite: Effective June 2019, students enrolled at Questrom must have earned a minimum grade of “C” in five of the following courses, and no less than “C-“ in the sixth course. Students have one opportunity to retake the course(s) and must retake the course(s) in one of the following two semesters (including summer semesters). The courses are QST SM131, QST SM132, CAS EC101, CAS EC102, CAS MA121 or MA123, and CAS WR120.
- Students who are unable to complete the six aforementioned courses by the end of their fall of sophomore year semester may be admitted provisionally. As part of provisional admission, they must be registered for the remaining courses in either the spring or summer semester directly after their provisional semester. Please note that CGS students will not be admitted into the Questrom School of Business, nor officially admitted to the Honors Program, until all the requirements for the continuation from CGS to Questrom have been completed.
- Provisional admission in the Honors Program will be rescinded if the gateway requirements have not been completed by the end of the summer after their sophomore year.
Program Requirements (mandatory):
- Honors Program seminar in sophomore spring semester
- Post sophomore spring leadership retreat
- Two 2-credit seminars over the course of junior and/or senior year
- Senior spring Capstone project, 4 credits
- Senior spring retreat
- Participation in all Alumni and Research Days
Application Process
Application Process
When can I apply?
Students can apply to join the Honors Program during the fall semester of their sophomore year.
Am I eligible to apply?
Please refer to the eligibility section.
How do I apply?
Applicants must complete all required portions of the application which they will be notified about if they are eligible to apply.
What are final decisions based on?
Selection is dependent on academic requirement fulfillments and application materials.
When will final selections be made?
Final selections will be made before the start of the spring semester.
Curriculum
Honors Program Curriculum
| Spring of Sophomore Year:
SM450 Honors Program Sophomore Seminar (2 cr.) This seminar is designed to introduce students to the three paths of the program: research, business consulting and innovation. Students will be introduced to these areas and will have meaningful discussions with faculty, alumni, and the different research institutes. |
Fall and Spring of Junior Year:
Honors seminar (2 cr.)* Honors students are required to take 2 courses from a menu of two-credit Honors Program seminars whose topics reflect the important issues facing future business leaders. Some examples of recent seminar topics include: “Innovation & the Dynamics of Enterprise in America (IDEA)”, and “Branding in the Time of Covid”, and “Pricing the Priceless: New Biomedical Technology”, and “Keynes’ Economic Consequences of the Peace: Lessons for Today”. The goal of this requirement is to help students think more broadly and deeply about the process of leading others and the special functions leaders perform in helping work teams be more effective. |
| Fall of Senior Year:
Honors seminar (2 cr.)* |
Spring of Senior Year:
Senior Capstone Project: Students will select a theme for their senior capstone and work with mentors to complete their project. Depending on the project type, work can be performed individually or in groups. Honors seminar (2 cr.)* |
* Honors members can choose what semesters they take their two Honors seminars.
Community
Community
The Honors Program is a close-knit community of a diverse but like-minded students that extends outside the classroom. Throughout the year, the Honors Advisory Board holds a variety of social events that foster inter and intra-class bonding.
Honors Program members frequently plan their own social gatherings as well, getting together for dinner, study sessions, Boston outings, and more. We encourage each class to get to know each other well as it makes for the best experience in the classroom and beyond.
Requirements through Class of 2023
Honors Program Curriculum
| Fall of Sophomore Year: | Spring of Junior Year:
SM450 Honors Program Sophomore Seminar (2 cr.) This seminar is designed to challenge students’ intellectual thought processes through meaningful discussions on broad issues impacting the world. |
| Fall and Spring of Junior Year:
Honors seminar (2 cr.)* Honors students are required to take 2 courses from a menu of two-credit Honors Program seminars whose topics reflect the important issues facing future business leaders. Some examples of recent seminar topics include: “Intellectual Property,” “Competitive Environmental Strategy,” and “Globalization,” “Investing in Green Technologies”, and “Business and Health Care”. The goal of this requirement is to help students think more broadly and deeply about the process of leading others and the special functions leaders perform in helping work teams be more effective. |
Spring of Junior Year:
300+ CAS class (4cr) |
| Fall of Senior Year:
Honors seminar (2 cr.)* 300+ CAS class (4cr) |
Spring of Senior Year:
Honors seminar (2 cr.)* 300+ CAS class (4cr) |
*Honors members can choose what semesters to take their two Honors seminars.
Requirements
GPA Requirement for the Class of 2018 and 2019
Students will be reviewed for continuation at three points during their time in the Program:
| End of Fall Semester Sophomore Year – students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.40 to remain in the Honors Program
Sophomore Colloquia classes – minimum grade of “B” |
End of Spring Semester Junior Year – students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.45 to remain in the Honors Program
Honors Seminar classes – minimum grade of “B” |
Prior to Graduation – minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 to graduate from the Honors Program
Honors seminar classes – minimum grade of “B” |
GPA Requirement for the Class of 2020 through Class of 2023
Students will be reviewed for continuation at three points during their time in the Program:
| End of Fall Semester Sophomore Year – students with a cumulative GPA below a 3.45 will be required to meet with the Honors Program advisor
Sophomore Colloquia classes – minimum grade of “B” |
End of Fall Semester Junior Year – students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.45 to remain in the Honors Program
Honors Seminar classes – minimum grade of “B” |
Prior to Graduation –minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 to graduate from the Honors Program
Honors seminar classes – minimum grade of “B” |
Community Service
A core component of the Questrom Honors Program is commitment to community service and service learning. Honors Program members must complete a minimum of 16 hours by the end of sophomore year, a minimum of 12 additional hours by the end of junior year, and the final 12 hours for a total of 40 to graduate from the Program.
The Honors Program Advisory Board organizes group community service events each semester and these volunteer opportunities are a chance for students to give back to their local environment while also spending time with their fellow Honors Program members!
Organizations that the Honors Program have volunteered with in the past include:
- Cradles to Crayons
- Room to Grow
- Fenway Clean-up
- Boston Bruins
- Ellen Gifford Cat Shelter
- Belle of the Ball
With approval from Honors Program advisor, Liz Katz, any Honors Program student can plan and lead a community service event in and around Boston. We encourage all members to do so at least once during their three years in the program! Hours can also be completed through individual volunteer opportunities.
Boston University Questrom School of Business
Undergraduate Development Center
Rafik B. Hariri Building
595 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 102
Boston, MA 02215
Undergraduate Development Center
Rafik B. Hariri Building
595 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 102
Boston, MA 02215
CONTACT
617-353-2650
QuestromUDC@bu.edu
questromworld.bu.edu/udc
OFFICE HOURS
Monday – Thursday, 9:00am – 6:00pm
Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Except holidays and intersession