Honors Admissions

Prospective students have the opportunity to join the Judy Genshaft Honors College as First Time in College (FTIC) or Upper-Level (transfer/continuing) by submitting the appropriate application.

First Time In College (FTIC) Admission

First Time in College (FTIC) Admission is for high school seniors actively applying for admission to USF. All FTIC students interested in joining the Judy Genshaft Honors College must submit an FTIC application. If accepted, students must confirm their spot in the college.

Upper-Level Admission

Upper-Level Admission is for students who have graduated high school and are currently attending college, whether at USF or another college or university. All transfer or current USF students interested in joining the Judy Genshaft Honors College must submit an Upper-Level Admission application.

First-Time-In-College (FTIC) students admitted to the Judy Genshaft Honors College must confirm their spot by completing the Honors Confirmation Form. Please check your Honors acceptance email for more details.

There are no extra fees associated with joining the Judy Genshaft Honors College.

If you wish to live in the Honors Living Learning Community (LLC), there is a $125 per semester fee that covers Honors-exclusive programming.

Students admitted to the Judy Genshaft Honors College have the same benefits, opportunities, and curricular requirements, regardless of their home campus (Tampa, St. Petersburg, or Sarasota-Manatee). While each campus has a unique course offerings, it will be possible to complete all of your Honors requirements at any USF campus.

We are planning to enroll around 625 students on the Tampa campus and approximately 75 students at the St. Petersburg campus.

The Judy Genshaft Honors College offers a variety of engagement opportunities and activities. You can participate in service trips, community engagement, local cultural partnerships, the Judy Genshaft Honors College Student Council, undergraduate research, and internships. The college also provides music opportunities, including the Honors Orchestra, Honors Choir, and Honors Contemporary Music Ensemble (CME).

The Judy Genshaft Honors College has a dedicated team of advisors. First-year Honors students are assigned an advisor and must meet with them each fall and spring semester before registering for classes to remove their academic hold. After the first year, students are encouraged to schedule appointments with their advisor to stay on track. Advisors are an excellent resource for any questions you may have.

Additionally, the Judy Genshaft Honors College offers peer advising for first-year students.

Yes! Learn how to schedule an in-person tour.

After registering for USF Orientation, Honors students are also required to schedule a dedicated Honors Onboarding session.

Learn more about Honors Onboarding on your campus.

No. Honors students take a total of six Honors courses throughout their undergraduate career (including a one-semester capstone or a two-semester thesis). Students complete their remaining prerequisites and major courses in their home department. For example, a mass communications student would take Honors courses with their Honors peers through the Honors College and take public relations courses with their major peers through the College of Arts and Sciences.

In many high schools, Honors courses are simply more difficult versions of regular courses — Honors Chemistry, for example, is just like regular Chemistry but with extra readings or assignments. That’s not what classes in the Judy Genshaft Honors College are like.

Here, our Honors courses explore interdisciplinary topics such as Music and Emotions, Science Fiction, Science Fact, and Archaeology of Food, using deep discussion and active learning approaches. Classes are small, with no more than 19 students, and include peers from a variety of majors. Each student brings their unique expertise to the conversation, creating a richer learning experience through diverse perspectives.

Honors faculty teach Honors courses and include a variety of experts, including former CEOs, medical practitioners, leaders in the Tampa Bay community, and more. 

Yes. Space permitting, all Judy Genshaft Honors College students are eligible to enroll in any IDH class on any USF campus, regardless of their home campus.

All Judy Genshaft Honors College students can receive $2,000 in scholarships.

This award is paid in three installments during the students' academic career:

• $600 after completing your first experiential learning activity or community engagement requirement.
• $600 after completing your second experiential learning activity or global experience requirement. 
• $800 after completing your Honors academic requirements.

Each of the three scholarships is paid out once and are nonrenewable. Please see other scholarship timelines and information. 

Most Judy Genshaft Honors College students also qualify for generous travel scholarships to fund study abroad opportunities. These scholarships are distributed based on the specific program, financial need, and available funding.

Also, thanks to the generosity of many donors, there are more than 30 other competitive scholarships, awarded to over 150 recipients, for which only Judy Genshaft Honors College students can apply. Students may apply for these Honors College-specific awards as well as general USF scholarships. These applications typically open in November and are due in the spring.

Students can also visit the Office of National Scholars for more information about competitive academic awards.

Qualified incoming students will also be able to apply for the prestigious Genspiration Global Explorers Scholarship, a merit-based $10,000 study abroad award. This invitation-only scholarship is awarded to qualified First-Time-In-College (FTIC) students from all three USF campuses. 

The housing timeline for applying and reserving a room is the same for all students. Honors students do not get priority application for housing, but they do get dedicated Honors Living Learning Community rooms (Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses).

Yes! Honors students on the Tampa or St. Petersburg campus may elect to live in the Honors Living Learning Community (LLC). This is an enriching experience where Honors students interact with other high-achieving peers from different majors to build a close-knit community. The Honors LLC offers specialized programming for Honors students, including career workshops, study away/abroad opportunities, service learning, fun social events, and more.

The Tampa Honors LLC has a fee of $125 per semester, which goes directly to student-centered programs and events, including the Reisen Scholarship, group outings, service-learning experiences, a dedicated Honors Program Director and Graduate Assistant who offer weekly office hours, in-hall private tutoring, and of course, Honors swag!

No, they are two separate entities. The Business Honors Program is housed in the Muma College of Business, not the Judy Genshaft Honors College.

Yes! Students can be part of both the Judy Genshaft Honors College and the Business Honors Program.

Yes, there are USF department-specific honors programs students can join that are not part of the Judy Genshaft Honors College.

Please click the links below for more information:

• Anthropology Undergraduate Honors Program

• Communication Undergraduate Honors Program

• English Undergraduate Honors Program

• Psychology Undergraduate Honors Program

• TheatreUSF Honors Program