Honors Fellows Program

The Honors Fellows program, offered at College Park, is a 2 year program which offers students with superior academic achievements special opportunities and resources, including the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge research on business issues, and to graduate with honors.

Students in the Honors Fellows program take their upper-level BMGT core courses in small, seminar-style honors sections, which allow in-depth exploration of business topics in marketing, finance, management and organization, business law, and policy and strategy. Studying with fellow honors students challenges you to stretch your capabilities in an intellectually-stimulating classroom environment, and provides excellent preparation for further graduate or professional study. For example, Smith Alumna and former Honors Program student, Parichad "Cherry" Kwunyeun - class of '00, was chosen for a Fulbright Grant to work and study in Thailand for one full year. For more details on Cherry click here.

The Honors Fellows Program provides both a non-thesis and a thesis option—in which students work on an original research project under the supervision of a Smith School faculty member.

Dr. Charles Olson is the Faculty Champion for this program, click here to view his profile.

Curriculum (15 credits)

Coursework: This program offers H-version sections of all required BMGT core classes at the junior and senior level. Honors version sections present the same course content as the regular sections, but involve more rigorous and active participation, intensive writing, and faculty emphasis on critical thinking and reflective learning.

Honors Course Offerings

  • BMGT 340H - Finance
  • BMGT 350H - Marketing
  • BMGT 364H - Management & Organizational Behavior
  • BMGT 380H - Business Law
  • BMGT 495H - Business Policies
  • BMGT 498H - Honors Study Trip
  • BMGT 493H - Honors Capstone
  • BMGT 494H - Thesis

BMGT 493H is the capstone course for the Honors Fellows Program. Taught using the case-study method, BMGT 493 provides an overview of business research methodologies, and covers special topics in business—including business strategy, business ethics and corporate responsibility. For both thesis and non-thesis options, students should have completed 3 college core (340, 350, 364, 380) prior to enrolling in BMGT493H (Students are strongly encouraged to take BMGT 340 and BMGT 350 prior to enrolling in BMGT 493H).

Thesis Option: Students completing the thesis option complete a minimum of 9 credits of H-version BMGT core courses from BMGT 340H, BMGT 350H, BMGT 364H, BMGT 380H, or BMGT 495H.  Plus BMGT 493 (Honors Study) and BMGT 494 (the Thesis course). Students will conduct in-depth research within their chosen major, which will result in an honors thesis. Students may elect to conduct individual research on a specific topic within their major. They will find a thesis advisor in their major area and register for BMGT 494 in their final semester. Alternatively, students may enroll in BMGT 494 and participate in a group project, under the supervision of the BMGT Honors Director. Students pursuing the thesis option will conduct an oral presentation of their research at the end of BMGT 494.

Non-Thesis Option: Students pursuing the non-thesis option complete a total of 15 credits of H-version upper-level courses which must consist of the following courses:

  • 3 credits - BMGT493H Honors Study (capstone course)   
  • 9 credits from the following options:
    • BMGT 340H - Finance
    • BMGT 350H - Marketing
    • BMGT 364H - Management & Organizational Behavior
    • BMGT 380H - Business Law
    • BMGT 495H - Business Policies
  • 3 credit from the following options:
    • Additional 3 credits not completed above from BMGT340H, BMGT350H, BMGT364H, BMGT380H or BMGT495H
    • BMGT H-version winter-term course offered to honors and fellows students
    • 300 or 400  level non-BMGT H-version/HONR seminar course (course must be completed under the regular grading option)
    • Or QUEST upper-level honors course (e.g. BMGT 490H)

(Note: Applicants who have already completed two of the BMGT upper level core courses in non-H-version sections have a lower probability of being admitted to the Honors Fellows Program).

Please click here to view recommended course sequences for students wanting to study abroad in Fall or Spring semesters.

Fellows Application Eligibility

Admission to the Honors Fellows Program is competitive. Students are selected on the basis of the following requirements:

  • Minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average at University of Maryland, College Park
  • Minimum 45 credit hours earned
  • Completion of all BMGT pre-requisite courses by the end of Spring semester:
    • Accounting I and II – BMGT 220 and 221
    • Statistics – BMGT 230
    • Calculus – MATH 220 or 140
    • Micro- and Macro Economics – ECON 200 and 201

Application contents

The online application to the Honors Fellows Program includes the submission of personal information, cover letter and resume, an essay, and two recommendations from faculty.  

Essay Questions for 2008 applicants: Applicants must submit a written response to one of the two questions listed below. The response should not be more than 1,000 words. 

1. What do you think will be the defining issue or technologies that will determine the course of business in the 21st century?

2. What is your favorite company?  What is it about this company that you believe sets it above its competitors, and makes it a great company?

Recommendation Information for 2007-2008 applicants: All Honors Fellows Program applications must be accompanied by TWO academic recommendations. These references can come from any college professors or teaching assistants including faculty from outside of the University of Maryland; (no relatives, friends, or employers).  Ask someone who knows you and your potential to succeed in an upper-level honors program. 

Application Process

  • This Application is closed
  • You can work on your application in any order you choose
  • You can save your application as a draft (before making a final submission). Your saved application is located in your "Profile" under "My Applications" in UNet.   Please remember not to submit your application until you have finished entering all parts of your application .  You will only be able to submit this application once and are then unable to return to make edits.
  • When you are working on your application and you save it as a draft you will have the opportunity to add the recommenders name and email address. UNet will then email your recommender and provide them then link to upload their letter.