Unique opportunities and benefits for driven learners
Honors at Gies Business
Honors Programs
As an honor student at Gies Business, you’ll enjoy benefits such as priority registration for classes and special access to co-curricular opportunities.
First-Year Experience
Incoming first-year honors students are invited to participate in special courses and activities designed to ease your transition to college, expose you to new opportunities, and help you build a community.
James Scholar Program
James Scholars receive exclusive access to honors courses and enjoy priority status when it’s time to register for classes.
Gies Scholar Program
Gies Scholars can enhance their leadership skills in unique academic, community service, and professional development opportunities.
Other opportunities
Beyond academic and co-curricular programming, Gies Business recognizes student excellence in several ways:
Dean’s List
Once per semester, the Dean’s List honors students with GPAs in the top 20% of the College.
Dean's Scroll
The Dean’s Scroll is an annual award given to ten graduating seniors who’ve excelled in the classroom and made an impact in the College.
Any Gies Business undergraduate student completing their degree in August, December, or May is eligible to apply. The application for this award is made available in the spring semester.
College Honors (Graduating with Distinction)
Gies Business learners who complete their degree with an overall GPA of 3.50 of higher will graduate with an honors distinction. A minimum overall GPA of 3.75 is required to earn high honors, and a minimum GPA of 3.90 is required to earn highest honors.
Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society
Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive through a business program accredited by AACSB International.
The top 10% of sophomores, juniors, and seniors at Gies Business will be invited to apply for membership in the University of Illinois Chapter of the International Business Honor Society. Invitations to join Beta Gamma Sigma will be sent to any eligible undergraduate students in the spring semester.
Bronze Tablet Honoree Distinction
In 1925, the University of Illinois began the tradition of inscribing a "Bronze Tablet" with the names of students receiving University Honors. The Bronze Tablet hangs in the Main Library and serves as recognition of sustained academic achievement. Learners in the top 3% of their college’s graduating class will be named on the Bronze Tablet.
Campus Honors Program
Learners can apply to the Campus Honors Program to take honors versions of required general education courses.
