Honors Living-Learning Programs at a Glance
The Honors College at UMD invites curious students to tackle today’s most complex issues.
The Honors College is home to eight of the University of Maryland’s highly acclaimed living-learning programs, each with a unique curriculum designed to fit into the general education requirements already established as part of students’ degree plans.
At the University of Maryland, we’ve created an Honors College for students of exceptional talent and promise who come to us from across the country and world to pursue the limits of their imagination, knowledge, and opportunities to make a difference. Combining a close community of diverse students with the singular opportunities of a premier public research university in the nation’s capital area, the Honors College offers a flexible array of eight state-of-the-art living-learning programs. These highly acclaimed programs, innovative and at the frontiers of Honors education, offer exciting exploration of different interdisciplinary areas.
Honors students have access to more than 400 academic courses taught by top faculty and experts at the forefront of their fields. These academic experiences, along with student-faculty connections, are the hallmark of Honors’ living-learning communities at a preeminent research university.
All new first-year Honors College students are invited to join an Honors College living-learning program. The Honors College living-learning programs foster learning inside and outside of the classroom, and they create a supportive, close-knit community for students.
Not sure which program is right for you?
Learn more about each of our eight living-learning programs.
- Show all
- Community Engagement
- Collaborative Projects
- Global/International Issues
- Interdisciplinary
- Innovation/Creativity
- Leadership Development
- Research
- Service Learning
- STEM
- Technology
Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES)
Cohort size: 60-70 students
Program length: 2-year program with option to apply to minor
Credits required for citation: 15
Residence hall: Prince Frederick Hall (ACES students are required to live on campus for two years)
Distinguishing features: Technical and non-technical cybersecurity courses taught by industry leaders, professional development and leadership opportunities, connections with corporate partners, and applied experiences such as internships, research, and group problem solving within a tight-knit community of diverse students.
Design Cultures & Creativity (DCC)
Cohort size: 60-70 students
Program length: 2-year program
Credits required for citation: 16
Residence hall: Prince Frederick Hall
Distinguishing features: DCC offers hands-on courses that emphasize experimentation and self-directed learning; activities and coursework that encourage your creativity and artistic spirit to thrive; classes and facilities that introduce you to emerging technologies and tools; and a calendar of events to help you form and maintain close bonds in a dynamic community.
Gemstone (GEMS)
Cohort size: 130-140 students
Program length: 4-year program
Credits required for citation: 17
Residence hall: Ellicott Hall (students are strongly encouraged to live in Ellicott for their first year)
Distinguishing features: In Gemstone, students of all majors come together in teams to design, direct, and conduct significant research under the guidance of faculty mentors and Gemstone staff, advancing knowledge and exploring society’s urgent questions. The student research teams present their research in the form of a thesis to experts during the spring semester of their senior year. Gemstone challenges and supports student growth and learning in a community that values leadership, mentoring, and relationship building.
Honors Global Challenges & Solutions (HGLO)
Cohort size: 75 students
Program length: 2-year program
Credits required for citation: 16
Residence hall: Dorchester Hall (HGLO students are strongly encouraged to live in Dorchester for their first year)
Distinguishing features: HGLO offers a rare hybrid of training in data science and learning about global issues. Students complete this program with a better handle on the problems facing the world, along with the analytical skills to contribute to solutions. With specialized courses conducted in close contact with distinguished faculty, HGLO students can pursue original research on specific global topics, as well as internships and study abroad experiences connected with global public service and unique opportunities of the nation’s capital area. The program has a strong emphasis on inclusive community-building within the program, across campus, throughout the Maryland/DC region, and in national and global spheres.
Honors Humanities (HH)
Cohort size: 65-70 students
Program length: 2-year program
Credits required for citation: 15
Residence hall: Anne Arundel Hall
Distinguishing features: A tight-knit community of people who love the arts and humanities and who want to use what they learn in the program about law, religion, literature, history, food, dance, philosophy, and more to find success in their careers, to live a fulfilling life, and to do good in the world.
Integrated Life Sciences (ILS)
Cohort size: 75-95 students
Program length: 2-year program
Credits required for citation: 16
Prerequisites: Successful applicants for ILS are those who have completed the most rigorous coursework in the life sciences throughout high school. Completing coursework such as AP, IB, and community college credit in biology will result in increased preparation for our advanced curriculum, and many of our students will have transferred in biology college credit, but it is not required.
Residence hall: La Plata Hall (ILS students are required to live on campus for one year)
Distinguishing features: Accelerated life science courses, service-learning and research internship requirements in a supportive and fun environment that will help prepare students for whatever career path they choose.
Interdisciplinary Business Honors (IBH)
Cohort size: 65 students
Program length: 2-year program
Credits required for citation: 15
Residence hall: Prince Frederick Hall (IBH students are required to live on campus for their first year)
Distinguishing features: Students combine access to cutting-edge professional and technical business skills with broader thinking about the role of business in the world and in relation to multiple academic fields. They apply this knowledge in interdisciplinary group projects, and through co-curricular events featuring business leaders, site visits to companies, and study abroad opportunities.
University Honors (UH)
Cohort size: 420-440 students
Program length: 2-year program
Credits required for citation: 15
Residence hall: Pyon-Chen Hall and Johnson-Whittle Hall (Heritage Community)
Distinguishing features: Debate the challenges of our time with passionate faculty from an array of disciplines and backgrounds. Chart your own path by selecting from over a dozen themes and 25 distinct courses every semester. Represent one of four UH “houses,” compete in our annual House Cup competition and hone your leadership skills. Live and learn in the newest residential community at UMD.