The Honors College
Greetings from the UAB Honors College!
We are thrilled you want to learn more about our Honors College and the activities of our students, faculty and community partners. The Honors College at UAB attracts some of the very best students from Alabama and across the country.
The Honors College builds on the strengths of our individual university-wide honors programs. We focus on integrative learning, interdisciplinary collaborations, experiential education, and entrepreneurial innovation while staying true to our foundation of providing a unique learning community through immersion in niche honors programs and experiences with innovative and challenging curricula and enhanced educational opportunities.
Our programs are nationally-recognized and are ideal for students seeking something more from their college education—a deeper challenge, more engaging opportunities, and the chance to learn within a diverse group of talented students.
Our passion and core mission is to increase the breadth and depth of our student-centered opportunities for all intellectually curious students at UAB.
Exciting times are ahead for honors at UAB! We invite you to join us as we continue our commitment to the success of our students, alumni, and community partners.
Students Capitalize on UAB’s Strengths with New Honors College
In the beginning, there was Ada Long, who founded the original University Honors Program 25 years ago.
“We want to be a first choice for undergraduate education and really capitalize on all of the opportunities in undergraduate research and experiential education here at UAB and in the greater Birmingham community,” says Bradley Newcomer, director of the UAB Honors College.
It was joined eventually by the Early Medical Professional Schools Acceptance Program (EMPSAP), Science and Technology Honors, and Experiential Learning and Global and Community Leadership Honors. Now, a new Honors College will bring a student-friendly and organizational focus to the programs.
“UAB has a strong tradition in undergraduate honors education, dating to when Ada Long created the University Honors Program,” says Bradley Newcomer, Ph.D., associate dean for Honors in the College of Arts & Sciences. “That program was a national model for undergraduate honors programs in a big university setting. Now, we have four universitywide honors programs plus the early dental, medical and optometry school programs. Overall, we have approximately 1,000 honors students in various programs on our campus, and it’s time once again for UAB to evolve its programs and give our students the tools they need in their drive to succeed.”
Spotlight on Rachel Hanle
Senior, Social Work
Universities Fighting World Hunger
The most important experience I have had at UAB is becoming involved in Universities Fighting World Hunger. This experience has been different from any other student leadership role I have held because unlike other organizations, UFWH is student led movement. As a part of the leadership team, I am able to work with honors students from across programs and departments to inspire and empower the UAB community to fight for food security, not only in Birmingham, but around the world. Through the support of the Sparkman Center for Global Health, the Oxfam GROW campaign, and the World Food Programme, we have developed from a small group of passionate students into a quickly growing student movement across campus.