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Honors Program Application

The Doane Honors Program is a highly selective program with 20 applicants accepted each year. The Honors Program seeks students who are highly committed to its values: integrity, intellectual curiosity, cross-cultural engagement and service. Doane Honors students receive $1,000 to $3,500 per semester as well as supplemental study abroad money.

Application Timeline

Honors applications for the 2027 school year will open September 1st.

Acceptance Requirements

Students who are accepted into the program must maintain a 3.5 GPA and complete the Honors Program requirements.

Honors Program Advisory Committee

The Honors program advisory committee consists of Dr. Andrea Johnson Wysocki (Honors Program Director), Peg Hart (Mathematics), Dr. Tim Hill (Policy & Values) and Dr. Kari Gentzler (Sociology).

Application to the Honors Program consists of four parts:

  • Complete the Doane Honors application form
  • Complete a Personal Statement
  • Write a short essay
  • Submit two recommendations
    • Your recommendations should ideally be two adults who can speak to your abilities in different capacities
    • At least one recommendation must come from a teacher
  • The Doane Academic Integrity Policy should be observed when submitting application materials.

PLEASE NOTE: If you've applied for the Habitats Scholarship Program and selected Honors Program on that application, YOU DO NOT need to complete this application.

Mailing Address

Upload personal statement. In this personal statement (maximum of 2 pages), pick an Honors value (intellectual curiosity, integrity, interest in cross-cultural experiences or service) and show how you exemplify that value.  The committee is also looking for you to demonstrate in this personal statement how you plan to utilize your liberal arts experience through your chosen Honors value.

Note: Each personal statement should be double spaced with one-inch margins and a Times New Roman 12 point font. Please include your name in the heading.

One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt rtf pdf doc docx odt ppt pptx odp xls xlsx ods.

Please write a 650-750 word essay on one of the following topics. Essays will be evaluated on writing ability, creativity, critical thinking skills, accuracy, and quality of content. If applicable, cite your sources according to any academic style.

  1. Describe a current social or political issue that concerns you and argue what steps should be taken to make a positive change. Who should be responsible for making those steps? Why?
  2. Describe a scientific or technological development that has had both positive and negative consequences for society. Has the positive outweighed the negative, or not? What steps should we take as a society to control or regulate the negative consequences, and in doing so, can we still reap any of the benefits?

Note: Each essay should be double spaced with one-inch margins and a Times New Roman 12 point font.  Cite in either APA or ASA form. Please include your name in the heading.

One file only.
2 MB limit.
Allowed types: txt rtf pdf doc docx odt ppt pptx odp xls xlsx ods.

Generative AI must be used ethically and in accordance with Doane University's Academic Dishonesty policy and procedures found in Doane University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. When submitting your application you: 

(1) make sure the facts are verified and accurately expressed, especially if they originate from generative AI resources; 

(2) make sure that all sources that go beyond common knowledge are suitably attributed; 

(3) make sure all specific requirements of the assigned work are respected, such as with transparency and documentation of process, or have been explained where this is not possible.
 If any statement above is not true, whether by intent or negligence, you have violated your commitment to truth, and possibly other aspects of academic integrity.