Be sure to check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

Introduction

The University of California, Riverside combines the resources of a research university with the tradition of a small liberal arts college.  The University Honors Program (UHP) was established in 1988 with a major grant from the Ford Foundation.  The UHP is divided into two main components:  the Lower Division Program (incoming freshmen), and the Upper Division Program (juniors and seniors).  Students can join the Lower Division Program as an incoming freshman or as a current UCR freshman via the Sophomore Honors Applied Learning Component.  The UHP encourages well prepared and highly motivated students to excel in this challenging academic environment.  The UHP also stresses the concept of "service-learning,"  a crucial element of the program.  Students are expected to volunteer in efforts that better the community.  The UHP lower division curriculum provides honors students with special seminars, projects, and classes designed to introduce them to the challenges and rewards of scholarship and research. With fewer students than most introductory classes, these honors course intensify the students' contact with some of the most enthusiastic and innovative faculty members at UCR.  The upper division UHP builds on the foundation of close student-faculty relationships that the lower division curriculum creates.  Upper division students continue to pursue their academic interests by producing substantial honor theses or projects under the supervision of faculty advisors.  In both the upper division and lower division years, UHP encourages honor students to take an active role in shaping their education.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University Honors Program is to enhance the learning environment for undergraduates at the University of California, Riverside. We accomplish this mission by stimulating the learning process, integrating the in-class and out-of-class experiences, and by promoting an environment conducive to growth and discovery. Our goals include facilitating the intellectual, social, occupational, and cultural development of our students. Honors strives to promote a campus environment that provides quality services and aids in increasing student retention and success.  Honors serves as an educational and intellectual laboratory for undergraduate academic enrichment. Ultimately, we work to enhance the overall quality of campus life, establish a sense of community in which all students can realize their fullest potential in their quest for academic, professional, and personal excellence. 

Message from the Director 

This is Howard Wettstein.  I'm a professor in the Department of Philosophy at UC Riverside and the director of the University Honors Program.  Thank you very much for your interest in UC Riverside and in the University Honors Program.  UCR is one of the smallest UC campuses, thus we can give you the personal touch.  The University Honors Program takes this process one step further - we can offer you an Ivy League experience within the context of a renowned public research institution.  We are a learning community with intellectual, personal, and social components.  I strongly encourage you to explore our website, to call us and ask us if you have any questions, and to come and meet with us and to join us in our learning community.

Thank you very much,

Dr. Howard Wettstein
Professor of Philosophy
Director, University Honors Program