Honors Education

The Schreyer Honors College is widely recognized as one of the best and most comprehensive undergraduate honors programs in the United States. The mission of Schreyer is to promote academic excellence with integrity in all fields of study, build a global perspective, and create opportunities for leadership and civic engagement in the student body and across the Penn State community.

The Smeal College of Business helps to support this mission by offering a top-ranked undergraduate program, opportunities to get involved, study abroad, and connect with leading faculty and the world's top companies. As one of the largest business schools in the world, discover the vast opportunities available to Scholars jointly enrolled in Smeal and Schreyer.

Academic Excellence

Scholars work closely with faculty through independent study and research opportunities. Each student completes a major piece of research or creative work. This is an opportunity to be a scholar - someone who contributes to knowledge. This experience, often limited to graduate school, enables students to present their research locally and nationally, and, at times, have their thesis published.

A Global Perspective

Smeal views globalization as an important aspect of any business major. Because it is vital for business professionals to have a worldwide perspective, Smeal has a well-established and expanding list of programs for education abroad at major institutions around the globe.

The Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant program provides funding for Scholars pursuing study, research, internship, or service abroad. Each year Schreyer spends over $250,000 supporting Scholars in their international pursuits.

Leadership and Civic Engagement

Schreyer Scholars at Smeal have opportunities to serve and lead in Penn State's hundreds of clubs and organizations, including more than thirty business organizations associated with the college.

Additionally, the Career and Corporate Connections office at Smeal offers a number of opportunities to assist you in your career development through résumé consultations, networking seminars, career fairs, and internship and co-op postings.

Financial Scholarships

All first-year Schreyer Scholars receive an Academic Excellence Award of $4,500 per year, renewable for a total of eight semesters. In addition to traditional types of financial assistance, all Scholars, regardless of when they enter, have access to grants for international travel, thesis research, and summer internship stipends.

Honors Recognition

The academic work done through the Schreyer Honors College is duly noted forever. Recognition begins at graduation where you receive an Honors Medal at a special pre-commencement ceremony. Your diploma will have an honors notation, as does your permanent student transcript.

Admission

There are more than 1,800 students in the Schreyer Honors College and approximately 200 of those students represent business students enrolled at Smeal. Each year about thirty new Scholars are admitted to Smeal, making this a distinctive and highly selective academic program.