Obligations

Students admitted to the Honors Programs have certain obligations additional to those of regular students at Yeshiva University. Some of these obligations govern entry into the program, some are requirements for graduation from the program and some are requirements for maintaining the academic scholarship offered by the program. 

Deferral

All students admitted to the Honors Programs may defer their admission. The most common reason for deferral is Torah study in Israel, but deferral is granted for other reasons as well. Students deferring in order to study in Israel are encouraged to participate in the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program.  

• Deferred students must maintain standing with Yeshiva University. If they choose not to participate in the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program, they must defer their admission to the University by so indicating their intention to to so on the Intent to Enroll form (PDF).
• Students who have participated in the S. Daniel Abraham Israel Program and wish to maintain their standing with YU while continuing their studies in Israel must request a Leave of Absence for Extended Israel Study. 

Honors students who receive Distinguished Scholarships ($20,000 or greater) are obligated to begin their on-campus studies during a fall semester. This means that they may defer their admission in full-year increments only.

Academic Standing

Honors students are obligated to maintain a 3.6 GPA in order to remain in the program and to maintain their academic scholarship. 
A student whose GPA falls below 3.6 must meet with an academic adviser to develop strategies for raising his or her GPA to the required level. 

Progression Through the Program

To maintain his or her scholarship, a student is expected to progress through the respective Honors Program.  Each program has its own rules regarding courses per term and events to attend.

The Sy Syms Business Honors and Entrepreneurial Leadership Program requires that students complete the following:

• Honors Business in a Global Environment in their first semester on campus
• Entrepreneurial Leadership Seminar in their junior year
• An Honors internship or entrepreneurship project in the summer before senior year
• At least five additional honors courses, of which two must be Syms honors courses and two must be YC or SCW honors courses
• Three years on campus

Graduation Requirements

Each honors program has its own set of graduation requirements. To learn more:

• The S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program at Stern College for Women: contact the program's director, Dr. Cynthia Wachtell
• The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Honors Program at Yeshiva College: contact the program's director, Dr. Gabriel Cwilich
• The Sy Syms Business Honors and Entrepreneurial Leadership Program: contact the program's director, Dr. Avi Giloni