Where curiosity meets opportunity — and every major belongs.
HONORS COLLEGE AT APSU
The Honors College brings together five distinct programs under one roof — so that every motivated student, regardless of major, finds a community that challenges them, connects them, and prepares them for a life of purpose. Whether you aspire to leadership, research, service, global travel, or are driven to compete for the nation’s most prestigious awards, there is a place for you here.
Welcome to the Honors College at Austin Peay State University!
Established Aug. 1, 2026, the Honors College seeks to serve all students on campus with practical, hands-on experiences that enhance their resumes after graduation—no matter what your major is.
While we oversee the Honors Program and the President’s Emerging Leaders Program (PELP) for high achieving students, we are bigger than that. If you are looking to get out of your comfort zone and learn to navigate unfamiliar cities and cultures through study abroad, then you would benefit from our Office of Global Education and Competitive Fellowships. If you have research to be presented at a conference or published in a journal or showcased on campus, then you would benefit from our Office of Undergraduate Research and Innovative Learning. If you aspire to serve your community by applying classroom experiences, then you would benefit from our Community Engaged Learning.
If you have ideas to apply your knowledge with practical experience but are not sure where to begin, then make an appointment with me and let’s brainstorm some goals and how to get there. The APSU Honors College is not just a commitment to our high achieving students, it is a commitment to everyone!
Dr. Tony Morris
Interim Dean of Honors College
Five distinct programs, one community of high achievers. Select an area to learn how the Honors College helps you lead, research, serve, and see the world.
24
Possible Honors Credits
$3,000
Annual PELP Scholarship
40+
Study Abroad Destinations
100+
Students Research Projects / Year
10,000+
Community Service Hours / Years
A Navy veteran and future math teacher, Andrew Daniels earned the nationally competitive Gilman Scholarship to study abroad in Poland and Germany — where he walked the same ground his own family did during World War II. What began as coursework became a personal journey he now carries into his own classroom, and proof that an APSU education reaches far beyond campus.
“We really are all the same. We all have the same struggles. The only difference is where we live and the language we speak.”
As a member of the President’s Emerging Leaders Program and chair of the Honors & PELP Student Advisory Council, Tyler Rose spent four years saying yes to challenges outside his comfort zone. That mindset — and the mentorship he found along the way — earned him the Harvill-Civitan Citizenship Award, one of Austin Peay’s highest student honors.
“Take risks. Join an organization you didn’t think you would. Say yes to opportunities that scare you a little. You never know what doors they might open or who you might become.”
A computer information technology major, Zanya Hooker traded a spring break for an Alternative Break Trip, joining hurricane-relief efforts alongside fellow Govs in Puerto Rico. She spent the week rebuilding, serving, and connecting with people from very different backgrounds — and came home with far more than volunteer hours: a sharper sense of purpose and a habit of service she carries into everything she does.
"I left Puerto Rico with unforgettable memories, a deeper sense of purpose, and a commitment to making a positive impact wherever I go."
Geology major Dairian Boddy took his research off campus and into the state capitol, presenting his findings to Tennessee legislators at Posters at the Capitol. It was exactly the kind of high-impact, mentored experience — supported through URIL — that turns a class project into a defining moment.
“This experience is something that I will look back at for the rest of my life with a feeling of accomplishment. If I could do it all over again, I would in a heartbeat.”
Take the Next Step
The Honors College is open to every student who wants to push further — no matter your major. Start your journey at Austin Peay today.
Dr. Tony Morris, Interim Dean
