The OSU Honors College at OSU-Cascades
The Honors College and OSU-Cascades are pleased to provide OSU-Cascades students with the opportunity to be part of the Honors College experience. The OSU Honors College admitted its first cohort of honors students at OSU-Cascades in the fall of 2017 and has since grown from 7 to over 50 students. In 2019 the first students to complete their degree entirely at OSU-Cascades were awarded the Honors Baccalaureate.
How to Apply
The application for the Honors College is included in OSU-Cascades application for admission for first-year and transfer students. Current OSU-Cascades students can apply via the Honors College website. The Honors College accepts applications from OSU-Cascades applicants each term.
Minimum Honors College Application Criteria
If you have questions about Honors College admission or the HC application process, contact us at [email protected] or 541-737-6400.
The Honors College Offers New Destinations
Oregon State University offers students the opportunity to pursue an honors degree on the Corvallis campus, through Ecampus and at OSU-Cascades in Bend, OR. For Margaret Martin, that meant the chance to complete a research-focused honors degree close to home. Margaret completed her final year at OSU-Cascades in 2025 and credits the Honors College with motivating her “to jump headfirst into public health research and connect with fellow classmates and faculty at OSU-Cascades.
Small Setting, Big Opportunities
Class of 2025 graduate Steven Sheehy explored a topic close to home for his honors thesis: how trauma and therapy shape the romantic relationships of combat veterans. A psychology major at OSU-Cascades, he used qualitative interviews to examine the personal stories behind military service — and how healing and connection can grow from pain.
For Steven, the chance to pursue this kind of meaningful, in-depth work was what first drew him to the Honors College. “I love challenging myself and goal setting,” he says. “The Honors College gave me a chance to prove that I can take my education to the next level.”
A Collaborative Community
In addition to enriching academics, the Honors College offers a collaborative community with, study space and experiences outside of the classroom, study spaces and co-curricular activities. HC students at OSU-Cascades have access to:
- Priority registration
- Honors College Lounge available to all HC students
- Subsidized printing
- Community events including:
- Coffee with the dean
- Welcome dinner & induction
- Summer and winter reading groups
- Career development opportunities
- Student research showcases
- Student Leadership Circle
- Service to the community
Honors College Advising and Course Planning
Students in the Honors College work directly with professional Honors College academic advisors as well as their major academic advisor. Honors College academic advisors can help students navigate and understand Honors College requirements, including the thesis.
Each year, honors courses that serve a variety of majors and interests are offered at OSU-Cascades. Honors courses are designed to offer deeper engagement and experiential learning, adhering to the philosophy that honors means a different learning style rather than more work.
Honors course credit can be earned by completing specific Honors College courses. Alternatively, a non-Honors College course may fulfill Honors College credits if an instructor and student agree to an Honors College Contract Option.
Honors College Contract Option
Contact Diana Marvel, Cascades Honors College Coordinator and Advisor