Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
BHP FAQ
- Who is eligible to be part of the BHP?
- How many students are in the Business Honors Program?
- Does the Business Honors Program provide advising for students to help them complete BHP requirements in conjunction with their majors, second majors, minors, study abroad programs, etc.?
- Can students in the BHP study abroad? Can they come from any business major? Can they double-major and have minor(s)?
- Are there dedicated Honors courses? Are they for only BHP students?
- Do you have to be Catholic to be part of the Business Honors Program?
- I see that the BHP has a “mentoring” program; what is that? Do I have to meet with a mentor?
- I’ve heard of something called “Honors 911”; what is that?
- Does the BHP have a place where students can gather, study, meet, rest and relax, and so on?
- I have heard of the Business Ethics and Society Program; is that the same as the Business Honors Program?
- I have noticed that BHP students dress up; is there a dress code in the BHP?
- Who is eligible to be part of the BHP?
Any first-year student in the Mendoza College of Business may apply. The application portal opens in February each year, and students are notified in March. Students transferring into Notre Dame or into the Mendoza College of Business also have an opportunity to apply to join the program during their sophomore years. The transfer applicant portal opens in October and students are notified in December. Please check the BHP website for frequent updates on application dates.
- How many students are in the Business Honors Program?
BHP students typically begin in the Fall of their sophomore year, and each sophomore class is approximately 60 students. Across the sophomore, junior, and senior years, the BHP has approximately 180 students total.
- Does the Business Honors Program provide advising for students to help them complete BHP requirements in conjunction with their majors, second majors, minors, study abroad programs, etc.?
The Business Honors Program has a dedicated BHP Advisor who meets with all BHP students to help ensure that they can complete all their requirements and desired courses of instruction in a timely fashion. The BHP Advisor is also available to meet with prospective students to discuss requirements, expectations, and so on.
- Can students in the BHP study abroad? Can they come from any business major? Can they double-major and have minor(s)?
Yes, to all three questions. Each student’s trajectory through Notre Dame and the Mendoza College of Business is unique, and the BHP is dedicated to enabling students to “Grow the Good in Business” in light of their interests and unique callings. Please see the BHP Advisor to craft an individualized plan to accomplish your goals.
- Are there dedicated Honors courses? Are they for only BHP students?
Yes, there are dedicated Honors courses, at both the intermediate and advanced levels, offered by all Departments in the Mendoza College of Business. Some Honors courses are restricted to Honors students; others are open to other students, including students outside Mendoza. Please contact the BHP Advisor for more information.
- Do you have to be Catholic to be part of the Business Honors Program?
No. The BHP is part of the University of Notre Dame, which is a Catholic university that aspires to be both a top-tear teaching and research university, as well as an institution dedicated to its Catholic purpose, identity, and history. BHP students are asked to reflect on what virtue requires in both their personal and professional lives, and to make a personal commitment to the Mendoza College of Business’s motto, “Grow the Good in Business.” They are also asked to consider various perspectives on virtue in business, including those drawn from Catholic social thought that highlights concepts such as human dignity and integral human development. But the BHP, like the University, is open to people of the Catholic faith, of other faiths, or of no faith.
- I see that the BHP has a “mentoring” program; what is that? Do I have to meet with a mentor?
One important element of the BHP is its mentoring program. Each student is assigned an individual mentor and is expected to meet with this mentor at least twice per semester. Mentors are either local professions, recent graduates, or graduate students, who meet in person with students not to discuss course schedules but rather life plans. They explore questions such as: What do you wish to accomplish in your life? What obstacles are you facing, both external and internal, to achieving that? What plans can we develop to help you achieve your goals? The mentors are trained and dedicated to helping you identify and achieve your highest aspirations.
- I’ve heard of something called “Honors 911”; what is that?
Students who are members of the Business Honors Program commit to being part of a supportive and accountable community. They strive to grow in skill, wisdom, and virtue and help others do the same. Part of that commitment includes what we call “Honors 911,” which is the willingness to help any member of the BHP who needs it, for any reason and at any time, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. BHP students commit to being there for each other not only during their years as a student at Notre Dame, but for the rest of their lives.
- Does the BHP have a place where students can gather, study, meet, rest and relax, and so on?
Yes. The lounge in the 285 suite of Mendoza is open to students for studying, talking, and recreating.
- I have heard of the Business Ethics and Society Program; is that the same as the Business Honors Program?
No. They are two separate and independent programs. A BHP student can, however, also enroll in the Business Ethics and Society Program’s undergraduate minor, “Business and the Common Good." There is some limited overlap in the required courses for the BHP and for the “Business and the Common Good” minor, so BHP students would be well-positioned to complete the minor (please contact the BHP Advisor for more information). The BESP minor is open to all Mendoza students, regardless of major. BHP students are free to pursue any major in Mendoza and any minor in the University.
- I have noticed that BHP students dress up; is there a dress code in the BHP?
Yes. When the BHP hosts speakers or other special guests, BHP students are expected to dress in business professional attire. At other BHP events, students are expected to dress appropriately for the kind of event it is (for example, formal dress for the Formal Ball, business professional for the end-of-year banquet, casual or informal dress for social events, etc.). Students are asked to dress respectably at all times, however.
Still Have Questions?
If you have other questions about the Business Honors Program, please reach out to Abby Zelenka.