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Nebraska Business Honors Academy

GROW YOUR POTENTIAL

The Nebraska Business Honors Academy is a four-year, cohort-based, enhanced business curriculum for high-ability students who have the potential and desire to become the next generation of business leaders. You complete most of your foundation and core business courses together as a cohort using an action-based learning style focused on the development of critical thinking, technical and communication skills. These classes allow students to discuss and develop solutions for real-world business problems and create the social and intellectual bonds necessary to ready yourself for the ever-changing business world. If you are a goal-oriented student with an interest in an enhanced academic experience and a willingness to challenge your leadership potential, then the Nebraska Business Academy will be right for you.

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2025 Cohort Application Opens August 2024


Quick Facts About Academy Students

About the Academy

How to Apply and Timeline

  • November 15: Complete Honors Application on MyRED and specify Honors Academy at top of application
  • Early January: Selected candidates invited to on-campus interviews (students who live 150+ miles from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are eligible for a video interview)
  • January/February: On-campus interviews
  • Early March: Extend offers to join the Honors Academy

Students accepted into the Academy are automatically accepted into the UNL Honors Program.

Honors Academy applications will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Read More

how to apply

Selection Criteria

Nebraska Business Honors Academy practices a holistic review process. During the selection process, we consider a broad range of factors including experience, leadership and academics. We expect applicants to be inquisitive, eager to learn and excited by new discoveries not only in their discplines but also in themselves.

Specific selection criteria includes:

  • Outstanding academic achievement based on:
    • ACT of 27+ (or SAT 1300+)
    • Review of GPA, class rank and academic transcript
  • Demonstrated leadership potential through involvement in school and community activities
  • Committed to a major in business
  • Effective oral and written communication skills
social focus

Scholarships

Nebraska Business Honors Academy students are eligible for a variety of academy, college and university scholarships.

Academy specific scholarships include:

Academy specific scholarships include:

  • $2,500 Study Abroad Experience Scholarship
  • Academic merit-based scholarships

Academy scholarships can be added to any other scholarships awarded by Nebraska or the College of Business.

Academic Focus

Academy Requirements

To graduate from the Nebraska Business Honors Academy, the following requirements must be met:

  • Complete the cohort-based Academy business coursework (total of 43 credits)
  • Complete a University of Nebraska-Lincoln-approved study abroad experience or an internship experience
  • Become Toastmaster-certified or participate in at least one student competition team
  • Participate in Academy leadership workshops
  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
  • Complete UNL Honors Program requirements
  • Be a full-time student (at least 12 hours of credit per semester)
Academic Focus

Academy Experience

Nebraska Business Honors Academy students take 41 credits of honors level business coursework with their Academy cohort. This coursework consists of core and foundation courses common to all business majors.

The academy has dedicated academic advisors who are fluent in university and College of Business resources. The academy advisors want to know you and your goals, struggles and strengths. Our advisors take an individualized approach to each student's academic plan.

From the moment you meet your fellow classmates at our annual leadership challenge course campout, you will be part of a closeknit network of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Friendships naturally form from seeing familiar faces inside the classroom, in study groups, and various academy events hosted throughout the semester.

All academy courses are taught using active learning teaching methods to help you quickly apply what you've learned in class and develop critical thinking, problem solving, technical and communication skills.

The academy's small class sizes allow for increased focus on discussion, presentation, group collaboration and analytic exercises.

Academy professors are hand picked to teach academy classes because of their skills, dedication and outstanding teaching styles. Our faculty will challenge you in the classroom and support your professional aspirations outside of the classroom.

Academic Focus

Corporate Connections

Nebraska Business Honors Academy students have a unique opportunity to apply what they are learning in the classroom with industry leaders and corporate partners.

Corporate connections include:

  • Visiting regional and national companies through our Corporate Site Visit Program
  • Participation in our Corporate Partners Lab during your last semester
  • Invitation to Academy specific networking and career events
Academic Focus

Academy Course Sequence

FIRST YEAR

  • Macroeconomics (3 credits)
  • Microeconomics (3 credits)
  • Bureau of Business Research Special Project Lab (1 credit)
  • Investing in Strengths (1 credit)
  • Accounting Principles I (3 credits)
  • Business Writing (3 credits)
  • Career Development and Planning (1 credit)
  • UHON 101H Honors Community (1 credit)
  • UHON 189H First-Year Seminar (3 credits)
  • UHON 102H The Science of You (1 credit)

SECOND YEAR

  • Accounting Principles II (3 credits)
  • Principles of Finance (3 credits)
  • Principles of Marketing (3 credits)
  • Principles of Management (3 credits)
  • Legal Environments or Business Law I (3 credits)
  • UHON 201H Honors Intersection (1 credit)
  • UHON 298H Solutions Seminar (3 credits)

THIRD YEAR

  • Economic Data Visualization and Analysis (3 credits)
  • Internship and Job Search Strategies (1 credit)
  • UHON 395H Deep Dive Seminar (3 credits)

FOURTH YEAR

  • Business Strategy Capstone (3 credits)
  • Premier Corporate Partners Lab (2 credits)
  • Professional and Life Skills (1 credits)

Day In The Husker Life

Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the Honors Academy

All campus visits can be set up through Admissions.

When you make your reservation, mention that you would like to meet with the Honors Academy in the "special accommodations" section and staff will be sure to put us on your schedule for the day.

Schedule Your Visit

Joining after your first year

We accept transfer applications from students going into their second year of college on a space-available basis. The transfer application deadline is available in January and due March 1.

Contact Us

Transferring Credit

Nebraska does accept AP scores, IB credit and dual credit courses. More information can be found here:

Advanced Placement Credit | IB Diploma Credit
Dual Credit Transfer

Honors at Nebraska

Some students are interested in the Raikes School for Computer Science and Management and the University Honors Program. Students cannot be part of the academy and the Raikes School. Both are cohort-based programs that take a specific sequence of courses. We encourage you to apply to both the academy and Raikes and then decide which program is the best fit for you. All academy students are also part of the University Honors Program and have all the rights and responsibilities of University Honors Program students.

Raikes | University Honors Program

Living Arrangements

Academy students can live anywhere on-campus, including, but not limited to Knolls Suites (University Honors Program hall), traditional-style residence halls, and fraternity and sorority houses. Students in the academy may also choose to move off-campus after their first year. Students cannot be part of the academy and a learning community. We encourage you to apply to both the academy and learning communities and then decide which program is the best fit for you.

University Housing

Campus Involvement

There are ample opportunities to get involved on campus and many larger commitments will require time management. Many academy students are a part of fraternity and sorority life, student government, college athletics or in band. We are able to work with the students to create a course schedule that satisfies academy requirements and accomodates practice and game schedules.

Get Involved

Majors in the Academy

All students in the Academy must declare at least one of the 11 majors within the College of Business. The 11 majors are actuarial science, accounting, agribusiness, business administration, business and law, economics, finance, international business, management, marketing and supply chain management.

Note: The actuarial science major and the economics major can be completed through either the College of Business or the College of Arts and Sciences. Actuarial science and economics majors in the College of Arts and Sciences are NOT eligible to be in the Honors Academy.

Majors

Academy Leadership

Erin Burnette
Erin Burnette

Erin Burnette is the director of the Honors Academy and joined the Husker family in October 2012. She received her bachelor of arts in psychology from Truman State University and continued on for her master's degree in higher education and student affairs at the University of South Carolina. Erin worked to develop and enhance the experience of college students in the areas of leadership programs, student involvement, undergraduate research, academic support and advising, and admissions and has also held positions with high school leadership programs at Brown University and Yale University.

In her spare time, Erin loves to watch and play sports and spend time with her husband and identical twin toddlers. Additionally, she is a huge foodie and loves to travel and explore new restaurants and cuisines. Fun fact: She has visited over 150 college campuses!

CliftonStrengths®: Activator | Strategic | Maximizer | Woo | Significance

Becka Neary-DeLaPorte
Becka Neary-DeLaPorte

Dr. Rebekah "Becka" Neary-DeLaPorte is the assistant director for the Honors Academy. She earned her bachelor of arts in journalism from Simpson College, her master of science in college student personnel administration from Illinois State University and earned her doctorate in adult and higher education administration from the University of South Dakota. Her doctoral research explored the motivating factors which contributed to the recruitment and retention of faculty members serving as student organization advisors. Prior to joining the University of Nebraska–Lincoln team, Becka spent her professional career working in the division of student affairs, helping promote student involvement, planning campus wide programming, facilitating leadership development opportunities and providing oversight to student organizations.

Becka enjoys traveling, writing for Omaha Mom's Blog and spending time with her husband, two dogs and twin boys. Fun Fact: Becka worked on a Hawaiian cruise ship one summer while in college.

CliftonStrengths®: Activator | Woo | Communication | Empathy | Harmony

Contacts

Burnette, Erin
Nebraska Business Honors Academy
Neary-DeLaPorte, Rebekah
Nebraska Business Honors Academy