Buchanan Freshman-FAQs

For students who apply by November 1, our goal is to let them know in December. For students who apply by December 1st, we will let them know in February or early March. 

Please check the email listed on your application for updates.

The Honors College provides a small, private college environment while allowing students to take advantage of the opportunities at a large university. Freshman- and sophomore-level classes are limited to 20 students, allowing faculty and students to have quality discussions and hands-on learning experiences. The Honors College is home to three publications (Areté, Collage, and Scientia et Humanitas), two national honor societies (Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi), and offers Honors credit for Governor’s School, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate (IB).

Students who receive an early Buchanan offer by applying by November 1st will need to make their decision by the December deadline listed in their offer. Other applicants will need to accept the Buchanan Fellowship by May 1 of their senior year of high school.

The Honors College encourages any eligible students to take Honors courses. Buchanan Fellows and Honors students come from a variety of majors across campus. If you meet eligibility requirements, you can take Honors classes and be a Buchanan Fellow. Please contact your major advisor to see if the Honors minor fits your academic goals. Students who have already completed 21 hours or more may need help completing the Buchanan Program and should consult an advisor before applying. Students with 60 or more hours should apply for the Buchanan Transfer Fellowship.

Yes! Students who have take time off after high school, known as a gap year or years, are welcome to apply.

All Buchanan students will receive an Honors minor, which requires 15 hours of lower-division and 8 hours of upper-division Honors classes. These required classes will be taken with other Buchanan recipients:

• COMM 2200 Fundamentals of Communication (required)
• ENGL 2020 Themes in Literature (required)
• PHIL 1030 Introduction to Philosophy (required)
• PS 1010 Foundations of Government (optional)
• ECON 2410 Principles of Macroeconomics (optional)

Upper-division Honors classes include the following:

• 3 hours upper-division Honors courses (3000- and 4000-level courses) or Honors interdisciplinary seminar
• 1-hour Honors Lecture Series (UH 3000)
• 1-hour thesis tutorial (UH 4900)
• 3 hours Honors independent research (UH 495)

Each class of Buchanan Fellows moves through the Honors College together as a cohort. This includes taking the above classes and having volunteer and service opportunities throughout their time at MTSU.

The Buchanan Fellowship does not include housing. Students accepting the fellowship may live where they choose. Students interested in living on campus should note that Lyon Hall is the Honors Living and Learning Community. This is not required but is an excellent option for Honors students looking to live on campus.

You should receive a confirmation email from the application system. Students who receive an early Buchanan offer by applying by November 1st must decide by the December deadline listed in their offer. Other applicants must accept the Buchanan Fellowship by May 1 of their senior year of high school.

Unfortunately, you can only have one four-year scholarship. The Buchanan Scholarship has the highest amount of any four-year scholarship, paying 16 hours of tuition for Fall and Spring for four years. If the cost of tuition increases, then the scholarship increases to match that. Additionally, $500 per fall and spring semester is placed into your account for books, and up to $5000 is available to study abroad.

If you have issues accessing the application, check your browser – Google Chrome works best for these forms. Second, ensure you accept cookies if prompted [click Accept in the blue band at the top of the page], or the application will not work correctly.

You do not have to complete the application in one session, but please save every 30 minutes or so. Please complete and submit your application several days before the deadline, as the Honors College is not responsible for technical issues or other computer issues that may occur.

If you continue to have technical issues with your PipelineMT account or Buchanan Fellowship Application, please contact help@mtsu.edu or 615-898-5345. If you contact help@mtsu.edu or call 615-898-5345, please tell them your name and M-number and that you need help creating your pipeline account.