Joseph C. and Judith E.
Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program
The Joseph C. and Judith E. Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program allows our most driven students to complete both curricular and extracurricular requirements established by the National Academy of Engineering to graduate with honors. The program focuses on undergraduate research, interdisciplinary coursework, entrepreneurship, global experience, and service-learning, with an eye toward solving the world’s most pressing challenges.
The program is named for alumnus Joe Cook, who graduated as an industrial engineer and a Torchbearer in 1965, and his wife, Judy. In March 2017, the couple announced they will sponsor the honors program in the college with a significant commitment.
By refining our honors program in such a way to deal with issues that impact lives, students will get to see the effect of their research and studies on the real world.
JOSEPH C. COOK JR.
Challenge Yourself.
The Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program prepares students to become highly competitive engineering graduates and be more successful in addressing the challenges of the twenty-first century, such as securing cyberspace, engineering better medicines, and providing access to clean water.
Explore Your Honors Options
The Cook Grand Challenge Honors Program offers three honors opportunities, and students can concurrently participate in university-wide honors programs.
Honors Concentration
The honors concentration encourages students to expand their engineering education through two of the following pathways: research, interdisciplinary coursework, entrepreneurship, global experiences, service-learning and/or community engagement.
NAE Grand Challenge Scholars Program
In 2008, the National Academy of Engineering established 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering. Honors students can tackle some of these challenges by completing all five of the honors breadth requirements—one at the extensive level, two at the intermediate level, and two at the introductory level.
Honors Engineering Leadership Minor
The Honors Engineering Leadership Minor (HELM) aims to help engineering students learn the leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills necessary to apply their technical skills in professional situations.
University Honors
UT offers honors programs for students across campus, including the Chancellor’s Honors Program and Haslam Leadership Scholars. Many of the requirements for the Cook Grand Challenge Scholars Program and university-level honors programs overlap, making it easy to complete several pathways at once.
Plan a Visit
Interesting in learning more about the Cook Grand Challenge Honors program? Visit us to meet our students and staff, attend a class, and see if the program is right for you.