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Admission
to Honors Core Program
Honors College membership is comprised of students with outstanding achievement in scholarship, leadership and community service. Membership in Honors is competitive with a maximum of 40 seats open each fall. Current membership includes students from 36 different academic majors.
Incoming first year students normally are invited to apply to the Honors College if they demonstrate a minimum SAT score (a combination of the math and verbal scores) of 1200 and at least two of the following:
1. Minimum high school GPA of 3.5
2. Top 20 percent of graduating class
3. Record of achievement in high school Honors/AP courses
Review of candidates begins in late November and candidates may only be reviewed once they have been accepted to the university. Given competitive enrollments in recent years, interested students should apply to the university for acceptance by early January to receive full consideration. (NOTE: On a separate form available through the admissions office, any students applying for Honors should indicate interest in being considered for scholarships). A committee reviews the Honors application forms (consisting of essays describing involvement in co-curricular activities, commitment to leadership development, and fit with the Honor College's philosophy) and personal interviews are conducted on three Saturdays in the spring semester. (NOTE: the dates for 2009 are 1/24, 2/21, and 3/21---one will be held 4/18 as needed). Initial letters of acceptance are sent out by the first of April. No seats may be guaranteed/held until a deposit is paid to the university. Seats have generally filled by early April at which time a waiting list is generated.
Many Honors students have success with AP examinations. Exam scores should be communicated to the Honors College office as soon as they are available as they often positively impact graduation requirements. See attached link for ways AP scores are accepted at WCU.
Honors Seminar Certification Program
Students transferring from other institutions or native WCU students not entering Honors as incoming freshmen may apply for the Honors Seminar Certification Program (HSCP). Eligibility requires: 1) an earned minimum of 30 credits; 2) an earned minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA; 3) record of leadership and community service while in college. The HSCP affords all benefits of full Honors College membership---including access to all H.S.A. events, priority scheduling, transcript and graduation recognition. There is no SAT requirement for the SCP
To receive certification, students need to complete a minimum of 12 hours of Honors course work at the 351/452 level and demonstrate active contributions and service to co-curricular elements of the campus community.
A minimum of three 351/452 level courses are offered each semester. These are small group (15-24 students) seminar offerings that are interdisciplinary with writing emphasis and have no prerequisites. Students may petition, on special circumstances, to substitute an HON400-level independent study for three hours of credit.
Undergraduate Certificate Program in Leadership
and Civic Engagement (UCP-LCE)
An intentionally designed cross-disciplinary program, The Honors College challenges students from multiple disciplines to develop their academic gifts for leadership and apply them within the larger community. Through the Undergraduate Certificate Program in Leadership and Civic Engagement (UCP-LCE), our hope is to reach out to academically motivated students beyond The Honors College program and engage them in study of leadership issues related to civic need and social action. Completion of this certificate compliments The Honors College motto "To be honorable is to serve" and will provide recognition for students who take this challenge and build a record of academic accomplishment for focused work in leadership and community outreach.
Upon application, applicants must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average and must retain that minimum at time of final certification. Students may apply for membership to the UCP-LCE following the completion of 12 semester hours at the university or through transfer credit. Admission will also require students to demonstrate a record of commitment to community service and leadership and to have initiated a WCU co-curricular portfolio. The portfolio must be updated and submitted to The Honors College Director at the time of final certification. A minimum grade of C+ must be earned in all UCP-LCE classes that are applied toward certification.
For more information or to
receive an application, contact:
Ms. Donna Carney, Honors College
Phone: 610-436-2996
E-mail: honors@wcupa.edu
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