The All-College Honors Program provides challenging learning opportunities for selected students with excellent academic records, superior abilities, intellectual promise, and demonstrated initiative. Only the most outstanding students in the incoming first-year class or rising sophomore class are eligible, and selection is competitive.
Eligibility
High school seniors with a GPA of 3.75 are invited to apply to the All-College Honors Program after they have been accepted to Westminster College. Applicants may submit either test scores (minimum 1300 SAT or 28 ACT) or an e-portfolio to qualify for program entry. Students admitted to the All-College Honors Program are designated Honors Scholars. Students may also apply in the spring of their first year to enter the All-College Honors Program in the fall of their sophomore year. Students will be selected based on the following criteria: minimum Westminster College GPA of 3.7; support form signed by all Westminster College faculty with whom they have had courses; and an essay. Students who are interested in the All-College Honors Program can obtain more detailed information from the college’s website for the Honors Program (under the Academics tab).
The Honors Curriculum
The All-College Honors Program consists of a sequence of five interdisciplinary, global honors courses and 8 hours of honors research. These courses fulfill First-Year Program requirements, several Intellectual Perspective course requirements, and the Cluster requirement. Honors students admitted to the program and successfully completing HON 201 are not required to take INQ 111 , SPE 111 , or WRI 111 .
HON 201 is taken in the first semester of the first year, followed by HON 202 in the spring semester of the first year. The HON 201 /HON 202 sequence fulfills the Cluster requirement of the Westminster Plan. Following the honors cluster, students are strongly encouraged to take HON 520 : Travel course in May. Students are responsible for the additional fees associated with travel. Those who cannot travel may take HON 520S: Virtual Travel to satisfy the honors travel requirement. Students who withdraw from the Honors Program after the first semester will receive INQ 111 credit for HON 201 . Following HON 201 , HON 202 , and HON 520, students choose two of the following courses: HON 203 , HON 204 , HON 209 , HON 210 , HON 211 , or HON 212 .
Students admitted to the Honors Program in the spring semester of their first year are required to take four courses: HON 201 , HON 202 , HON 520 , and one course from HON 203 , HON 204 , HON 209 , HON 210 , HON 211 , or HON 212 . They also must complete 8 hours of Honors Research.
Honors Thesis or Project: Honors Scholars will propose and complete a thesis or project in their major(s) or an interdisciplinary project during their junior and senior years, respectively. They are required to register for at least 8 credits of honors research. Honors Scholars must successfully present and defend their thesis or project before an Honors Board in a public defense. The course sequence for honors research is HON 660 - Honors Research , HON 670 - Honors Research , HON 680 - Honors Research , HON 690 - Honors Research (1-4 SH) for use by students who are pursuing the Honors Project in an interdisciplinary area. Students who are pursuing the Honors Project in a discipline should use the prefix of their discipline (for example ENG) and sequential numbers 660-690.
Honors scholars must maintain a 3.400 career grade point average to remain in good standing in the All-College Honors Program.
For further information about requirements, students should contact the program director, Dr. Kristianne Kalata.
