Honors College

Brian Railsback, Dean
Steve Carlisle, Associate Dean
Susan Clarke Smith, Director of Honors/Pre-Professional Advising
143 Reynolds Hall
(828) 227-7383

The College serves over 1,300 Honors students, and manages programs that are open to all undergraduates at Western Carolina University. The Honors College is a student-centered enterprise that enhances the educational experience for high-achieving students, encourages innovative teaching, learning, and curriculum development, serves students and faculty across all disciplines, and encourages and supports undergraduate research.

Honors College Benefits. Honors College students are invited to live in the two Honors residences, Reynolds or Buchanan Hall. Honors students also benefit from a special diploma (see “Honors College Diploma” below), priority registration, the opportunity to customize their curriculum (see “Honors Curriculum” below), access to Honors courses, special library privileges, and free copying/printing at the Honors Office in Reynolds. Note: social events put on by The Honors College Student Board of Directors, such as dances, parties, special trips, tournaments, or events through the Jerry Jackson Lectures in the Humanities Series, are open to all Western Carolina University students.

Admission. To be considered for The Honors College, incoming first-year students must have a high school record that meets at least one of these standards: 3.75 GPA, 1250 SAT or 30 ACT, or top 10% of the high school class. First-year students who achieve a 3.50 GPA or above on at least 12 credit hours in the first semester at Western Carolina University will be invited to join The Honors College. After the first semester, students who have at least a cumulative 3.33 GPA are welcome to meet with the Dean to be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

To Remain in The College. Honors College students must maintain a 3.10 cumulative GPA at 30 credit hours, a 3.20 GPA at 60 hours, and must have a cumulative 3.33 GPA at 90 hours. A student who is dropped from The Honors College may be reinstated if the cumulative GPA is brought up to an acceptable level.

Advising. Honors students who have not yet declared a major are advised by the Honors Director of Advising, the Associate Dean, or the Dean. Honors students who have declared a major are usually advised by a faculty member in the major department; for questions related to The Honors College or its programs, students are welcome to meet with an Honors advisor.

Honors College Curriculum. Because of their academic achievement, Honors students are able to “customize” their Liberal Studies and degree programs. In Liberal Studies, an Honors student may elect to take a higher level course in place of the Liberal Studies course (this requires a completed approval form, available at the Honors Office). If the Honors student completes the higher level course with a B- or higher, the student will receive Honors credit for the course. Honors students may create their own degree program (Special Studies degree) with “fast track” approval. For more information on the Special Studies degree and the approval process, contact the Honors Dean.

The Honors College Diploma. The diploma, available in any major at Western Carolina University, is a special honor—a signal of high achievement to employers and graduate school admissions officers. Honors College students must complete 30 Honors hours and have at least a 3.33 cumulative GPA upon graduation to receive the diploma. Graduation from The Honors College will be designated on the transcript.

Honors College Credits. Honors students do not take extra hours to earn the College diploma; they do enroll in special Honors classes, usually in the Liberal Studies Program, to earn the hours needed for the College diploma. At the major level, Honors students may arrange for an Honors contract with the instructor of the course (this is a one-on-one project worked out between the student and the instructor) to earn Honors credit. Contract forms are available at the Honors Office. Transfer students who have Honors credit from other institutions need to meet with the Dean to determine how Honors credits will be accepted at Western Carolina University. Honors students who travel abroad may earn Honors hours for the experience by working out a special Honors contract with the Dean before they travel.

Honors College Scholar Program. This is designed for exceptional students who are interested in preparation and sponsorship for prestigious national or international scholarships (for example, the Goldwater, Truman, or Rhodes). Honors College Scholars are allowed to enroll in special tutorial courses with top professors; these experiences usually lead to regional or national undergraduate research experiences. To complete the program, Honors College Scholars must complete at least 12 Tutorial hours (these are not additional hours, however, but they do count as Honors credit). Incoming first-year students who have achieved a minimum weighted 4.0 high school GPA and at least a 1300 SAT or 33 ACT score may be admitted. First-year students who make at least a 3.75 cumulative GPA on at least 12 hours may be admitted. Honors College Scholars must maintain at least a 3.75 cumulative GPA to remain in the program. Graduates of this program will receive special recognition on the diploma and transcript.

Pre-Professional Programs. Pre-Medicine, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Law, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Dental, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Physician’s Assistant, Pre-Engineering.

Students who attend the university to prepare for admission into a professional school are provided with a variety of options for the programs they may pursue. Students should make decisions early in their undergraduate career regarding preparation for professional school. The majority of professional school programs now require a bachelor’s degree for admission, although there are still some exceptions. To make wise decisions regarding undergraduate prerequisite courses and selecting an undergraduate major, students should contact the Pre-Professional Advisor at The Honors College. Call (828) 227-3277, email smithsc@wcu.edu, come by 136 Reynolds, or visit the website at www.wcu.edu/honorscollege/professional.htm.

Undergraduate Research. The Honors College sponsors Undergraduate Project Grants, which are grants of up to $500 each, to support supplies or travel related to student research and creative/performance projects. Students who are accepted to present at the National Conference for Undergraduate Research will have lodging, travel, and registration expenses paid for by The Honors College. Please contact the Dean for more information about these programs at (828) 227-7383.