Honors Program

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Honors Program, University Interdisciplinary Programs

Introduction

Western’s Honors Program allows students to combine the best of a private liberal arts college experience (small classes, interaction with professors and other students, and the opportunity to work on research and creative activities with faculty) with the advantages of a much larger public institution, including a wide variety of majors, outstanding academic facilities, and numerous extra-curricular options.

The program is structured in a way that provides a graduated, on-going experience for students as they engage in increasingly sophisticated work while moving through Honors.

Admission is selective– students apply to join the Program through a supplemental application accessed from the Honors Program website. Transfer students or students already enrolled in the university may apply to the Program on the bases of academic record, a writing sample, and the recommendation of a university or other faculty member.

Students in the Honors Program are eligible for HNRS courses and have the opportunity to undertake extended Honors independent study projects in their major fields.

Students interested in the Honors program should contact the Honors Office, College Hall 07, 360-650-3034, or visit the Honors website, www.wwu.edu/honors, for more information.

Why Consider an Honors Program Major?

Suggested especially for students seeking a challenging academic experience.

Contact Information

Carla Pederson
College Hall 07
360-650-3034
Carla.Pederson@wwu.edu

Sample Careers

Major/Career Resources

www.wwu.edu/careers/students_choosingamajor.shtml

Grade Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.50 grade point average for the last 90 graded credits of university work.

Requirements for Graduation through the Honors Program

Classes in the first and second year apply to the student’s General University Requirements. Classes may be applied to the GUR area indicated for each class.

First-Year Honors:
❑ HNRS 103 - Major Cultural Traditions I Credits: 4 GUR: HUM
❑ HNRS 104 - Major Cultural Traditions II Credits: 4 GUR: HUM
❑ HNRS 105 - Major Cultural Traditions III Credits: 4 GUR: ACGM
or
❑ HNRS 106 - Major Cultural Traditions IV Credits: 4 GUR: BCGM
Freshmen with science and mathematics interests are encouraged to consider enrollment in one or more of the following Honors Classes:
MATH 134 - Calculus I Honors Credits: 5 GUR: QSR
MATH 135 - Calculus II Honors Credits: 5
MATH 138 - Accelerated Calculus Credits: 5
CHEM 125 - General Chemistry I, Honors Credits: 5 GUR: LSCI
CHEM 126 - General Chemistry II, Honors Credits: 5 GUR: LSCI
CHEM 225 - General Chemistry III, Honors Credits: 5 GUR: LSCI
Lower Division Honors Colloquia:
❑ Two Honors Colloquia. Classes are at the 200-level, and a variety is offered each year in areas such as psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and economics. One colloquium is waived for students with credit in one or more of the following courses: MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 138; CHEM 125, CHEM 126, CHEM 225.
Upper Division Honors Seminars:
❑ A minimum of two Honors seminars. Seminars are offered in a broad array of fields each year, and offerings change from year to year. Classes are numbered 350 and above.

In some cases, students may apply HNRS seminars to their majors or their GURs, with permission of the Honors Program director or the Honors advising staff, and the department concerned.
Honors Capstone Project:
❑ Senior Project is concentrated work in the student’s major field, though in exceptional cases work may be done in an allied area. It is not unusual for a student to be engaged in Senior Project work before the final year, especially in the natural sciences. Students may take HNRS 490, Senior Project, as well as research classes in their major department to meet this requirement.

Requirements for already enrolled Western students and transfer students:

❑ Four Honors seminars
❑ Senior Project

Additional requirements for graduation through the Honors Program:

A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 for the last 90 graded credits of University-level work

University Graduation Requirements

General University Requirements 2017-18
Writing Proficiency Requirement (WP)
180 Minimum Total Credits
60 Minimum Upper Division Credits
Residency Requirement
Minimum Grade Requirements
Final Quarter Requirement