Honors Program
The Honors Program is a university-wide undergraduate program designed to offer highly motivated and advanced students the opportunity to enhance their intellectual and personal growth within a community of learners by engaging them in rigorous honors-designated coursework, interdisciplinary seminars, professional development opportunities, extended research and creative projects, and community service.
The program will offer courses that are small in size and that develop the intellectual potential of students through activities that:
- develop communication skills
- incorporate interdisciplinary focus
- prompt analysis of their own and others’ assumptions
- enhance research skills
- develop critical reading, writing, speaking, problem solving, and thinking skills that incorporate information literacy, and an appreciation of audience
- include greater breadth than non-Honors course sections
- incorporate enrichment opportunities for students and faculty
- include innovative pedagogy and utilize flexible approaches that accommodate different learning styles
Most students entering the Honors Program will do so upon admission to the university (Track A). Students are admitted to the Honors Program based on screenings by the admissions office including consideration of high school GPA, application essay, and rigor of high school curriculum. See additional details about admission to the Honors Program in the section of the Catalog explaining about Admission to Special Programs.
Space permitting, others may apply for acceptance after matriculation, during their first year (Track B). Note that this application process is competitive and applicants must have a 3.2 overall UMW GPA or higher; an application with essay; a record of community service, campus involvement, or leadership; and one letter of recommendation from UMW faculty.
Completion of the Honors Program requirements will be recognized at graduation and indicated on the transcript as “University Honors.” Note that departmental Honors will continue to be distinct from the Honors Program. Honors in each discipline will still be administered by academic departments based on requirements they determine (see individual departments for details).
Student Learning Outcomes for the University Honors Program
Upon the completion of the Honors Program at Mary Washington, in addition to earning the appropriate credits for their degrees, students will be able to:
- evaluate carefully the relevance of disciplinary contexts when presenting a position using a methodology specific to the discipline of study
- apply interdisciplinary approaches to research demonstrating multiple disciplinary contexts to articulate the value of such study
- actively pursue independent educational experiences inside and outside of the classroom.
- articulate an appreciation of ethical behavior and the values of good citizenship and service.
Honors Program Requirements
Track A: Incoming First-year Students
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FSEM 100 | First-Year Seminar (HN-designated) | 3 |
| HN-designated coursework (not including FSEM HN) | 9 | |
| HONR 201 | Honors Service Learning | 1 |
| Honors Capstone Project 1 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
| 1 | Course approved by Honors Program Committee. |
Additionally each student will be required to:
- complete the HONR 005 Honors Capstone Preparation - at least one semester prior to the capstone project,
- complete the Honors Program leadership requirementHONR 002 Honors Leadership,
- maintain an Honors portfolioHONR 004 Honors Portfolio,
- complete one co-curricular event summary per semester at UMW HONR 003 Honors-Co-curricular Events, and
- maintain the required GPA.
Track B: Current UMW Students or eligible Transfer Students
FSEM requirement waived for Track B
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HN-designated coursework 1 | 12 | |
| HONR 201 | Honors Service Learning | 1 |
| Honors Capstone Project 2 | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 16 | |
| 1 | Can include FSEM 100 First-Year Seminar HN |
| 2 | Course approved by Honors Program Committee. |
Additionally each student will be required to:
- complete the Honors Capstone Preparation Workshop (HONR 005 Honors Capstone Preparation) at least one semester prior to the capstone project,
- complete the Honors Program leadership requirementHONR 002 Honors Leadership,
- maintain an Honors portfolioHONR 004 Honors Portfolio,
- complete one co-curricular event summary per semester at UMWHONR 003 Honors-Co-curricular Events ,and
- maintain the required GPA.
Kelli M. Slunt, Program Director and Professor of Chemistry
Mara Scanlon, Associate Director and Professor of English
Honors Program Committee
Affiliated Faculty
Agreement with The George Washington University Medical School
This agreement allows UMW Honors Scholars to apply for conditional acceptance to the medical school during the second year of college. Individuals with competitive SAT or ACT scores, who are in good standing in the UMW Honors Program, have at least a 3.5 UMW GPA, have completed at least two semesters of chemistry and two semesters of biology or physics, as well as a social/behavioral science course with no science grade below a B-, and have participated in some patient related health care are invited to apply in March of their sophomore year at UMW. Early acceptance candidates must pursue a major or minor in a humanities area and complete all required pre-medical coursework.
Note: the application process is competitive and not all students who meet the criteria will be selected. All decisions of The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences are final and there is no appeal process.