While good grades and strong academic performance are definitely important the "depth
of knowledge" that is the aim of AP classes is not the primary focus of our Honors
College. Students will get "depth" of knowledge within their majors. What Honors offers,
is breadth of knowledge. Honors courses, ground in the liberal arts, are all interdisciplinary
and focus around the broad theme of personal leadership development for the purpose
of civic engagement. Through Honors students build academic relationships with bright,
motivated, engaged peers who major in over 60 different programs offered on the campus.
Through interdisciplinary study, Honors students gain insights into multiple perspectives
change agents use to identify problems and seek solutions----to find the gifts and
possibilities existing in themselves, in others, and in the contexts where they work
and live.
These are really two questions. First, WCU does accept AP scores in all test areas.
Each department has different regulations in terms of what AP score must be earned
to give credit for a specific class. A full listing of test credits (including AP/IB/CLEP)
can be found on the Registrar web page. Second, in terms of general education, traditional students at WCU must complete
48 credit hours of identified "general education" work. For Honors students, the nine
core Honors courses, plus an additional class in either math or science, fulfills
all general education requirements. For many majors, these hours become available
as "directed elective classes" where students, with advisement from their academic
majors and/or Honors, can consider exploring adding a minor (or two!) or even a double
major and still be able to graduate in four years. Other options for the "elective
classes" include the potential of a semester of international study or a full semester
internship (similar to student teaching) where the students apply the theory of the
classroom in the larger community. An important exception needs mention. If a major
requires specific "cognate" courses that also count as "traditional" general education
classes, then students still need to take those classes. For example, Chemistry majors
must take CHE 103. That class is also a "general elective" option for other majors
on campus, say, History. While the History major would not need to take CHE 103, the
Chemistry Major still would.
In this case you have a dilemma. With that many AP credits, there are some majors
that would allow you to possibly graduate in three years. For all sorts of economic
reasons, that would be hard to turn down. What you would need to consider is the value
of a four-year college experience and the opportunity to explore your options and
soak up as much learning as possible. Ultimately, you can indeed graduate without
an Honors designation, however, our alumni attest that Honors opens doors at times
of job interviews and in terms of application for graduate programs. There will be
a lot of individuals who graduate with a college degree, but only 80 per year will
have the official transcript recognition of the Honors College.
One of the benefits of WCU's Honors College is the living/learning community, which
assists students in their academic and social development. Honors class assignments
are group related projects, the extended availability for students to work collaboratively
makes this community living ideal. Peer mentoring and group study is particularly
valuable during midterm and final exam periods.
All Accepted students are required to live on the 7th floor of Allegheny Hall for
their first year. The 7th floor contains a large central lounge, computer lab, free
laundry facilities, and a music room. Watch a virtual tour of Allegheny Hall!
Admissions to Honors is competitive. We are limited annually to 80 seats. Seats are
held once we receive a student's signed agreement of acceptance, an initial deposit
is made to the university and a housing contract filed with Allegheny Hall. We do
generate a wait list once our 80 seats are filled as there are often some shifts after
the national deposit deadline of May 1.
Honors does not offer specific recruitment scholarships for first-year students. That
being said, many Honors first-year students do qualify for university based merit
scholarships.
Entering Honors students are given designated housing in Allegheny Hall, an affiliated
residence hall through University Student Housing. Students will experience roommate matching, just like every other student on campus,
but the students available for matching will be the other accepted Honors students.
USH will communicate with students when roommate matching will begin, usually in late
May/early June.
Each year we have had athletes involved in Honors, several on the varsity level. It
does take commitment and coordination, but we have never lost a student from Honors
due to an unresolved conflict between a commitment to a given sport and one to Honors.
We work closely with the various team coaches to let them know in advance the time
slots where Honors classes are offered. Accommodations have always been reached in
terms of practice schedules and class absences (which are rare given the times of
official athletic events) are recognized for officially sanctioned performance events.