Honors Program

The Honors Program at Winston-Salem State University offers academically talented students a well-rounded education that combines academic studies with cultural enrichment and service to the community.

Through an intensive curriculum and a variety of leadership opportunities, students in the Honors Program at WSSU receive the best education possible while preparing for graduate studies or a career. Serving more than 250 students, the Honors Program provides the additional advantages of cultural enrichment activities and academic support, as well as internship, co-op and study-abroad experiences.

The Honors Program recognizes students for their academic achievement while challenging them to maintain a high standard of excellence. Several program features and activities are designed to ensure that this goal is met:

• Personalized Instruction
• Student Honors Organization (SHO)
• Honors Summer Session Abroad
• Honors Summer Advancement Program (HSAP)
• Local, Regional and National Honors Conferences
• Honors Housing in Rams Commons Residence Hall
• Student Leadership Institute

The Honors Program ensures that scholars have a relevant, challenging, rewarding experience. It promotes a lifelong, disciplined approach to knowledge and scholarship through inquiry and exploration. Through quality educational experiences and co-curricular activities, scholars are ready to be creative and critical-thinking leaders in their professions and communities.

Admission to the program is categorized as full or associate. Upon admission to WSSU, Chancellor’s Scholars, Achievement Scholars and Bass Scholars are full members of the Honors Program. Continuing freshmen and sophomores who have recently completed at least 15 hours of college work at the university and have maintained a grade point average of at least 3.25 and a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on all work completed at other institutions may apply for full admission to the program. Associate admission is offered to students within 60 hours of graduation who have not taken any honors courses but who have recently completed at least 15 hours at the university and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25.
 

Honors Awards

Winston-Salem State University offers two honors awards, General Honors and Departmental Honors, and an Honors Bachelor’s Degree.

General Honors Award Requirements:

1. Fifteen (15) hours of general education honors courses from at least two disciplines; 6 hours at the sophomore level
2. Freshman and Sophomore Honors Colloquia
3. Minimum overall grade point average of 3.25 in honors courses
4. Beginning foreign language or exemption
5. One computer course or proficiency
6. Full admission to the Honors College

Departmental Honors Award Requirements:

1. Eighteen (18) hours of junior and senior level honors courses.
2. Nine (9) hours in the major discipline.
3. Grades of A and B in all honors courses.
4. Junior and Senior Honors Colloquia.
5. Honors Thesis, Research/Creative Project.

Honors Bachelor’s Degree Requirements:

1. Completion of the General and Departmental Honors Awards requirements.
2. Formal application for graduation and completion of all university graduation requirements.