Honors Program

The Purpose of the Honors Program

The Honors Program at West Virginia University Potomac State College provides intellectual challenges and enrichment opportunities to academically talented students.

Students who share similar work ethics, goals and aspirations can find a strong sense of community with their peers.

Honors courses are taught by some of our finest faculty members. Professors not only know your name but also your hopes and dreams. Limited class sizes allow for engaging discussions and debates.

Changes to the Honors Program

The Honors Program at PSC has undergone changes to provide two separate Honors Programs.  The AA/AAS Honors Program  is designed for students completing an AA or AAS degree.  Students in this program complete a total of 5 honors courses while completing the requirements for their degree. The BAS Honors Program is designed for junior and senior level students in a BAS degree.  Students in this program complete 2 honors courses during their junior year and complete an honors project during their senior year in addition to completing community service related to their major or within the Keyser area. The BAS Honors Program is a more experiential learning program designed to help students be better prepared and able to enter the workplace. Students can complete both programs, or they can chose to complete only the AA/AAS or the BAS program.  

Admission in the Honors Program

Incoming freshman students must have a 3.3 high school GPA and 23 ACT or 1140 SAT (reading and math combined) score.

Current Potomac State students and transfer students who have a 3.5 cumulative GPA may be eligible for admission into the Honors Program. Honors credits received at other institutions may be accepted as honors credits at Potomac State. Current and/or transfer students interested in the Honors Program should contact the Program Coordinator.

Current Potomac State students and transfer students who have at least a 3.5 GPA can apply to the BAS Honors Program during the semester before they begin their BAS degree. In addition, PSC students with at least a 3.0 GPA and a letter of support from a faculty member can apply during the semester before they begin their BAS degree. Transfer students with at least a 3.5 GPA can apply after acceptance to Potomac State College of WVU. All applications will require an essay explaining why the student wishes to be accepted into the BAS Honors Program and will be reviewed by the Honors Advisory Council.

The Benefits of the Honors Program

• Students successfully completing the Honors Program will receive Honors Scholar designation on their official transcripts and graduation diplomas. Honors Scholars also receive special recognition during the Commencement ceremony. 
  
• Honors students choosing to change campuses to Morgantown from Potomac State may also transfer into the WVU Honors College. 
  
• Honors students have a variety of opportunities to participate in Honors Program sponsored social and cultural activities. 
  
• All honors students receive priority pre-registration for future semesters. 
• Honors students may enroll in Honors 199, which fulfills the requirement for all new students to enroll in an orientation course, typically WVUe 191. 
  
• Honors students may take one or more honors course each semester. Many of these courses satisfy general education (GEF) requirements at Potomac State College and West Virginia University so completing the honors courses does not typically require students to take additional courses. 
  

For information about the Honors Program please contact:

Sheryl Chisholm, PhD. 
Honors Program Coordinator 
Associate Professor of Biology 
WVU Potomac State College 
Keyser, WV 26726 
(304) 788-7119 
sheri.chisholm@mail.wvu.edu