Honors Program

The Purpose of the Honors Program

The Honors programs at West Virginia University Potomac State College provide 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. Limited class sizes allow for engaging discussions and debates, and Honors courses are taught by some of our finest faculty members. Professors will not only know you well individually but also your strengths and dreams.

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Honors Programs Introduction

PSC provides two separate Honors Programs. The Honors Foundation Program is designed for students completing an AA, AS, or AAS degree. Students in this program complete a total of 5 honors courses (a minimum of 13 honors credits) while completing the requirements for their degree.

The Honors in Action Program is designed for junior and senior-level students pursuing BAS, BIS, or BSN degrees. The Honors in Action program allows students to develop knowledge, skills, and competencies through curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular experiential learning opportunities. Students will earn badges through Suitable, a student engagement platform, that allows for easy sharing on social media, resumes, and personal websites.

Students can complete both programs, or they can choose to complete only one.

The Benefits of the Honors Programs

• Students successfully completing either honors program will receive an Honors Scholar designation on their official transcripts and graduation diplomas. Honors Scholars also receive special recognition during the Commencement ceremony.
• All honors students receive priority pre-registration for future semesters.
• Honors students have a variety of opportunities to participate in honors program-sponsored social and cultural activities.
• Honors students may enroll in Honors 191, which fulfills the requirement for all new students to enroll in an orientation course, typically WVUe 191.
• Honors Foundation Program students may take one or more honors courses 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.
• Students in either WVU-Potomac State College honors program transferring to the Morgantown campus may enter into the Honors Foundation or Honors in Action Program if they meet the requirements.

Further Honors in Action Program Benefits

• Opportunities to deeply pursue projects of academic and personal interest via experiential learning
• Career readiness preparation
• Badges and an ePortfolio sharable to online platforms
• Curricular and competitive financial support for student projects

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Admission to the Honors Foundation Program for AA/AS/AAS Degrees

Admission of New Students into the Honors Foundation Program

New freshmen Potomac State students must have a 3.3 high school GPA and 23 ACT or 1140 SAT (reading and math combined) score. Students meeting these requirements should receive a letter inviting them to join the Honors Foundation Program in the spring before their freshman year. Students who have met the requirements but have not received a letter should contact the Program Coordinator.

Admission of Current and Transfer Students into the Honors Foundation Program

Current Potomac State students and transfer students in an AA, AS, or AAS degree program who have a 3.5 cumulative GPA may be eligible for admission into the Honors Foundation 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 Foundation Program should contact the Program Coordinator.

Honors Foundation Program Requirements

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Admission to the Honors in Action Program

Current Honors Foundation students may apply for the program during their second year in the AA/AS/AAS honors program. Any students may apply for the program during their junior year regardless of previous enrollment in the Honors Foundation Program. Prospective students must have a cumulative GPA 3.4 or higher. There is also a pre-test to take before beginning the program.

Honors in Action Program Requirements

Through the Suitable software, students will be required to complete a total of five badges. You must complete the Career Ready Badge and four additional experiential learning badges. These multilevel experiential learning badges are available in the following areas: Research, Global, Internship, Service, and Creative. Students in the program will upload evidence of their qualifying experiential learning activity to demonstrate completion of a badge. Students will also be required to complete a detailed reflection about each activity they complete. Additionally, students will:

• Each Fall and Spring semester, maintain an institutional GPA of at least 3.0 and complete the required out-of-class experiences.
• Submit evidence of experiential learning activities through the Suitable platform.
• In the final semester, complete HONR 451 Honors Summative Experience.
• Have a minimum cum GPA of 3.0 when applying for graduation.
• Take the post-test when completing the program.
• Participate in the Honors Exit interview.