Commonwealth Honors Program
The Honors program at Salem State University provides students with an inclusive, stimulating and supportive environment to explore their passions, engage in the world around them and realize their potential in and out of the classroom. We offer small, student-centered classes, oneon-one mentoring from faculty, and opportunities for research, travel, civic engagement, leadership, and professional development. Social events and a dedicated space allow our students to build community and life-long friendships.
There are currently around 250 students enrolled in Salem State’s Honors program. They represent a variety of majors and come from diverse backgrounds. Many of our students are leaders in student government and other campus organizations. Others are athletes, artists and activists. Firstgeneration college students, transfer students, international students, and nontraditional students are welcome and supported in our program.
Salem State’s Honors program is a member of the Commonwealth Honors Program consortium, an integrated network of Honors programs throughout the public education system in Massachusetts. Students who complete all of the state requirements for Commonwealth Honors are recognized at graduation and on their transcripts. Criteria for achieving this academic distinction include the following:
• Completion of required and elective Honors courses with a B- or higher
• Completion and public presentation of an Honors thesis project
• A cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
Why Honors at Salem State?
• Smaller class sizes in seminar formats allow closer interaction with other students and professors
• Field trips, invited speakers and service-learning opportunities for selected classes
• Priority registration for classes after your first semester
• Scholarship opportunities: all Honors students receive scholarships of at least $1,000 per year. Additional scholarships and funding to support student travel and research are available by application.
• Access to the Efrosine Yeannakopoulos Honors Center—a great space to study and hang out with other students in the program. Free printing is also available in the center.
• Attend cultural events and social activities for Honors students
• Present your research at local, regional and national conferences
• Mentored research experiences with dedicated faculty members
• Network with Honors program alumni
• Support navigating internships, graduate school applications and job searches as you approach graduation
• Guaranteed access to four years of on-campus housing
• Ability to take up to 22 credits each semester without additional fees (outside of the program, students are capped at 18 credits)
• Student-led social events and activities for Honors students
Honors Courses
Courses in the Honors program differ in design and content from the university’s standard requirements. For most students, Honors courses require the same amount of work as non-Honors courses. Our classes are smaller (capped at 20 students maximum) and tend to be interactive or discussion-based. Honors faculty are innovative, engaged and experienced educators. Their courses frequently include experiential learning, field trips and guest speakers.
Honors courses taken in your first and second year also fulfill General Education requirements. Honors coursework completed during your junior and senior years will support you in developing a thesis proposal, completing your project, and planning for life beyond graduation.
Honors Scholarships
Every student in the Honors program receives financial support in the form of a scholarship. Paul Tsongas Scholarship recipients receive full tuition and fee waivers for four years of study. Students who enter the program from high school (and have not received Tsongas scholarships) receive $1,000 Honors scholarships per year.
Support from generous donors has allowed us to offer additional funding for student research, travel, study abroad, attendance at regional and national conferences, and more.
Honors Activities
• Incoming Student Retreat on Cape Cod
• Bagel Tuesdays (free bagels weekly in the Yeannakopoulos Center)
• Weekend trips to New York City, Washington, D.C. or Montreal
• Civic Engagement / Community Service Trip to Portland, Maine
• Fall Dinner
• Murder Mystery Party
• Senior Etiquette Dinner
• Career and Graduate School Workshops
• Movie Nights
• Cocoa and Cram Study Sessions
• Honors Convocation
• Participation in state and regional Honors conferences and the Undergraduate Research Symposium
VIRGINIA MARTINEZ
Majors: Psychology and Criminal Justice
“I chose Salem State’s Honors program because I liked the chance to explore different classes as part of my foundational coursework and to be challenged academically. Now, I’m drawing on ideologies and methodologies from those courses as I prepare to write my faculty-sponsored Honors thesis. During my first year, I lived in Honors housing and met three of my closest friends, and that time is one of my best memories of my Salem State experience. I wouldn’t have had these opportunities without joining the Honors program.”
ERIKA K. PEN ’24
Admission
Applying early is recommended as space in the program is limited.
Incoming First-Year Student Admission
First-year students are selected for the Honors program based on their weighted grade point average and their potential for quality work at the university level. We are a test-optional program, though test scores are required for some prestigious scholarships. Incoming first-year students usually have a weighted high school GPA of 3.7 or higher.
Students interested in the Commonwealth Honors Program may indicate this on the Salem State University application. They should also submit an essay about their interest in Honors to admissions@salemstate.edu
“It is a joy to work with talented and enthusiastic honors students in the classroom and to oversee their individual senior projects. Honors students and faculty alike share a passion for learning, debate and intellectual discovery—both inside and outside of the classroom. As a graduate of a Commonwealth Honors Program, I personally understand the value of receiving an enriched education and being part of a supportive learning community.”
—JOANNA GONSALVES, PHD, professor, psychology
Transfer Student Admission
The program guarantees admission to all students who graduate from Commonwealth Honors programs within Massachusetts community colleges and are accepted for transfer.
Transfer students who have completed Honors courses at other colleges are encouraged to apply and may do so with college credit totals of up to 60 credits (inclusive of the semester of Honors application). Transfer students without prior experience in Honors are considered case-by-case to determine whether they can meet Honors program requirements within their remaining course of study. Usually, transfer students admitted to the program have GPAs of 3.5 or above from their prior institutions.
Continuing Education Student Admission
Current students not initially enrolled in the Honors program with fewer than 48 college credits may request admission after completing at least one semester of coursework. Students are admitted based on GPA (usually a 3.5 or above) and a statement of interest.
The Honors Thesis
Honors thesis projects allow students to explore a topic of interest in depth with the support of a dedicated faculty mentor. More than a term paper, the Honors thesis allows students to showcase their talents and skills developed throughout their education at Salem State. Thesis projects take many forms: students in our program have produced art installations, films, political action toolkits, and business plans, as well as case studies, literature reviews, and scientific research. Completed thesis projects are published and shared with the world via Salem State’s digital repository at salemstate.edu/theses
Beyond Honors
Honors program alumni have enrolled in a variety of graduate programs, including:
• EdD in higher education, University of Massachusetts
• JD program, New England School of Law
• JD program, Suffolk University
• Master of fine arts in technical design and production, Yale University
• Master of science in accountancy, Wake Forest University PhD program
• Master of science in counseling psychology, Boston College
• Master of science in management in entrepreneurship, Babson College
• Medical school, University of Kentucky
• PhD in sociology, University of Massachusetts
• PhD in zoology, University of New Hampshire
• PhD program in geological sciences, University of New Mexico
• PhD program in gerontology, University of Massachusetts
• PsyD in clinical psychology, William James College
• Veterinary school, University of Edinburgh
Other graduates have pursued careers in nursing, journalism, counseling, nonprofit work, business, and education. Some have pursued internships with U.S. senators or received prestigious Fulbright Scholarships to Bulgaria and India.