Western 2023-24 Honors Piece

HONORS COLLEGE

Be Inspired. Find Your Community. Discover more.

Access to specific Honors advisors

No additional fees

Average Honors class size: 18

3 Honors Study Abroad countries

Transformative Learning in a Collaborative Community Transformative Learning in a Collaborative Community

Since its founding in 1962, WWU Honors has functioned as a small college within a larger university, incorporating the best aspects of both. The small, diverse classes promote the thought-provoking discussions that will challenge your perceptions and foster a strong sense of community within your Honors cohort.

You can pursue any major, have access to fellowship and internship advising, and have the option to live in the Honors Residential Community.

Curriculum

First-Year Honors

Curriculum

First-year students in Honors take a yearlong sequence that includes the following classes:

HNRS 101 (Fall Quarter) – The Big Picture: Lecture Series with WWU faculty (1 credit)

HNRS 103* (Fall Quarter) – Navigating the Human Experience – Pre-Modernity: Students navigate ideas drawn from outside a modern framework of thought (4 credits)

HNRS 104* (Winter Quarter) – Navigating the Human Experience – Modernity: Students navigate how a modern framework of thought came to be (4 credits)

And your choice of one of the following:

HNRS 105* (Spring Quarter) – Navigating the Human Experience – Post-Modernity A: Comparative culture in the modern world; emphasis outside North America and Europe (4 credits)

HNRS 106* (Spring Quarter) – Navigating the Human Experience – Post-Modernity B: Comparative culture in the modern world; multicultural and gender studies (4 credits)

STEM Interest

Students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are encouraged to consider enrollment in our Honors Calculus* and Honors General Chemistry* sequences.

Lower Division Colloquia

Two Honors Colloquia* are required. These 200-level classes are offered each year in areas such as economics, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, and geology.

Upper Division Seminars

Two Honors Seminars are required. Faculty compete to teach these 20+ seminars, which cover an array of fields and topics that are refreshed each year.

Senior Project

Students partner with faculty to complete an original, independently designed, concentrated work in a student's major or another field of interest.

See past projects at: cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors

Transfer Students

Students who join us from community colleges, other universities, or are current Western students typically have a high number of completed college credits. Meeting with an Honors College academic advisor is highly recommended.

* Courses fulfill General University Requirements

Study Abroad

Complete Honors requirements while studying in Greece, Croatia, or South America.

Honors in Greece

In the Honors global learning class cluster Greeks, Gender, and Geology, your first term at WWU can include 2 weeks in Athens, Greece. This is only for the Fall Quarter and first-year Honors students.

Honors in Croatia

Learn about Croatia, a small southeastern European country, through travel over the course of 2 weeks with Honors professor Dr. Arna Elezović. Students explore the history, art, food, environment, and culture through excursions and guided tours.

Honors in South America

Spend 3 weeks in a South American country with Honors faculty. Last year's students had an opportunity to travel through the Sierra highlands, Andes mountains, the Amazon rainforest, and the Galapagos in Ecuador while learning about the country's vibrant culture and history.

Admissions

Admission to Western's Honors College

While admission to Honors is selective, the application review is holistic and values a variety of student perspectives, experiences, and attributes.

Applying to Honors

The Honors College application is accessed through the Honors website, and is separate from Western's general application for admission. A complete application to Honors includes:

1. A sample of your best analytical writing

2. A personal essay responding to the prompt(s) found on our website

3. Highly recommended: letter(s) of recommendation from a teacher or counselor Application Deadlines

Priority Deadline – December 13

Regular Deadline – February 13

Transferring to Honors

Transfer students and current Western students are welcome to apply. Honors requirements will be discussed on an individual basis to develop a curricular pathway best for each student.

Apply to Honors

“The Honors College fundamentally shaped my Western experience in a positive way. The coursework stretched my mind and helped me view the world in a deeper, more nuanced way. Perhaps most importantly, it was through the Honors College that I met lifelong friends and formed meaningful connections with amazing professors.”

Isaac Heiman Behavioral Neuroscience

Honors College honors@wwu.edu honors.wwu.edu (360) 650-3034

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