The Honors Program is about pursuing an enriched, enhanced, and deeper undergraduate liberal arts education. Honors students come together to form a diverse community of intellectually adventurous scholars.
Program Overview
Exceed all of your own expectations.
At Western Colorado University, the Honors Program welcomes high-achieving students from all majors and disciplines. The Honors Core features seven credits across four courses: Gateway, Forum, Introduction to the Great Conversation and Oxford Tutorial. Honors sections of General Education courses, which vary every semester, contribute another six credits. Special Topics courses, field experiences, service-learning projects, independent research, and study abroad opportunities round out the program with eight credits of Honors Electives.
A step ahead
Honors students gain access to distinctive, innovative and discussion-based courses, research and conference opportunities, honors-specific scholarships, community social events, and more.
Program Requirements
At Western, course rotations are crafted to encompass a variety of subject fields for a comprehensive education and versatile degree. For required courses and degree plans, visit the official University Catalog. Below is a general overview of courses at Western Colorado University related to this area of study.
The Western Honors Program provides enhanced and challenging academic programming to a carefully selected group of highly motivated and accomplished students from all disciplines. The Honors Program at Western provides the best of a liberal arts education by providing students with the opportunity to become autonomous learners within a highly supportive and collaborative academic community. Honors students are encouraged and challenged to free themselves from not only external constraints on the acquisition of knowledge and understanding but also from internal limitations that can prevent critical thinking, reflective analysis, and responsible choice. The Honors program welcomes a diversity of perspectives and fosters the intentional practice of civil discourse, enabling students to develop the capacity for informed analysis and responsible evaluation and a willingness to submit discoveries and conclusions to an academic community of their peers and mentors to be mutually investigated and critiqued. Small class size, extensive interaction among peers and professors, experiences outside the traditional classroom, and interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches to education are all features of the program. Such opportunities allow students to explore avenues of intellectual inquiry within and beyond their selected majors and minors.
The Western-CU Partnership Honors Program Certificate
The Western-CU Partnership Honors Program Certificate is for eligible Partnership students who are motivated to enhance their education with Honors courses connecting STEM with rigorous liberal arts-based inquiry. Partnership students in the Honors Program take the same 21-credit sequence alongside Western students, but with a specialized degree plan and advising designed to fit seamlessly into their schedules. Through innovative, interdisciplinary, and experiential coursework, Honors students engage program values of citizenship and community, interdisciplinarity, risk taking and autonomy, social intelligence and the Good. Upon program completion, Partnership students will emerge as global thinkers, strong communicators, and creative problem solvers. Students can learn more about the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science & Engineering on individual program pages.
Program Benefits
Honors students have the opportunity to become a part of a scholarly community composed of faculty and students committed to the pursuit of intellectual inquiry, creativity, and academic excellence. Benefits of membership in the Western Honors Program also include automatic eligibility for Honors housing and Honors classes, use of the Honors Center, computer lab and classroom in Taylor Hall, participation in Honors Orientation and the opportunity to get involved with the Honors Student Advisory Board to plan social and intellectual activities beyond the classroom, Honors study abroad, priority registration, exclusive opportunity to apply yearly for Honors-exclusive scholarships, and special recognition at graduation upon completion of the program. Students may also register for Honors Special Topics classes or develop independent and special Honors projects which offer challenging and accelerated learning experiences inside and outside the regular course offerings.
Admission Requirements
Invitations to the program are extended to high school students who have achieved a 3.50 cumulative grade point average or who have successfully completed International Baccalaureate programs. The test score requirements are an ACT composite score of 25 or higher or an SAT composite score of 1190. First or second-year Western students who have a minimum overall 3.3 grade point average may also apply. Upper-division students are considered on an individual basis. Transfer students with 29 or fewer credits are invited to join Honors if they have achieved a minimum overall 3.3 college grade point average as well as fulfilled the high school GPA and test score requirements. Transfer students with 29 or more credits and a minimum overall 3.3 college grade point average are considered on an individual basis.
Program Requirements
Continuation in the program is based on maintaining an overall grade point average of 3.0. Graduation from the program requires a grade point average of 3.3 and completion of program requirements.
A minimum of 21 credits is required:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HNRS 100 | Gateway | 3 |
| HNRS 200 | Honors Forum | 2 |
| HNRS 304 | Introduction to the Great Conversation | 1 |
| HNRS 400 | Oxford Tutorial | 1 |
| Honors General Education courses 1 | 6 | |
| Select eight credits of the following (at least six credits must be upper division): | 8 | |
HNRS 101 | Honors Colloquium | |
HNRS 197 | Special Topics | |
HNRS 201 | Honors Colloquium | |
HNRS 202 | Service Learning in Honors | |
HNRS 297 | Special Topics | |
HNRS 301 | Honors Colloquium | |
HNRS 302 | Service Learning in Honors | |
HNRS 303 | Honors Field Experience | |
HNRS 305 | Place as Text | |
HNRS 397 | Special Topics | |
HNRS 402 | Service Learning in Honors | |
HNRS 401 | Honors Colloquium | |
HNRS 403 | Honors Field Experience | |
HNRS 492 | Independent Study | |
HNRS 494 | Thesis Preparation | |
HNRS 495 | Thesis | |
HNRS 497 | Special Topics | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
- 1
The six Honors General Education credits will be redistributed to Honors Electives for students who enter the Honors program with completed General Education programs either through Western or gtPathways.
Suggested 4-Year Degree Plan with the Honors Program
As each student’s overall degree plan will vary, depending upon transfer credit and/or major, this is a suggested plan. Students transferring significant numbers of GE credits should meet with the Honors Program Director to make an individualized degree plan.
Students interested in the Western-CU Partnership Honors Program Certificate should consult individually with the Honors Program Director for degree plans.
| Year One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| HNRS 100 | Gateway | 3 |
| Gen Ed | HNRS section of GE course | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Year Two | ||
| HNRS 200 | Honors Forum | 2 |
| Gen Ed | HNRS section of GE course | 3 |
| HNRS | Special Topics elective course Students are encouraged to consider taking an Honors Maymester Abroad course, as available, to earn 3 elective credits. | 3 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Year Three | ||
| HNRS 304 | Introduction to the Great Conversation | 1 |
| HNRS | Special Topics elective course | 3 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Year Four | ||
| HNRS 400 | Oxford Tutorial | 1 |
| HNRS | Special Topics elective course | 2 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
This plan is intended primarily for students either in K-12/Secondary Licensure or 3+2 programs. As each student’s overall degree plan will vary, depending upon transfer credit and/or major, this is a suggested plan. Students transferring significant numbers of GE credits should meet with the Honors Program Director to make an individualized degree plan.
Suggested 3-Year Degree Plan with the Honors Program
| Year One | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| HNRS 100 | Gateway | 3 |
| Gen Ed | HNRS section of GE course | 3 |
| Gen Ed | HNRS section of GE course | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Year Two | ||
| HNRS | Special Topics elective course and/or Honors colloquium added to a non-Honors course Students are encouraged to consider taking an Honors Maymester Abroad course, as available, to earn 3 electives credits. | 3-4 |
| Credits | 3-4 | |
| Fall | ||
| HNRS 200 | Honors Forum | 2 |
| Credits | 2 | |
| Spring | ||
| HNRS 304 | Introduction to the Great Conversation | 1 |
| Credits | 1 | |
| Year Three | ||
| HNRS 400 | Oxford Tutorial | 1 |
| HNRS | Special Topics elective course and/or Honors colloquium added to a non-Honors course | 3-4 |
| Credits | 4-5 | |
| Total Credits | 19-21 | |
Spotlight
Triston Turner
Student
“Any leadership role makes your college experience unique because you obviously don’t have to do this before you graduate. Being an EPIC Mentor has provided me with more perspective in my life. I see different viewpoints and the diversity of people’s backgrounds,” Triston commented.
Conor Dawson
Student
“Being an EPIC Mentor has enhanced my experience for sure. There are some events and organizations I may not have been familiar with if it were not for being an EPIC Mentor,” he admitted.
Scholarships
Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Western’s Scholarship Application portal allows you to search for, apply to and manage your scholarship opportunities. This platform houses over 300+ departmental and privately funded scholarship opportunities available to both new and returning students. Through the scholarship portal, students may identify scholarship opportunities based on academic program, campus involvement, academic standing, specific keywords and more. Students may click below to begin learning about what scholarship opportunities are available to them.
Access to apply for scholarships through the portal is open through April 1.
Please check individual scholarship opportunity start dates and deadlines as there are exceptions.
Find your scholarships!Alumni Association Future Alumni Scholarship
The Alumni Association Scholarship is a one-time scholarship of $1,000 and is applicable for the student’s junior or senior year at Western.
Any child or grandchild of an alumni is eligible to receive the Future Alumni Scholarship.
- This is a one-time non-renewable scholarship of $1,000.
- Only one Future Alumni Scholarship will be awarded per academic year.
- GPA must be 3.2 or above (college).
Due date has been extended to April 1 for 2023. An Alumni selection committee, appointed by the Alumni Advisory Council, will review applicants and select awardee by June 1.
Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western (incoming freshman or new transfer students are eligible).
Do you have a son or daughter looking at college? Have they considered attending Western? As an alumni, your son, daughter and/or grandchildren are eligible for certain benefits distributed through this scholarship, as follows:
- This is a one-time scholarship of $1,000.
- Nominee must be an incoming first-year student or new transfer.
- The cost of orientation is reduced by half (a $45 value).
- The admission application fee is waived (a $30 value).
- GPA must be 2.5 or above (high school or college of transfer).
The applicant must fill out the application form found below. Application forms are accepted year-round. If the applicant meets the GPA guidelines, the scholarship will be awarded.
Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship
The Mountaineer Alumni Recommendation Scholarship is a one-time non-renewable scholarship and is only applicable for the student’s first year at Western. This scholarship is not available to midyear transfers or students beginning in the spring semester.
Are you an alumni or employee of Western and know a prospective (or incoming) student who would be a great fit at Western? A recommendation from alumni and employees can support any new student and provide them a $500 scholarship their first year. (Western employees may not recommend a spouse or dependent receiving tuition benefits).
- Any Western alumni/employee may nominate only one student per academic year to receive the $500 scholarship (distributed $250 per semester).
- The scholarship is good for the first year only and is non-renewable.
- The recommended student must be a full-time undergraduate student, attending Western for the first time.
The applicant must fill out the application form found here. The nominating alumni/employee must fill out the application form and submit the required documents by June 1. The recommended student must meet university admissions acceptance standards and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The Presidential Promise is guaranteed to students who have received a scholarship through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) and/or GearUp—and are eligible for a Pell Grant.
For students who meet these criteria, Western will cover the cost of tuition and fees through the combination of federal, state and institutional aid. For more information on the Presidential Promise, visit our scholarships page.
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) or Central Plains (CP) tuition represents a substantial savings relative to normal, out-of-state tuition. Students eligible for the WUE or CP program will be charged 150% of Western’s total in-state tuition. For 2018-19, total in-state tuition was $8,934. WUE/CP tuition was $13,401. The WUE/CP discount is valued at $4,695.
For more information about the WUE and CP geography-based programs, visit Western’s Tuition Discount Programs Page.
Immediately upon acceptance at Western, every student is considered for a merit scholarship worth between $2,500-$4,500 per year for in-state students and $8,000-$10,000 for out-of-state students. The amount is based on the student’s GPA and ACT/SAT scores. Visit our Net Price Calculator at western.edu/cost to determine whether you qualify for a merit scholarship.
For more information about merit scholarships at Western, visit our scholarships page.
News & Research
Benefits & Requirements
Benefits
- Access to distinctive, innovative and discussion-based courses
- Access to Honors Lounge
- Community social events
- Diverse peer group
- Graduate with Honors distinction
- Honors advising
- Honors-specific scholarships
- Leadership opportunities with the Honors Student Advisory Board
- Priority Honors housing
- Priority registration
- Vote for future course offerings
Requirements
- 3.5 GPA for admission
- 3.0 GPA to stay in program
- 3.3 GPA to graduate with Honors
Pick your path
Honors students undertake detailed studies and/or research into a unique topic or issue stemming from an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach.
Get Involved
Maximize your educational experience at Western.
Pursue your passions, manifest your ideas and get hands-on experience in your field by participating in the wide variety of extracurricular activities Western offers.
- Field Experiences: Complement courses without specified field experiences or develop a more in-depth project for disciplinary-based field experiences.
- Independent Study: Undertake detailed study and/or research into a unique topic or issue stemming from an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach.
- Service Learning: Apply concepts, theories and methods to issues affecting local communities.
A foundation for success
The Honors program allows students to explore ideas and take advantage of expanded learning opportunities.
Additional Resources
Department Information
Honors Department
Director
Zachary Treisman, Ph.D.Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Honors Program Director
Administrative Assistant
Cindy PetitoAdministrative Assistant II
Campus Location
Western Colorado University
Taylor Hall 110
1 Western Way
Gunnison, CO 81231