Honors Program

At Mount Vernon Nazarene University, participation in the Honors Program begins in the freshman year. As an Honor Scholar, the student has the advantage of courses designed specifically for the academically motivated as well as one-credit Honors Seminars which meet for two hours on alternate weeks.

Revolving around current issues, these seminars are interdisciplinary and focused on advancing higher levels of thinking and communication. In addition, Honors Scholars may take periodic field trips. Following these trips, they record their impressions in journals and form small groups to discuss their experiences.

Independent study projects, completed in the junior and senior year, may be conducted on or off campus. Each student, with the assistance of a faculty member, designs projects geared to particular academic interests, usually related to the major field.

As an Honors Scholar, the student may graduate with College Honors by completing a minimum of 16 hours of honors course work, including:

· 8 credit hours earned in Honors Seminar; and

· 4 credit hours elected from the honors sections of general education courses, or contract honors courses, and

· 4 credit hours earned in independent study projects with the student's major department.
To graduate with Departmental Honors, the student must complete a minimum of four (4) independent research hours during the junior and senior year.

The admission criteria for freshmen include:

· ACT composite score of 27 or above;

· high school cumulative grade point average of 3.40 on above (on a 4.00 scale);

· two references in writing from persons familiar with the student's academic abilities; and

· an interview with the Honors Program Committee.

Admission criteria for sophomores include:

· completion of 26 semester hours of college work with at least a 3.60 cumulative grade point average;

· two letters of recommendation of MVNU faculty familiar with the student's academic abilities; and

· an interview with the Honors Program Committee.

Admission criteria for transfer students include:

· at least a 3.60 cumulative grade point average on all previous college work;

· ACT composite score of 27 or above;

· two letters of recommendation of the faculty from the previous college attended familiar with the student's academic abilities; and

· an interview with the Honors Program Committee.

To continue as an Honors Scholar, the student must:

· maintain least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average on all college work; and

· complete satisfactorily two (2) enrollments in Honors Seminar.

Honors Scholars may also qualify for the following academic honors. Additional questions about the honors program should be directed to the Admissions Office or the Director of the Honors Program, Dr. Thomas Beutel, and a complete copy of the Honors Program Manual is available online, or it can be downloaded in Adobe PDF format.