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Admissions

If you are curious about the world, love to learn, engage in everything, and take risks, then the Honors College at West Virginia University is the place for you.

Combining the attention of a small college environment with the resources of a world-class research institution, the Honors College provides opportunities to enhance the curriculum for students in every undergraduate major across the campus.

Learn more about our program for first and second-year students (the Honors Foundations program ) and our program for third and fourth-year students (the Honors EXCEL program) below. 

Already know you want to apply to one of our programs? Great! See more on applying to the Honors Foundations program here and applying to the Honors EXCEL program here


Honors Foundations Program

Five Honors Foundation Students

For First and Second Year WVU Students

For first-time freshmen, this innovative two-year Honors program is designed to enrich students’ first years on campus, particularly in their general education courses and introductory courses in their major. Students apply to this program between mid-fall and early May of their senior year of high school. There are also ways for some first-year transfer students and WVU freshmen to apply to the program.

The Honors Foundations program provides ample support to encourage you to take intellectual risks, make discoveries, explore the world around you, participate in exciting cutting-edge research projects, engage in community-based learning, and find your passion. 

The Honors College is an interdisciplinary college that offers customized learning pathways for students who seek to enhance their education with academically “different” types of experiences.

Our courses are active, hands-on learning laboratories where students can enhance their skills. Students should select Honors courses that will challenge them and inspire them to ask questions, seek impossible answers, and delve into the unknown.

Learn more about the Honors Foundations program on its academic page. Honors Foundations admission for Fall 2022 is now closed. Information on admission for Fall 2023 will be available later this summer. Learn more about the application process.

Honors EXCEL Program

Honors EXCEL Grad students

For Third and Fourth Year WVU Students

For WVU juniors and seniors, the Honors College Experiential Learning (EXCEL) program supports WVU undergraduate students in experiential and community-engaged learning. Students develop skills in leadership, project management, communication, and collaborative scholarship. Students create scholarly products appropriate to their project while advancing the service mission of West Virginia University. Students typically apply to this program spring semester of their sophomore year at WVU, though some also apply fall of their junior year.

Learn more about the Honors EXCEL program on its academic page. Admission for Fall 2023 admission is now open.

Academic Requirements

Honors Foundations Program

Honors Foundations program students must complete a minimum of five Honors courses and 13 Honors credits. Students must also maintain a 3.0+ overall GPA and 3.5+ Honors GPA. For more information on requirements, maintaining good standing, and completing the program, visit the Honors Foundations Program Academic page

Honors EXCEL Program

Honors EXCEL program students will complete their project, coursework, and other requirements in 3-4 semesters. The bulk of the work will be completed through six credits of experiential learning. For information on the requirements, eligibility, and project ideas, visit the Honors EXCEL Program Academic page.

Academic Support

Honors Student Studying

Honors College students can take advantage of testWELL Tutoring, a free tutoring service provided by trained upper-class Honors College students. Tutoring is available at both Honors Hall and Lincoln Hall. All testWELL Learning Center tutors are certified members of the National Tutoring Association.

First-time freshmen also receive guidance from Honors peer mentors. Peer mentors are upper-class students at the Honors College who help facilitate the HONR 102: Introduction to Honors course each fall.

Advising

Honors College students are assigned an Honors advisor in their major. These advisors know both the Honors College program requirements and the requirements of the student’s major of study. They can also advise the student on how to best take advantage of all the opportunities available to them.

While actively enrolled in the Honors Foundations program, Honors students also receive priority registration, registering before all non-Honors undergraduate students at WVU.

Beyond the Classroom

Honors College students are also encouraged to explore opportunities to enrich their education across campus and plan for what comes next after graduating from WVU.

Opportunities include undergraduate research, help to apply to nationally competitive scholarships for graduate school and study abroad, and preparation planning for healthcare career paths. See our Student Resources & Opportunities page for more.

Community

LLC Honors Hall RAs
When you join the Honors College, you join the Honors community. All Honors students are members of the Honors Living-Learning Community (LLC). The Honors LLC is a community that reaches across the West Virginia University campus to provide opportunities for Honors Scholars to extend their learning beyond the classroom through trips, dinners, and special events. Learn more about this community of scholars here.

Honors Housing

Honors Hall Building
Honors College freshmen also have the opportunity to live in  Honors housing in one of our two residence halls: Honors Hall (Downtown Campus) and Lincoln Hall (Evansdale Campus). By choosing to live in Honors housing, first-time freshmen join a vibrant community of motivated, engaged students, excited to make the most of their time at West Virginia University. All Resident Assistants (RAs) in Honors housing are also Honors students. Tutoring by testWELL is available in both Lincoln Hall and Honors Hall, and the HONR 102: Introduction to Honors course is held in the Honors residence halls. (Please note that like all residence halls, Honors housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis.) 

Visit

Students can visit the Honors College in person or virtually.  Students wanting to visit WVU should reach out to the WVU Visitors Center to arrange their visit. Be sure to mention your interest in meeting with someone at the Honors College during your time here and the WVU Visitors Center will work with us to help you make the most of your visit. 

If you are a prospective first-year student, please see Planning Your Visit to schedule your visit with us. Students can schedule a hall tour, an academic appointment to learn more about the program, or even shadow a current Honors student in their major!

The Honors College offices are located on WVU Downtown Campus on the first floor of Honors Hall at 250 Second Street.

Lincoln Hall, the Honors residence hall for WVU Evansdale Campus, is located at 1014 Rawley Ave.

Contact us at 304-293-2100 with any questions.

Contact Us

Need more information? Have a question? Want to connect with a current Honors student? Email us at honors@mail.wvu.edu or call our office at 304-293-2100.

Meet Our Ambassadors

Our Honors Ambassadors love to share their experiences with WVU and the Honors College. Learn more about them.

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