Honors Program Requirements

Fall 2025 First-Year Students

Applications for prospective first-year honors students will open in October. The application is open to all incoming first-year students within the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Business as well as those within the School of Nursing who are pursuing a four-year BSN degree. If you have any questions, please contact the Honors Program Co-director, Laurel Rodgers at lrodgers2@yishabeier.net.

Apply to the SU Honors Program

Applications can be submitted at any time until February 17, 2025. However, the following due dates apply if you want a specific interview day.

November 22, 2024 to be considered for the December 6, 2024 interview day.
February 3, 2025 to be considered for the February 14, 2025 interview day.
February 17, 2025 to be considered for the February 28, 2025 interview day.

A complete application will include the following:

A letter of recommendation from one of your high school teachers.
Two essays (see essay prompts below). The essays focus on your academic experience and creativity.
- Essay 1: What class most influenced your high school education and why?
- Essay 2: Choose one of the following two essay options.
  - Option A: You need to hide a body. Why do you need to hide a body and who would you ask to help?
  - Option B: If you wanted people to understand you, what would you give them to read, watch, and listen to. Explain each choice.

Requirements to join the Honors Program

Incoming First-Year

All motivated incoming College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, and four-year BSN Nursing students are invited to apply to the Shenandoah University Honors Program. Invitations are based on the entire application, with emphasis on the two essays and the letter of recommendation. Upon evaluation of application materials, the Honors Council will invite students to complete an interview process. A select group of students will be invited to join the program based on their honors admissions essay, interview, letters of recommendation and prior academic performance.

Incoming Transfer Students

The Shenandoah University Honors Program has developed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with area colleges in order to simplify the transfer process into our Honors Program. A list of those schools and the articulation agreements are below. Please indicate on your Shenandoah University Honors Program application if you are transferring from one of these schools and are participating in their Honors Program. If you are not currently in an Honors Program, but are interested in transferring into our program, please contact Dr. Laurel Rodgers, the Honors Program director. She will be able to determine whether you qualify for our program and whether you would be able to complete the program prior to graduating from Shenandoah University. Transfer student applications will be reviewed as they are submitted and qualified students will be invited for an interview.

Honors Program Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs):

Current Shenandoah University Students

All College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, and Nursing students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 are eligible to complete honors courses. These courses will be marked as honors classes on your transcript. Current First-Years have the opportunity to apply during the spring semester to join the Honors program in their second year at SU. A completed application needs to be submitted by email to Dr. Jon Udelson (judelson@yishabeier.net) by 5:00 p.m. on March 3, 2025. The application must include one letter of recommendation from a Shenandoah University faculty member, a cover page, a copy of your resume, and the two required essays. Application materials can be found below. Upon review of all applications, qualified students will be invited to an interview on March 21, 2025. Please direct all questions to the program co-director, Dr. Laurel Rodgers.

Current Shenandoah University Student Honors Program Application

Honors Program Faculty Recommendation Form

Part-time students

Part-time students are eligible to apply to the Honors Program and, if accepted, will be allowed to progress at a slower pace through the honors curriculum than full-time students. Part-time students are highly encouraged to meet with the Honors Program Director prior to applying to the program.

Requirements to remain within the Honors Program

To remain within the Honors Program all students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 at graduation. Students who fall below the 3.0 GPA will be allowed one probationary semester. Students who fail to demonstrate adequate progress toward the minimum GPA or completion of Honors Program course requirements or do not have a 3.3 GPA at graduation, will be removed from the program. All students must also maintain good academic and social standing as defined by the academic catalog; a single infraction may result in the removal from the program.

Requirements to Complete the Honors Program

Upon graduation from Shenandoah University, students will be acknowledged for completing the Shenandoah University Honors Program if they have completed the following honors courses with a grade of a B- or better:

6 credits of Honors General Education courses
6 credits of Honors courses in a student’s declared major
3 credits of Honors seminars (HON 101, HON 201, HON 301)

15 credits total

One course cannot be applied to both the General Education and the student’s declared Major category. A maximum of two graduate or cross-listed undergraduate/graduate courses may be applied toward a student’s honors certificate.