Who can enroll in an Honors course?

A student who has been admitted to the Honors Program can enroll in any Honors course. Students who are not officially in the program may also enroll in an Honors course with the permission of the instructor or the Honors Director.

How many Honors courses do I need to take?

Traditional freshmen are required to complete 5 Honors courses, at least 2 of which are upper level courses. With the permission of the Honors Director, transfer students may graduate from the Honors Program by completing 3 courses, at least 2 of which are upper level.

How do I graduate with Honors?

To be designated as a graduate of the Honors Program, students must earn a B or better in their Honors courses and have a 3.5 GPA at the time of graduation. These students will be granted the title of Webster Scholar. CSS also confers "Latin" honors. Any student may graduate with Latin honors with the appropriate gpa.

What is a Webster Scholar?

Webster Scholars are those students who have completed the requirements for the Honors Program. The name is taken from a much-loved CSS professor, Lee Webster, who died of cancer during the 1996-1997 academic year. We chose the title of Webster Scholar for our students in the Honors Program to celebrate his life and remember a man who loved life and learning in the hope that his legacy will be passed on to the students in this Program.

What recognition do I get for completing the Honors Program?

In addition to the title of Webster Scholar, a permanent transcript notation designates completion of the Honors Program requirements. Honors Program graduates receive special recognition during graduation ceremonies.

How are Honors courses different?

Honors courses are specifically designed for high achieving students. Teachers design the classes based on the idea that students will be active in the class. Honors classes are often discussion and activity-oriented classes rather than lecture classes. They are not twice the material in half the amount of time or graduate level work for freshmen students. Instead, Honors courses may even move more slowly, but cover the material in more depth.

Why should I take an Honors course?

You will meet other high achieving students in these courses and can develop a social network of other students who want to discuss ideas. These classes are targeted toward an active learner and, in all likelihood, will be more consistent with your learning style. As such, Honors students frequently receive higher grades in their Honors courses than they do in non-honors courses. Honors students have close contact with the Honors faculty and we often incorporate extracurricular events into the Honors classes.

How do I gain admittance to the Honors Program and when can I enter?

To be admitted to the Honors Program, you must successfully complete an interview with the Honors Director. Prospective freshmen should meet two of these three criteria: top 15% of your class, ACT of 26 or SAT of 1100, and a GPA of 3.5. The Director will decide whether to admit you to the Program. You can begin the Honors Program at any time. However, you may not be able to complete program requirements if you wait too long to begin your Honors course work.

Do I have to take every Honors course?

No. Take the courses that interest you. Be sure to take enough to fulfill the requirements described earlier.

What if I don't meet the criteria, but want to enroll in an Honors course?

You may request an interview with the Honors Director. Based on that interview, the Director may admit you to the Honors Program if you successfully demonstrate your interest, ability, and desire to learn.

Are there service learning options?

A well-designed service learning project can be completed as an Honors independent study.

Are Honors courses "instead of" or "in addition to" my regular course work?

Honors courses fulfill general education requirements. All students are required to complete various general education courses in a variety of areas: history, literature, religion, philosophy, science, psychology or sociology, and fine arts, to name a few. Honors students enroll in Honors sections of these courses.

How long do I have to complete the Honors Program Requirements?

Four years.

Can I complete my major and the Honors Program?

In most cases you will be able to do both. However, careful planning is essential for Honors students during advisement.You'll need to plan ahead for which Honors courses you wish to take and which non-honors general education courses should be taken.