The Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program offers students the opportunity to enrich their education by taking honors courses, working closely with faculty on special projects, and participating in honors-related extracurricular activities and service projects.
Students enrolled in the campus Honors Program take six credits of honors courses each academic year. Schreyer Scholars at the campus complete nine credits of honors courses. Honors credit is awarded for successful completion of honors courses, honors options (honors projects developed with qualified faculty members as part of regular courses), as well as honors independent study courses. These courses fulfill General Education and other curricular requirements, and the honors designation appears on the student's transcript.
At the beginning of each semester, Honors students work with their academic advisers as well as the Honors coordinators to develop individualized academic plans that include appropriate honors course work.
Schreyer Scholars and Honors Program members are entitled to several benefits:
- registration priority
- partially-funded domestic and international travel
- participation in the annual Honors Program recognition ceremony
Eligibility
Interested first-year students with a 3.5 or higher GPA will be invited to complete an application to the honors program. Applications will undergo an approval process and students whose applications have been approved will be admitted to the Honors Program.
Current full-time students who have finished their first semester or year at Penn State Schuylkill qualify with a GPA of 3.5 in credit-bearing courses.
Part-time students who have accumulated at least twelve credit hours at Penn State Schuylkill qualify with a GPA of 3.5 in credit-bearing courses.
Retention
To maintain honors status in the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program, a student must complete a minimum of six credits of honors work per academic year and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 at the end of each academic year.
Additionally, students must sign and abide by the Honors Code based on Penn State values, participate in honors meetings, and meet with honors advising to remain in the program.
Honors Program activities
In addition to the enhanced academic experience, participation in the Honors Program provides students with an opportunity to experience a broad variety of social and cultural extracurricular activities. These activities include day and overnight trips, including an annual spring break trip. Many of these trips involve museum and theater events, but other trips may include visits to environmental or historical areas, amusement parks, and even Renaissance Fairs.
The Honors Program helps prepare students for debates and academic conferences. It helps motivated students discover new opportunities that will enable them to realize their full potential. All of the activities are geared to help the Honors student gain a breadth of knowledge and experience to succeed at Penn State Schuylkill and in their post-college career.
For more information:
Dr. Sarah Princiotta
Penn State Schuylkill Honors Coordinator
Assistant Professor, Biology
201B Classroom Building
[email protected]
Dr. Jessica Saalfield
Penn State Schuylkill Honors Assistant Coordinator
Assistant Professor, Psychology
203 Administration Building
[email protected]
Schreyer Honors College
The Schreyer Honors College is a Penn State university-wide program that offers challenging academic courses, extracurricular opportunities, and an opportunity to write an original honors thesis. First-year students will need to complete two separate applications: the Penn State undergraduate application and the Schreyer Honors College application. They may begin their program of study at any Penn State campus.
Current students and transfer students may also apply to become a member of the Schreyer Honors College if they have earned a 3.7 or higher GPA in credit-bearing courses and complete the Schreyer Honors College's admissions process with the help of the Honors Coordinators. In certain majors, campuses other than UP are qualified to graduate Schreyer Scholars.
A special commencement ceremony is held at University Park for all graduating Schreyer Scholars. The President of the University presents each graduating Schreyer Scholar with an embossed Scholars Medal. Schreyer Scholars also receive the Penn State Honors designation on their diplomas.