This is a program designed for students who wish to advance their educational experience beyond traditional coursework by undertaking additional challenges within their classes and their community. Students in this program undertake a rigorous direction of study that includes not only coursework but also opportunities for development of cross-cultural awareness and perspective in a variety of forums and through community service.
To qualify for the Heritage University Honors Program, students need to have a high school diploma and a minimum of a 3.3 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Transfer and current Heritage students have a slightly different set of guidelines. To apply, students submit the supplemental application for the Honors program along with an application for general admission to Heritage University and supporting letters from two high school or college instructors nominating them for this program. The admission process also includes an interview with a panel of Heritage University faculty and a spontaneous writing sample.
For the first two years of the program, students take honors sections of General University Requirement (GUR) courses. Typical schedules for the first two years are shown below. After two years, students may either enter a major here at Heritage University or transfer to a school offering other majors. Since Heritage University has agreements with both the University of Washington and Washington State University, this program can serve to prepare and coordinate a smooth transfer to these as well as other universities.
During their junior and senior years, Honors students at Heritage University in some departments may be able to take additional honors courses to complete their degree requirements. If their department offers upper-level honors courses, such courses will require academic or creative work beyond that generally required for upper-division courses.