Honors Program

Statement of Purpose

The Bluefield College Honors Program is an interdisciplinary curriculum that provides a stimulating academic environment and intellectual challenge for highly motivated students. Through the Honors Program, students have the opportunity to explore more intensely their major fields, to integrate the various areas of knowledge, to interact with like students at other institutions, and to learn techniques of independent research. The program includes interdisciplinary seminars and a significant research and writing project in the student’s major field.

Contact:

Dr. Rob Merritt, Director of the Honors Program

276-326-4270

Reasons to Participate in the Honors Program:

• Enhance critical thinking through independent research.Gain knowledge for high academic achievement.

• Develop camaraderie with other students interested in expanding their academic horizons.Receive recognition for high academic achievement.

• Work closely with faculty members in your area of interest.Develop your unique abilities though a customized Honors Project.Prepare for graduate school by creating a sound document that illustrates your writing and research skills.

• Join international honor societies.Interact with Honors students at other colleges.Travel to Honors conferences in and out of state.

• Become eligible for other scholarships (through the Alpha Chi International Honor Society, for example).

• Get 13 hours credit, some of which may count toward your major or general education requirements.Learn interdisciplinarily in colloquia such as:

              “The Holocaust,”
              “Christian Ethics,”
              “Making Documentaries,”
              “The Origins of the Universe.”

Honors Program Requirements

Admission to the Program

Incoming Freshmen: ACT score of 28 or SAT score of 1240.

Currently enrolled students: Overall minimum grade point average of 3.5 and less than 60 semester hours completed.

All applicants should ask two faculty members to write letters of recommendation.

Completion of the Program

For successful completion of the Honors Program, students must complete all elements of the Program. In order to receive approval to begin the Senior Honors Project, students must have and overall GPA of 3.5. Upon the completion of the written project and the oral defense, the student will receive three semester hours of credit for the project and the designation, “Honors in ______,” inscribed on the transcript.

Requirements

Honors Colloquium (HON 2013): All Honors Program students participate in two interdisciplinary colloquia. The colloquium meets to discuss significant books and issues in the various academic disciplines. Past colloquia have included the Philosophy of Leadership, The Natural World, Heaven and Hell in Literature and the Bible, The Appalachian Trail, Origins of the Universe, and Literary Investigations.

Hours in Program: