SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Scholars Program at Shepherd University is designed for high-performing upper-class and transfer students who desire Honors education but are not able to complete the full four-year Honors Program. Like the four-year Program, the two-year Scholars Program provides a varied and stimulating curriculum to students who have demonstrated the ability and willingness to engage in intellectual challenges.
Approximately 20 students are selected each year to enter the Scholars Program. To be considered for the Program, a student must have earned at least 24 credits at Shepherd University or another accredited institution of higher learning (including accredited community colleges) and have earned a grade point average of 3.5 or above. Interested students must complete the Scholars Program application, including a writing sample.
Scholars Program Curriculum
Scholars Program students must participate in at least one Honors Seminar. The topics of the seminars vary from semester to semester, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary explorations of provocative and timely topics. During the junior year, students begin research toward a Capstone Project to be completed as a graduation requirement. After completing a required one-credit Honors Project Preparation class, each student chooses a mentor from the faculty and begins to formulate a reading list that would contribute to a capstone project proposal. In collaboration with their mentor, the student develops an original idea about the chosen topic and then analyzes the information using research to substantiate the idea. The student must then present the project during an Honors Capstone Project Presentation session scheduled toward the end of the semester.
Scholars Program Requirements
In order to graduate from the Scholars Program, students must complete 13 hours of Honors courses. Required courses include one Honors Seminar (3 hours), the Honors Project Preparation class (1 hour), Honors Directed Readings (3 hours), and the Honors Capstone Project (3 hours). The three remaining Honors credits are acquired through electives; students may choose among Honors courses in a specific discipline, a second Honors Seminar, or an Honors section of a General Studies course. Scholars Program students must maintain an overall 3.0 GPA and a 3.0 GPA in all Honors courses.
Advantages of the Scholars Program
Scholars Program students enjoy all of the same advantages as students in the four-year Honors Program, including eligibility for Honors housing, round-the-clock access to the Honors computer lab and lounge, and the ability to participate in all special social events and Honors programming. Scholars Program students have access to individualized advisement with the Honors Director and may register for any Honors class. Special scholarships and financial support are also available on a limited basis for students admitted to the Scholars Program. Please explore this website for more detailed information about each of these advantages.