Academic Information
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTIONS Honors
Program
Required of Centennial and University Scholars, but open to application from other academically strong students, the Honors Program is a means of adding depth to undergraduate education by encouraging curiosity and initiative and by providing an opportunity to apply learning to significant projects. Honors students are expected to exhibit academic excellence not only in terms of their grades, but also in their willingness to pursue knowledge in various fields other than their chosen majors. All students participating in the honors Program are required to take special Honors section classes when they are offered and to complete the equivalence of one year of a foreign language. Freshman and sophomore Honors Program participants are also expected to attend a regularly-scheduled forum, presented twice each month. In the junior year, Honors students are required to take two Special Topics Seminars (HO 303), and during the senior year, participants enroll in HO 401-402 Independent Study I-II. In order to complete Upper-Level work and be certified for graduation with Divisional Honors, a student must submit an acceptable written account of the Independent Study and present an oral report in a seminar attended by other Honors students and faculty. Entering freshman may be invited to participate in the Honors Program if they have a composite ACT score of 24 (or equivalent on other entrance exams). After their first semester in residence, students may enter the Honors Program on the basis of a quality point average of at least 3.30 on at least 15 semester hours of credit. Sophomores must present a 3.50 QPA on at least 30 semester hours of credit. Juniors must present a minimum QPA of 3.70. Endorsements from faculty members will be required of sophomores and juniors. Participants must maintain a QPA
of at least 3.0 to remain in the Honors Program. Students entering
the Independent Study (HO 401/402) must have a QPA of at least 3.30.
Pre-College Enrichment Program (PEP) The PEP program permits highly capable young students to engage in college work a year before graduation from high school. A PEP student may participate in the program during one term of a summer session and earn from seven to nine semester hours credit by attending the full session of summer school. To receive credit, the student must meet MUW's entrance requirements (see "Undergraduate Admissions" for admission procedures). Full scholarships are provided for those accepted into the program. PEP students are required to live in the residence hall so that they may fully experience the richness of campus life. The program is designed to supplement and enrich the educational experience of the academically talented high school student with college-level courses, to stimulate the student's intellectual development and potential leadership through association with other academically gifted students, to facilitate adjustment to college, and to allow a student to accelerate higher education by earning college credit prior to high school graduation. This program for superior high school students is scheduled for the summer term so that full-time attendance is possible and students may experience residence hall life as well as the cultural and social life of the campus and community. Students must enroll in a special PEP colloquium, HO 101 PEP Seminar, for which admitted students will earn one hour of college credit for one five-week term of participation. The colloquium is conducted by the PEP director and consists of selected readings, special lectures, films, and groups discussion of the issues and problems of our times. At least one off-campus filed trip will be taken as part of this academic program. In each term of the program admitted students must enroll in two regular university courses in addition to the colloquium. These courses may not be substituted for high school credits to meet university entrance requirements nor may they be equivalent to courses which the student is expected to take during the senior year of high school. MUW invites applications for admission
to the Pre-College Enrichment Program from students who have completed
their junior year in high school , who have a composite score of 24 (25
enhanced score) or above on the American College Test, and who are recommended
by their high school for participation in the program. Participants
in the program are housed together in an air-conditioned residence hall
and are under a special curfew of 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday nights
and midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. PEP students are included
in the recreational program for the regular summer students. Applications
are accepted from October through May.
Mississippi Governor's School The Mississippi Governor's School is a summer residential honors program established at MUW by the Governor. The School is designed to provide academic, creative and leadership experiences for a limited number of rising high school juniors and seniors from all sections of Mississippi who have shown high intellectual and creative potential. Three semester hours of Honors credit is awarded to those participants who meet the qualifications established by the State Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning and the entrance requirements of MUW (see "Undergraduate Admissions" for admission procedures). The program is financed through legislative appropriations and private donations to the MUW Foundation. There is no cost to participants. |
