Honors Program

Program Overview

The Honors Program at Penn State Harrisburg is designed to meet the intellectual needs of students who want a little more out of college than is provided by the standard curriculum. The major components of the Program include: interdisciplinary seminars, community service, international travel, supervised undergraduate research, access to an Honors Lounge (library), invitations to enjoy guest speakers, and cultural outings. In short, by entering the Honors Program, you will be joining a community of scholars.

Upon completing the requirements of the Program, you will be presented with a special Honors Medallion during a private ceremony attended by family, friends, faculty and staff members, and other Honors students. You will also graduate "with Honors" from Penn State Harrisburg, a special distinction that will appear on your transcript and stand out on your résumé as you enter the job market or apply to graduate schools.

Program Requirements

As a student in the Honors Program, you must maintain a 3.3 grade-point average. In addition, you will take the required Honors courses, including the interdisciplinary gateway course (Honor 301), one credit of service learning (Honor 493), and two courses totaling 3 credit hours that prepare you for your capstone project (Honor 494 and 495). Finally, you will work closely with a supervisor to produce your capstone project. Though most students decide to write a research-driven thesis for this capstone project, you are free to pursue other options in areas such as creative writing, engineering design, photographic expression, or documentary film.

In all, you will take a minimum of 14 credit hours in Honors-specific courses or Honors-related courses (courses within your major for which you will receive Honors credit). It is important for you to note that these 14 credit hours are not added onto the standard requirements of your major; instead, any Honors class you take either will exist within your major or will replace a required course in the major. For this reason, participation in the Honors Program will not prolong your stay in college. In sum, the Honors Program is not intended to add more work to your undergraduate career; it is intended to add depth, perspective, and broadening ideas to that career!

To help you along the way, you will be assigned an adviser from within your major. This individual will assist you in formulating a plan of study and will meet with you on a regular basis as you advance through the Honors Program.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for admission to the Penn State Harrisburg Honors Program, please submit the following application materials to Barbara Choltco (see contact information below). You may send these items either in paper form or as electronic documents attached to an e-mail message. Applicants who are promising candidates will be invited for an on-campus interview.

Incoming freshmen to Penn State Harrisburg should submit:

• Official scores from the SAT test
• Two-page essay (double spaced) explaining why you want to join the Honors Program
• Copy of your most recent high school transcript
• Letter of reference from a high school guidance counselor or adviser
• Letter of reference from a high school teacher
• Sheet containing your contact information (mailing address, telephone, and e-mail)

Students transferring to Penn State Harrisburg from another institution should submit:

• Two-page essay (double spaced) explaining why you want to join the Honors Program
• Copy of your most recent college transcript
• Sheet containing your contact information (mailing address, telephone, and e-mail)

Current students at Penn State Harrisburg should submit:

• Two-page essay (double spaced) explaining why you want to join the Honors Program
• Copy of your most recent college transcript
• Sheet containing your contact information (mailing address, telephone, and e-mail)

For more Information

You can obtain an Honors brochure either by visiting Barbara Choltco in the Honors Office (Olmsted W-160) or by clicking on the link below.

Download the most recent edition of the Honors brochure (available in PDF format).

You may also contact any of the following individuals: