The primary objective of the HLGU Honors Program is to promote the life of the mind on the HLGU campus. Therefore, the program seeks students who are intellectually curious, and academically oriented, who take seriously the scriptural admonition to do whatever they do to the best of their ability, "as unto the Lord”, Col. 2:23-24. The honors program seeks to challenge students such that they will have a deeper, richer academic experience than they might have otherwise had in their college programs. The honors program seeks to achieve its primary objective by guiding students first, to understand the elements of a worldview, then subsequently to develop a biblical worldview as a lens through which every aspect of life and culture should be evaluated. This goal is accomplished through both honors classes and monthly events in which current and past cultural, theological, and historical issues are appraised from that biblical worldview perspective.
The HLGU Honors Program sponsors academic and social events throughout the academic year through its student organization Sensus Plenior, a Latin phrase indicating the “deeper sense” the program is seeking to achieve in the academic experience of its community of students. These experiences are designed both to help students get to know each other better and to share experiences they may remember the rest of their lives.
While current and transfer students will be considered for admission to the Honors Program, priority consideration is given to first-time freshmen who apply by the March 31. Others will be considered for any spaces that remain after that date.
Student applications are reviewed by the Honors Admissions Committee and recommendations made with regard to admission on a rolling application basis, with applicants being informed as soon as possible after the review has been completed. Part of the review involves consideration of a student’s ability to complete the curriculum in light of their major and/or transfer credit.
There are 24 semester hours required to complete the Honors Program. A number of courses also fulfill general education requirements. The final honors course is a 3-hour senior research seminar focused on a capstone project or paper that will be presented at the annual Honors Colloquium.
Admissions Requirement:
- Must have a 26 ACT Composite Score (or the SAT or CLT equivalent)
- Must be an admitted to HLGU
- Must submit an application essay
- Must submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty member, administrator, or pastor
Transfer or Current HLGU Students:
- Must have a 3.6 CGPA if an ACT or equivalent score is not used
- To allow completion of the program, applicants should be sophomores or freshman.[1]
- Must be interviewed by a member of the honors committee
[1] Juniors who desire to enter the program will be considered on a case-by-case basis and should consult with the director or assistant director prior to applying.
To apply, please submit the following:
- Online Application and Essay
- Your essay should be 5-7 paragraphs addressing “How I might benefit from being a part of the HLGU Honors Program and how my addition to the program might enhance it.” This must be submitted along with your online application. You are encouraged to compose your essay using a word processing form, then paste your essay into the application form online.
- Letter of Recommendation
- Have the person recommending you email their letter of recommendation directly to the Honors Program Director.
Honors Scholarship: students admitted to the honors program may apply for the honors scholarship of $1,000 per semester in addition to any other financial aid awards they are offered through the university. Application for this scholarship must be made annually and differs from the honors application one must fill out to be admitted to the program. A link for this application is available on the HLGU Honors web page here.
For More Information
To learn more about the Honors Program, contact Dr. Sam Swisher, Director of the Honors Program, or 573-629-3040.