Frequently Asked Questions

The Mount Saint Mary’s University Honors Program is open to all prospective or current traditional undergraduate students in pursuit of or pursuing their baccalaureate degrees at the Chalon Campus. All prospective Honors Scholars must have earned and maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA. There are no restrictions regarding your major(s) or minor(s) as the Mount Saint Mary’s University Honors Program is open to all eligible students of all majors/minors.

In order to be eligible for consideration into the Honors Program as an incoming freshman, incoming transfer, or current Mount Saint Mary’s University student, prospective Honors Scholars must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA.

In order to complete the Honors Program and graduate with special completion recognition as an Honors Scholar on your Mount Saint Mary’s University transcript, Honors Scholars must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA while in the Honors Program.

If the Honors Scholar’s cumulative GPA falls below the required 3.5 GPA, then the Honors Scholar will be placed on a probationary period with an individualized academic plan before any further steps are taken regarding removal and dismissal.

Only students who applied for consideration to participate in the Honors Program are eligible to be awarded “Honors at Entrance” and thus allowed to join. If you were placed in ENG_005H: Freshman Honors English, this does not automatically mean that you have been admitted into the Honors Program. However, know that these units can indeed count towards the Honors Curriculum if you choose to apply to the Honors Program at another time while enrolled at the Mount.

All prospective Honors Scholars interested in applying to the Honors Program at Mount Saint Mary’s University, whether applying as an incoming freshmen, incoming transfer student, or current Mount student, must have at least 1 consecutive Fall/Spring year remaining, though preferably 2 consecutive Fall/Spring years remaining at Mount Saint Mary’s University. It is the recommendation of the Honors Program that prospective Honors Scholars have at least 2 consecutive Fall/Spring years remaining at Mount Saint Mary’s University to complete and participate in the Honors Program, ordinarily applying by the end of one’s sophomore year.

This requirement is to assure successful completion and participation of the requirements of the Honors Program.

If you are a current Mount junior and only have 1 consecutive Fall/Spring year remaining, while it is certainly possible to complete the Honors Program, keep in mind that this would mean that you would then need to complete all requirements of the Honors Program within a single year. Highly motivated and eligible Mount juniors interested in applying to the Honors Program to be completed in their senior year are highly encouraged to have a conversation with their Academic Advisors. In this meeting with your Academic Advisor, please discuss your individualized academic plan to determine if you have adequate time, space, and means to complete all requirements of the Honors Program in your senior year.

Please contact the Director of the Honors Program.

If you are applying to the Honors Program as an incoming first year student or transfer student, then all components of your prospective Honors Scholars Common Application or MSMU Online Application (for BSN transfer students), including your official transcripts, official SAT or ACT test scores, personal statement, letters of recommendation, co-curricular and extracurricular engagement, and leadership experience may be reviewed for admittance consideration. Upon admittance to Mount Saint Mary’s University and the Honors Program, students will receive the recognition of “Honors at Entrance” and will be invited to participate upon starting their first year at the Mount.

If you are applying to the Honors Program as a current Mount student, then your current Mount transcript, any official transcripts from other colleges or universities in which you received Mount transfer credits, letters of recommendation from Mount faculty, personal statement/essays, and resume listing co-curricular, extracurricular engagement, and leadership experience may be reviewed for admittance consideration. Upon admittance to Mount Saint Mary’s University and the Honors Program, students will be invited to participate upon starting their upcoming year at the Mount.

Only those students awarded “Honors at Entrance” and thus selected for participation in the Honors Program upon their first year at Mount Saint Mary’s University will be notified and invited to participate. Know that decision letters will be distributed throughout the spring and summer before the upcoming academic school year begins.

If you were not selected for participation, know that you can certainly apply during the Spring semester of your first year at the Mount.

Yes.

Yes.

To obtain an application for consideration during the upcoming academic school year, all prospective Honors Scholars must attend an information session during the Fall or Spring semester. During the information session, prospective Honors Scholars will learn about the Honors Program’s requirements, Honors Program’s privileges, and Honors Program’s application procedures, requirements, and deadlines.

Know that current Mount students can only apply to the Honors Program during the Spring semester in preparation to start during the upcoming academic school year.

Only students who are enrolled in the Honors Program and are in good academic standing are eligible to turn their academic courses into Honors courses.

If you are a newly admitted Honors Scholar, a workshop on how to turn a course into an Honors course will be provided during your Honors Program Orientation prior to the starts of the academic school year. If you are a current Mount Honors Scholar and need a refresher on how to complete and submit an Honors Contract, know that workshops will be provided at the beginning of each semester as hosted by the Honors Council or through your Honors Seminar courses (FYS_001H: First Year Seminar Foundations Honors; HON_198AB: Honors Capstone; HON_199AB: Honors Thesis).

As an Honors Scholar, in order to turn an academic course into an Honors course, Honors Scholars must complete and submit an Honors Contract to the Director of the Honors Program by the end of week 3 during the start of the semester. Upon approval from the Honors Program, the original Honors Contract must then be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the end of week 4. Once your paperwork has been properly filed, your program evaluation and transcript should reflect an “H” designation next to your course number. 

Honors Scholars wishing to convert a course into an Honors course must ordinarily first receive support and approval from the course’s respective faculty by communicating with the faculty their intentions for Honors coursework. Know that Honors Scholars should give faculty an adequate amount of time to discuss the Honors Component for Honors Contracts, as faculty are very busy with their tasks and responsibilities, especially upon the start of the new semester.

Upon agreement to fulfill an Honors Contract request, it is recommended that students and faculty work collaboratively in the ways in which a course may be converted into an Honors course. 

Once you receive approval for your Honors Contract from the Director of the Honors Program, you will be notified to pick up your original Honors Contract and all accompanying signed copies for distribution. The original contract must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office by the end of week 4. After Honors Scholars submit their contracts, they are responsible for making sure that the “H” designation has been made on their accounts via their program evaluation or transcript.

Kindly know that all Honors Seminars courses are restricted courses that require the signature approval of the Director of the Honors Program. What this means is that Honors Scholars will not simply be able to add any Honors Seminar courses via online in the Mount’s registration system, WebAdvisor. Ordinarily, all Honors Scholars must register for these courses in person using an Add/Drop form or via email directly with the Registrar’s Office. Please visit the Registrar’s Office, pick up an Add/Drop form, and have it signed by Dr. Melendres prior to submission in order to enroll.

If you are a current Honors Scholar who is out of town (e.g., studying abroad, etc.) and cannot physically submit an Add/Drop form, then feel free to email or call the Registrar’s Office (registrar@msmu.edu; 310-954-4020) to inquire about the best means to enroll in any Honors Seminar courses.

Only academic courses while enrolled at Mount Saint Mary’s University during the fall or spring semesters may be turned into Honors. Currently, the Honors Program does not review Honors Contracts for Honors Scholars taking summer courses at Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Honors Scholars must complete a minimum of 15 units in Honors Courses. Of these 15 units, there are indeed restrictions regarding how these 15 units fulfill University general studies, upper division, and major requirements, which is further discussed in detail in your Honors Program Honors Scholar Handbook.

Additionally, please keep in mind that faculty are not obligated to fulfill an Honors Scholar’s request to complete an Honors contract to turn a course into Honors. Converting a course into an Honors Course is at the discretion of the faculty or the department as faculty and departments may recommend that certain courses are not converted for various reasons.

Yes.

Yes. As an Honors Scholar, you must meet with your Academic Advisor and the Director of the Honors Program for Honors Advisement each semester. Only students who fulfill their Honors Advisement will be eligible for priority registration.

During the advisement period, the Director of the Honors Program will email all Honors Scholars information on how to sign up for an Honors Advisement appointment online.

In preparation for your Honors Advisement appointment, it is important that Honors Scholars are fully aware of all graduation requirements as students of Mount Saint Mary’s University. When coming to your Honors Advisement appointment, Honors Scholars will be expected to know and understand these requirements, which is made available in University Catalog, as well as Honors Program requirements, will is made available in your Honors Program Honors Scholar Handbook.

The Honors Capstone seminar ordinarily should be taken in the students’ sophomore or junior year, though it may be done during senior year in some circumstances.

The Honors Thesis seminar ordinarily should be taken in the students’ senior year, though may be done sooner in some circumstances.

The Honors Capstone seminar should be taken either before or concurrently with the Honors Thesis seminar.

Depending on the expectations of your faculty instructors for your major and your faculty readers for your Honors Thesis, know that this is a conversation Honors Scholars should be having with all parties involved as to the best means for successful completion. The Honors Program indeed allows students to use their thesis or research for completion in their major as work towards their Honors Thesis if this is approved by all faculty involved.

No.

As stated in our Mission Statement, the Honors Program is dedicated in encouraging and empowering its students to strive for educational, professional, and personal growth and to realize their full potentials as they prepare to live in a global community in the service of the common good. The Honors Program at Mount Saint Mary’s University:

• Fosters a love and appreciation of learning that encourages our students to be active participants and collaborators in their education and leadership opportunities both in and out of the classroom.
• Encourages our students to be engaged in their academic interests and enthusiastically apply the knowledge and experiences they acquire as contributors and change agents in their communities and around the world.
• Promotes a close-knit community among students who share similar aptitudes and drive, who then build relationships and participate in mentoring opportunities with faculty committed towards their overall success.

The Honors Program encourages our Honors Scholars to have the freedom to create a robust Honors Curriculum as participants in their educational plan. In allowing such flexibility, Honors Scholars take ownership of their education, allowing for increased opportunities in critical thinking, research endeavors, interdisciplinary work, etc.

The Honors Program encourages our Honors Scholars to challenge themselves academically and believe in their highest potentials. By fostering an environment for increased academic rigor and to strive for academic success, we believe in preparing our Honors Scholars for their future paths in continuing their graduate education or beginning their careers upon graduating from the Mount.

The Honors Program encourages our Honors Scholars to enhance their leadership and professional abilities through exclusive opportunities. For example, our Honors Scholars have opportunities to influence governance within the Honors Program through leadership positions in the Honors Council or to present at professional conferences through our participation at the Western Regional Honors Council Conference. These opportunities are invaluable in building confidence for future leaders who we believe will be contributors and change agents in their communities and around the world.

Priority registration allows Honors Scholars to register for classes on the first day of the registration period. As Honors Scholars, regardless of your class standing, you will be able to register for courses on the first day of registration as so long as you fulfill your Honors Advisement appointment.