The Merit Scholarship and The Honors Program
Entering freshmen are eligible for a Merit Scholarship based on the following criteria:
• Completion of admission process and acceptance
• High School GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Top 25% of graduating class
• Minimum SAT of 1020 or ACT of 22
• Submission of a “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” (FAFSA).
This scholarship has a value of $4,000 annually, renewable for three additional years if the recipient completes a minimum of 30 semester hours each academic year. If at
the end of the academic year the grade point average falls below the required average, the
scholarship will not be renewed. The student may re-apply the following year by permission of the Honors Chair and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Students who are eligible for a Merit Scholarship will be considered for invitations to the
Honors Program. Upon invitation they will be asked to attend Honors Day to determine
eligibility through an essay and interview process. An additional $1,000 scholarship will be awarded upon acceptance into the Honors Program. The student must maintain the
Merit Scholarship for continued eligibility.
All Honors students must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours each academic year; achieve a 3.2 cumulative GPA at the end of each academic year (with the exception of freshmen, who must achieve a 3.0 cumulative GPA); participate successfully in the Honors Program and community, and register for and successfully complete at least one class in the Honors Program each semester. Students must maintain a B average in Honors courses each academic year to remain in the Honors program. Students who fail to maintain a “B” average in Honors will lose eligibility the following year. No student who receives grades of “C” or lower in any two coursesmay remain in Honors. Students may appeal loss of eligibility to the Honors Chair and selected members of the Honors Committee. Students who participate in the Honors trip are required to take HON 300; no substitutions will be permitted.
Current Mount Olive College students who meet the requirements effective at the time of their applications may be admitted into the Honors Program either by professor’s recommendation or self-nomination. An application, professorial recommendations, and an interview are required. Admission is by no means automatic and will depend on both the availability of funding and space in the Honors Program.
Students eligible for admission to the Honors Program include (but are not limited to) transfer students, second semester freshman students (for sophomore Honors),or students who were not previously considered but wish to participate in the Honors Program. Students who were offered but declined an Honors scholarship are not eligible for re-consideration, unless they have chosen to participate in the Honors program without an Honors scholarship. Students other than first semester freshman must compete for available Honors scholarships without prejudice; e.g., a transfer student is not preferred to an applicant for re-admittance or vice-versa, nor is a previously considered student preferred to a student not previously considered. Full-time transfer students must complete at least one semester or more at Mount Olive College and have earned a 3.2 GPA in their MOC coursework to be eligible for admission and must meet the same requirements as other Honors students to renew their scholarships.
The Honors Committee will review the performance of Honors students periodically to
determine their status in the program.
Honors Program Curriculum
The purpose of the Honors Program is to facilitate students’ development of a sense of the unity of knowledge implicit in a liberal arts education and a scholarly and collaborative community. To this end, courses are more academically rigorous than the more traditional classes, and a mentoring program has been established as an integral part of the Honors Program in order to provide students with additional opportunities for collaboration and the development of a sense of community. Thus, Honors students participate in an academic enrichment program of seminars, forums, andprojects.
Freshmen accepted into the Honors Program who receive advanced placement credit for ENG 111 and/or ENG 112 must enroll in and will receive elective credit for HON 100 and HON 110. Freshmen without advanced placement credit will use HON 100 and 110 to satisfy the GER composition requirements. Students entering the Honors Program beyond the freshman level will enroll in the following sequence of courses: sophomores: 2 sophomore level classes, two junior level classes, and two senior level classes; juniors: 1 sophomore level class, 2 junior level classes, 2 senior level classes; seniors: I sophomore level class and two senior level classes.
HON 100 (3 sh) Great Ideas: F
An exploration of the liberal arts responses to the perennial questions of being, including major Western philosophic, religious, and scientific discourse. Satisfies GER for ENG 111
.HON 110 (3 sh) Great Works: S
An intensive study of the canonical works of literature, which have shaped Western culture, including critical analysis and research components. Satisfies GER for ENG 112
HON 200 (1 sh) Issue Forum: F
A study of specific issues and ideas which are chosen, researched and presented by students.
HON 210 (1 sh) Oral History Project: S
A course designed to give students an opportunity to interview someone who has been part of or has knowledge of an historical event and to preserve that experience for posterity.
HON 300 (3 sh) Study and Travel: S
A course involving classroom study, reading, lectures, and site visits. Past travel sites have included Paris, Athens, Rome and London. Satisfies GER for Humanities.
HON 310 (1 sh) Independent Project:
A course which provides students with an opportunity to investigate a subject of particular interest to them.
HON 315 (3sh) Honors Seminar: F
A special seminar designed for honors students investigating a topic of interest. May be
cross-referenced with another relevant department.
HON 401 (1 sh) Departmental Honors A: F
A one semester hour enrichment experience designed by the department in which the
student is majoring.
HON 402 (2 sh) Departmental Honors B: F
A two semester hour enrichment experience designed by the department in which the
student is majoring.
HON 403 (3 sh) Departmental Honors C: F
A three semester hour enrichment experience designed by the department in which the
student is majoring.
HON 411 (1 sh) Departmental Honors D: S
A one semester hour enrichment experience designed by the department in which the
student is majoring.
HON 412 (2 sh) Departmental Honors E: S
A two semester hour enrichment experience designed by the department in which the
student is majoring.
HON 413 (3 sh) Departmental Honors F: S
A three semester hour enrichment experience designed by the department in which the
student is majoring.