South Carolina State University

The Honors Program at South Carolina State University is designed to provide outstanding and creative students with opportunities for intellectual growth and achievement of the highest distinction. Its small, challenging classes taught by award-winning faculty emphasize critical examination and appraisal of ideas.

The Honors Program admits students at various stages of their college education, including in-coming freshmen, transfer students and on-campus students. Students are admitted based on outstanding high school or college academic achievements and aptitude as indicated by one or more of the following: GPA, SAT score, National Merit Semi-finalist selection, or a score of 4 or above on tests in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board. There are some special classes and activities that provide opportunities for the best possible education for these exceptional students. These include: Freshman Honors Colloquium; Freshman Honors Seminar; departmental honors; senior theses; graduation with departmental honors; annual honors conferences; cultural enrichment and leadership development activities; academic mentoring programs; Honors “Living and Learning” residential housing, and other amenities.

At the freshman-sophomore level, honors classes deal with the fundamentals and principles of subject-matter courses to enhance the students’ analytical, cognitive, intuitive and critical thought skills. The classes emphasize critical discussion and skill in self-expression; they are made special by these expectations and by the energetic, critical, and inquisitive intellectual attitudes of honors students.

In the junior and senior years, honors students are expected to engage in sustained in-depth work in their majors; most departments make provisions for qualified majors to work for graduation with departmental honors.