Honors Program

The Honors Program is designed to meet the unique educational needs of Virginia State University’s academically talented and highly motivated undergraduate students. The primary goal of the Honors Program is to create and maintain a stimulating, supportive environment in which young scholars may engage in a wide range of challenging intellectual and creative pursuits. The program encourages the participation of all departments, fosters innovation and experimentation in undergraduate education, and supports University-wide cultural enrichment.

Major features of the Honors Program include the following:

• Honors Study
• Honors Lecture Series
• Leadership Forum
• Undergraduate Research
• Cultural Enrichment Activities
• Graduate School Partnerships

The University provides honors sections of regular university courses in the general education program; these courses encourage creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and deeper intellectual inquiry. The honors curricula provide increased opportunities for presidential and provost scholars to cultivate habits of critical thinking, communication, creative expression and independent thought through smaller classes taught by selected faculty. The honors courses reflect instructional strategies which include more use of primary sources, more fully developed theoretical background, and some integration of interdisciplinary perspectives. The honors courses utilize more creative learning methodologies such as greater emphasis on discussion, writing, research and active extracurricular learning experiences.

The Honors Program is open to high school graduates, transfer students, and continuing students.  In addition to applying and being admitted to the University, students who aspire to participate in the Honors Program are invited to file a separate application to the Honors Council, Box 9207, Virginia State University, Petersburg, Virginia 23806. Each applicant must meet criteria established by the Honors Council, including an excellent combination of grade-point-average, SAT/ACT scores, artistic/creative performances and portfolios, record of leadership experiences, and letters of recommendation.