Considering the Washburn University Honors Program? Give us an opportunity to tell you more. We are always happy to welcome visitors to the Honors community, and we invite students to apply to the program at any stage in their university career. If you are a new student to Washburn, or if you are a current Washburn student seeking the opportunities that Honors provides, please let us know you are interested by emailing honors@washburn.edu or calling 785-670-1342.
There is a single application form for both enrollment in the Honors Program and for Honors Program scholarships. To apply, please fill out the application.
The application asks basic information about previous academic experiences. We also require students to submit
- a resume and
- a written essay (approximately 500 words) or a video (approximately 3-5 minutes) answering the following question: Please reflect on a specific personal experience that has significantly influenced your intellectual or creative development. How has this experience shaped your academic journey and interests, and how do you envision it impacting your contributions to our honors program community?
Incoming first year applicants may be eligible for Brunt Scholarships. The Washburn University Honors Program awards six $500 Brunt scholarships, renewable for up to four years, to selected students coming direct from high school. Your Honors Program Application is your application for the Brunt Scholarship--no extra paperwork necessary. The priority deadline to be considered for a Brunt Scholarship is January 15, 2024.
Applicants who are transfer students may be eligible for Transfer scholarships of $500. Transfer students entering in Spring 2023 can apply for admission to the Honors Program when the new application becomes available.
Day-to-Day Benefits
The Washburn University Honors Program aims to provide the best academic experience for our students who are choosing to go above and beyond in their college experience. With this in mind, the Honors Program provides Honors students with unique benefits to assist the students in their academic excellence. These include:
- Scholarship opportunities
- Incoming freshman: The Program awards 5 Brunt Scholarships (renewable up to 4 years). These are $500 scholarships awarded on a competitive basis.
- Annual scholarships to outstanding current students
- Priority registration for classes, meaning that Honors freshman get first enrollment choice in classes alongside traditional seniors
- Exclusive access to Honors Study Lounge in Henderson 101, which hosts free printing and a comfortable study environment
- Extended library checkout privileges
- Honors advising
- Academically enriched experiences, such as guest speakers, academic trips in the field, and more.
- Honors courses that count toward general education requirements
- Networking and connections with Faculty
- Honors living in the Living and Learning Center (recently updated home of of the new eSports lounge)
- Special Programming
- Study Abroad
- Honors Student Council
- Activities created by students
In addition to these day-to-day benefits, the Honors Program also provides the opportunity to be recognized both at Graduation and on student transcripts. The Honors Program recently changed its policy on graduation recognition, directly in conjunction with input from students in the Program. There are three levels of curricular recognition and three levels of distinction based on involvement and service both in the Honors Program and in the community.
Curricular
Honors Associate - 12 Hours of Honors Credit
Honors Scholar - 18 Hours of Honors Credit
Honors Graduate - 24 Hours of Honors Credit
* All Honors students must complete an Honors Thesis Project or similar scholarly project (e.g., scholarly/creative WTE, or capstone project within major), regardless of tier.
Involvement
Honors students can graduate with Distinction or High Distinction based on the completion of an optional portfolio reflecting upon their intellectual development over the course of their career in Honors.
* Each curricular tier can be combined with any level of distinction.
