Through an enhanced academic track for highly motivated students, the Honors Program gives admitted students opportunities to partner in research with supportive professors, who want them to take their learning to new heights of excellence. Students selected for the Honors Program enjoy special, limited enrollment seminars, which provide an engaging environment for interdisciplinary, intellectual inquiry. The enriching social climate also ensures students find a community of classmates with similar scholarly goals. The Honors Program culminates in independent scholarly research, which produces a senior thesis project within the student's major area of study.
Admission Process
Incoming first-year and transfer students may be considered for admission to the University Honors Program in one of two ways: Direct Admission or Conditional Admission.
Direct Admission
Students interested in being directly admitted into the University Honors program must complete a University Honors Application. Direct Admission will be based on consideration of high school grade point average (GPA), class rank, curriculum, standardized test scores and personal statement. The committee may request additional information from students should it be needed. Less than 10% of students accepted to Wittenberg are directly admitted into University Honors. Students should submit a University Honors Application by Dec. 1 with notification by Jan. 15.
Starting in 2026-2027, students directly admitted into University Honors will receive an additional $1,000 Honors Program Scholarship. An Honors Program Scholarship may be stacked on top of one merit-based scholarship award. This award is $1,000 per year for four years as long as the student maintains involvement in the University Honors Program. Students must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA throughout their time at Wittenberg to remain members of the University Honors Program. Students directly admitted may also take honors seminars, which usually satisfy a general education requirement, as well as have 24-7 access to the Matthies Honors House, and attend special Honors social events and activities.
Conditional Membership
Academically qualified first-year and transfer students and those earning the Presidential or Provost Scholarship at the time of admission are automatically granted Conditional Membership in the Honors Program for the first semester. Conditional members achieving a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 after their first semester will be invited to continue in the program. Students will be contacted by the program director to understand expectations and next steps. Conditional members who do not achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above will not be invited to continue. First-year students and those with sophomore standing who achieve a 3.5 cumulative GPA in a subsequent semester may reapply to the Honors Program. Students who achieve a 3.5 cumulative GPA later in their Wittenberg journeys may also apply for admission to the program on a case-by-case basis.
Once admitted to the program, a student may take honors seminars, which usually satisfy a general education requirement, as well as utilize the Matthies Honors House and attend special Honors social events. Conditional members must maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA throughout their Wittenberg career to remain members of the Honors Program.
