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Contact Information

D. Berton Emerson
Director of Honors, Associate Professor of English
dbemerson@whitworth.edu
509.777.3267

Spotlight

George F. Whitworth Honors Program

Thriving in the world as it is.
Developing the world as it should be.

The Whitworth Honors Program challenges talented and motivated scholars to pursue excellence of mind and heart, to cultivate leadership qualities and skills, and to commit to lives of service. The honors program does more than guide scholars to navigate the world as it is; it equips them to solve problems and to develop the world as it should be.

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Student Learning Outcomes:

  1. Engage with the liberal arts by means of interdisciplinary courses designed for integration, reflection and application of skills, knowledge and understandings.
  2. Reflect on the ways that diversity, equity and inclusion practices contribute to greater interdisciplinary effectiveness.
  3. Reflect on how the liberal arts and disciplinary paradigms generate solutions to local and global issues, using higher-level intellectual practices.
  4. Apply the liberal arts and disciplinary paradigms by independently planning, carrying out, documenting and defending a capstone project related to one's chosen discipline.

Admission with Honors

Admission with honors means you can join in community with other like-minded and passionate students in any or all of these ways:

  • Attend Honors Scholarship Weekend and compete for additional scholarships.
  • Sign up for a Jan Term honors study away program your first year.
  • Apply to live on an honors residence hall floor.
  • Join the honors learning community and take a set of classes together your first semester.
  • Participate in the Whitworth Honors Program through honors courses and a capstone project.

Graduation with Honors

George Whitworth Scholars must complete at least 17 credits of honors courses. Nearly all of these credits are satisfied by completing honors versions of shared curriculum courses and requirements within majors. Additionally, students must graduate from Whitworth with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA.

Opportunities

  • Study abroad programs, including several organized by IES Abroad and one at University of Cambridge
  • Invitations to meet with public intellectuals, renowned academics and creative artists visiting Whitworth's campus
  • Specialized problem-solving capstone project that complements majors and offers professionalizing opportunities
  • Chances to complete research and become co-authors with professors
  • Tickets for the President's Leadership Forum to hear speakers like Bryan Stevenson, Bob Woodward, Katherine Boo and David Brooks
  • Personalized programs of study that are suitable for all majors

"Talking through vocation and life design with Dr. Bert Emerson in the honors seminars made a big difference in the way I thought about my future, and his unfailing enthusiasm for and encouragement of my interests helped me find the courage to pursue the work I care about most."

Sarah Immel, English and Computer Science

Contact Information

D. Berton Emerson
Director of Honors, Associate Professor of English
dbemerson@whitworth.edu
509.777.3267