Douglas Honors College

Interdisciplinary Studies
Ellensburg
Language and Literature Bldg., room 103

509-963-1445
Fax: 509-963-1206
www.cwu.edu/~dhc/

Director
Matthew Altman, PhD

The William O. Douglas Honors College (DHC) is Central’s interdisciplinary program for academically talented students. The program is divided into two parts: a core curriculum and an upper-division scholarship experience. The core curriculum is composed of a series of courses that emphasize how the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences converge in considering historically important questions. The upper-division scholarship experience involves additional, advanced courses and a culminating research project either in the arts and humanities or in the sciences. DHC also sponsors cultural field trips, guest lectures, and a number of other extracurricular activities.

The college is named for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, a native of Yakima, Washington, and a great supporter of higher education. Following Justice Douglas’ example, the DHC encourages intellectual breadth, academic curiosity, and the application of scholarship to pressing social issues.

Students wishing to apply should contact the DHC office to find out about minimum qualifications and the application process. Students may apply to the honors college at any point in their college career.

DHC students must maintain a high level of academic achievement. A DHC student is in good standing when his or her cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 or higher. If a first-year DHC student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 and remains below 3.0 for two consecutive quarters, the student shall be placed on academic warning for one quarter. After the first year, a DHC student will be placed on academic warning if his or her cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 for one quarter. Any student placed on warning shall be suspended from the DHC if his or her cumulative GPA is not 3.0 or above the quarter following the warning. The DHC director has the discretion to waive and/or modify these standards for individual students as long as such modification does not affect the academic integrity of the DHC, as determined by the DHC director. A student who has been suspended from the DHC may reapply only if his or her cumulative GPA reaches 3.0 or higher.

For additional information, visit the DHC website (www.cwu.edu/~dhc/), stop by the office (Language and Literature Building, room 103), or call 509-963-1445.

Programs

Interdisciplinary Honors Minor
Douglas Honors College