The William O. Douglas Honors College (DHC) comprises two tracks: the Core Curriculum (general education) and Upper-Division Honors. The Core Curriculum is composed of a series of courses that emphasize how the arts, humanities, sciences, and social science disciplines converge in considering fundamental questions of historical and contemporary concern. Upper-Division Honors involves additional, advanced courses and a culminating capstone project developed with faculty support in the students’ area of interest. DHC also sponsors cultural field trips, guest lectures, civic engagement and leadership opportunities, and a number of other co-curricular and extra-curricular 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’s example, the DHC encourages intellectual breadth, academic curiosity, and the application of scholarship to pressing social and environmental issues.
To apply, students should visit the DHC website or contact the DHC office to inquire about the application process. Students who have earned a Direct Transfer Agreement Associate Degree (DTA AA) are encouraged to apply to Upper-Division Honors. Students who have not earned a DTA AA, are encouraged to speak with the Honors College about their application and transfer credits.
DHC students must maintain a high level of academic achievement. All DHC students are held to the academic and behavioral standards as set forth in the DHC Student Code of Conduct. A DHC student is in good academic standing when their 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 whose cumulative GPA is below 3.0 at time of graduation will not receive honors recognition from the DHC. The DHC Executive 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. A student who has been suspended from the DHC for violating the DHC Student Code of Conduct may reapply; however, re-admittance is not guaranteed.
For additional information, visit the DHC website (www.cwu.edu/ honors), stop by the office (Hebeler Hall, room 219), or call 509-963-1900.