frederick honors college essay length

The Honors Degree program consists of a structured program of curricular and co-curricular activities that provides an enhanced academic experience which includes opportunities for interdisciplinary study.

The Honors Degree program requires 24 credits to be completed upon graduation. Of these 24 credits, a minimum of 18 credits of David C. Frederick Honors College approved academic course credits and a minimum of 6 experiential course credits are required. The 18 academic course credits may include courses with the David C. Frederick Honors College course attribute value (honors courses); courses with the Civic Learning course attribute value; graduate-level courses; courses which are used to fulfill the following (including courses which do not have the David C. Frederick Honors College attribute): Leadership and Ethics Certificate ; Conceptual Foundations of Medicine Certificate ; Engineering for Humanity Certificate ; Engineering Science ; Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies Minor ; Global Health Certificate ; Pitt Business Honors Program ; Politics and Philosophy, BA ; Public Communication of Science and Technology Certificate ; Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainability ; and any additional course work beyond those used for the 6 credit experiential course work requirement. The 6 experiential credits may include courses with the Civic Learning + Engagement course attribute value, as well as academic research, independent study, study abroad, internships, or co-op programs, all of which require completed credits to appear on the transcript. In addition to the curricular requirements, students are required to complete the Honors Outside the Classroom Curriculum (Honors OCC) that provides non-credit enhanced experiences for honors students. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 upon graduation is required for completion of the Honors Degree program. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a degree/diploma jointly-conferred by the David C. Frederick Honors College and their primary school/college of admission. Students admitted to the Honors Degree program in their first year will be granted priority access to the honors living learning community within the residence halls. Students who remain in good academic standing in the Honors Degree program will also be granted priority registration throughout their time as undergraduate students (priority registration for students admitted to the Honors Degree program as a first-year student begins with spring term enrollment).

Admission Requirements

The admissions process includes criteria for three categories of students: first-year admits, external transfers, and internal (Pitt) transfers.

Admission for first-year students is conducted by Pitt Admissions and is based on evaluation of high school transcript, extra-curricular activities, and response to an essay prompt.
Admission for external transfer students is conducted by Pitt Admissions and is based on the evaluation of the completion of a minimum of two college semesters (24 credits) that meet the University of Pittsburgh criteria for transfer and review of an essay prompt.
Admission for internal transfer students (current Pitt students in all campuses) is conducted by the David C. Frederick Honors College and is based on an evaluation of a current Pitt transcript with minimum GPA of 3.50 after completion of two semesters (24 credits), review of an essay prompt, and one academic letter of recommendation from an instructor or academic advisor.

Total Credits: 24

Requirements for students in the school of nursing.

Minimum GPA: 3.25
18 credits of honors-approved course work
6 credits of experiential course work
Completion of the Honors OCC

18 Credits of Honors-Approved Course Work

18 credits minimum from the following:

NUR 0005 - HONORS FRESHMAN SEMINAR *
Any course with the David C. Frederick Honors College course attribute value or Civic Learning course attribute value which also fulfills the Art, Music, Creative Expression, or Literature BSN Curriculum Requirement
Any course with the David C. Frederick Honors College course attribute value or Civic Learning course attribute value which also fulfills the Anthropology/Culture Requirement: American or Foreign BSN Curriculum Requirement
Any course with the David C. Frederick Honors College course attribute value or Civic Learning course attribute value which also fulfills the Electives BSN Curriculum Requirement (e.g., NUR 1142 - PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING: NURSE ANESTHESIA )**
Any course with the David C. Frederick Honors College course attribute value which also fulfills the Senior Special Topics BSN Curriculum Requirement ( NUR 1142 - PROFESSIONAL ISSUES IN ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSING: NURSE ANESTHESIA , NUR 1143 - FOUNDATIONS OF PERSONALIZED HEALTH: TRANSLATION FROM BASIC RESEARCH TO CLINICAL PRACTICE , etc.)**
Any course with the David C. Frederick Honors College course attribute value or Civic Learning course attribute value which also fulfills the Directed Elective BSN Curriculum Requirement**

* Required course for students admitted into the David C. Frederick Honors College concurrently with their admission to the University of Pittsburgh; not required for students admitted to David C. Frederick Honors College after or during their first semester at the University of Pittsburgh

** May also be fulfilled by any graduate-level course (e.g., NUR 2004 - PATHPHYLGY ACROSS LIFE SPAN , NUR 2010 - HEALTH PROMO/DISEASE PRVNTN , NUR 2011 - APPLIED STATISTICS FOR EBP , NUR 2061 - ORGANIZTNL & MANAGEMENT THEORY ), any additional coursework beyond those used for the 6 credit experiential course work requirement, or courses part of the David C. Frederick Honors College approved programs (including courses which do not have the David C. Frederick Honors College attribute).

6 Credits of Experiential Course Work

6 credits minimum from the following:

REQUIRED COURSES (2-4 credits)

NUR 1091 - NURSING HONORS CAPSTONE 1
NUR 1092 - NURSING HONORS CAPSTONE 2

SELECT FROM AT LEAST ONE OF THESE OPTIONS (2-4 credits)

Option One: Mentored Experience ( NUR 1061 - INDEPENDENT STUDY )
Option Two: Study Abroad Program (Any study abroad program approved via University of Pittsburgh Panther Program)
Option Three: Clinical Practice-Oriented Courses ( NUR 1121C - ADVANCED CLINICAL PROBLEM SOLVING CLINICAL ; NUR 1135 - TRANSITION INTO PROFESSIONAL NURSING PRACTICE CLINICAL )***

*** Clinical courses should be taken as co-requisites with NUR 1092 - NURSING HONORS CAPSTONE 2 as a venue for disseminating the capstone results; needs to be arranged with permission from course instructors.

Requirements for Students in the School of Social Work

Minimum GPA: 3.25
18 credits of honors-approved course work, 9 credits of which must be from the BASW program. All BASW honors courses are required ( SWRES 2023 - DIRECTED STUDY IN RESEARCH can be substituted for either SOCWRK 1079 - CHILD WELFARE SERVICES or SOCWRK 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK )
6 credits of experiential course work ( SOCWRK 1025 - PRACTICUM 1 / SOCWRK 1027 - PRACTICUM 2 can be used for experiential course work)
Completion of the Honors OCC

Social Work Course Sequence Options

This presents three ways in which students could complete the 9 credits of Honors-designated BASW classes.

SOCWRK 1000 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK
SOCWRK 1079 - CHILD WELFARE SERVICES
SOCWRK 1020 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK RESEARCH
SWRES 2023 - DIRECTED STUDY IN RESEARCH

Students must complete an additional 9 credits of Honors-designated courses (3 courses). At least 6 credits (2 courses) of the 9 credits must satisfy social work co-requisites:

Africana Studies (3 cr)
Anthropology (3 cr)
Economics (3 cr)
English Composition (3 cr)
Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies (any course with a GSWS class attribute) (3 cr)
Human Biology (3 cr)
Political Science (3 cr)
Psychology (3 cr)
Religion/Spirituality (any course with a Religious Studies class attribute) (3 cr)
Sociology (3 cr)
Statistics (3 cr)

A maximum of 3 credits (1 course) can be any other course with a David C. Frederick Honors College course attribute value.

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Honors college.

Program website

Program Manager: Dr. Bruce Thompson Email: [email protected] Phone: 301.846.2535

Honors is an academic enrichment program that can be incorporated into most transfer degree programs at FCC. All honors learning is designed to go deeper, broader, or more complex, and the program strives to develop emerging scholars and leaders. Students who graduate from the Honors College, complete an honors independent study project, present at a conference, or earn service or leadership certificates gain a competitive advantage when applying for admission to selective four-year colleges and transfer scholarships.

Eligibility

Students automatically qualify for the Honors College with the following test scores: SAT = 1100 overall (out of 1600) with at least 550 on verbal, or ACT = Reading 23+, or FCC placement exams = Honors level reading (268) and proficient college level writing. Applicants with strong academic records (3.500 GPA) or faculty recommendations are encouraged to apply. We also offer an Open Campus membership for high school or home school students with a 3.5 GPA or higher. Students who started college poorly but whose recent work is honors caliber can apply to the honors coordinator for an exception. To apply, complete the Honors College application located at www.frederick.edu . Then click on the Honors link at the top of the website, and submit as directed.

Honors Advising

Students meet with an honors advisor to select a goal and develop an honors plan to achieve your goal. Check-in with an honors advisor each semester to update your plan. The Honors College also offers HONR 101 Honors Academic Engagement Seminar as a first-year experience course to help students make the transition to college and honors learning. Second-year honors peer mentors are embedded in the course as another source of help. Any student whose GPA drops below 3.000 must meet with the honors advisor to develop a recovery plan. Violations of FCC policy may jeopardize a student's standing in the Honors program.

Academic Opportunities

Your academic opportunities begin with honors courses, which are designated with HONR or an “H” in the schedule. Because honors courses have the same core learning outcomes and content requirements as regular courses they are easily transferable. The class size for Honors courses is smaller (with a cap size limited to 15) and often operate as seminars with heavy class discussion. Some courses are linked so the same cohort of students is together in two classes that share blocks of time.

Honors contracts may be available when honors courses are not in the schedule (e.g., MATH 185 Calculus I ). Honors trained faculty will mentor all contracts. Contact the honors coordinator to request an Honors Contract application.

Students can conduct scholarly research or produce creative works through Honors Independent Study projects under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students share their work with the campus community at the Honors Forum and are encouraged to present at student conferences. Each year one student may be nominated to compete for the Portz Award for Outstanding Honors Student at Two-Year Colleges, which is sponsored by the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council.

We encourage students to engage in learning both inside and outside the classroom. To promote learning outside the classroom, all honors courses require students to attend co-curricular events. The Honors College sponsors a variety of student organized activities, and student clubs at FCC offer even more engagement opportunities. the Center for Student Engagement at FCC offers even more engagement opportunities. With 25 service hours in two projects and a reflection paper, students can earn a service certificate. Leadership opportunities are available through the Honors Student Association, Phi Theta Kappa, and Honors College peer mentorships. Student leaders can also complete workshops and earn a leadership certificate.

Besides honing your academic skills through active learning, some other benefits of participating in the Honors College are:

use of the Honors Lounge (H-247);
eligibility for honors peer mentorships and scholarships;
conference presentation opportunities;
student recognitions for excellence (Anne Slater Award for Honors Excellence, MCHC Portz Award for Outstanding Honors Student, All-USA Academic Team);
transfer and scholarship benefits with four-year honors partners;
automatic admission to even more four-year colleges; and
enhanced resumes when applying for selective admission program at four-year colleges as well as scholarships.

Students who complete 12 honors credits with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.250 or higher are eligible to graduate from the Honors College. Graduates receive a notation on their transcripts recognizing this achievement. Further, at the graduation ceremony they wear an Honors College medallion and stand to be recognized. The transcript notation and color of the medallion are based on the student’s grade point average at the time of graduation:

Program Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate scholarly communication skills (written and oral) appropriate for an academic audience.
Demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and contextualize scholarly sources, interpretations, and project findings.
Demonstrate the ability to use the scholarly research process to validate or produce new knowledge or understanding.

To learn more about how the Honors College can help you reach your goals, contact the Honors Coordinator, Dr. Bruce Thompson, in H-244 or at [email protected] or 301.846.2535.

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2024-2025 Frederick Community College Academic Catalog

A PDF of the entire 2024-2025 Catalog.

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What are the two pathways of the Nursing Honors Program?
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FAQ about Nursing Honors Curriculum Option and Thesis Option
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What are the admission requirements for the Honors curriculum option?

For the curriculum option, prospective students may apply to Nursing Honors through the regular initial University of Pittsburgh application process. If you choose to apply, you will be asked to answer the following essay question: (1) If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? (2) Explain why and how you would change it. Responses should be stated in 500 words or fewer. These essays will be reviewed by University Admissions Office who make admission decisions at this point. If you are already a freshman or sophomore in the BSN program and you are interested in the Honors curriculum option, Pitt's David C. Frederick Honors College still admits a limited number of upperclassmen into its degree program. Interested upperclassmen must have a minimum GPA of 3.50, and must have completed a minimum of 2 semesters (24 credits). Students are required to complete the same essay prompts above and submit a letter of recommendation from an instructor or academic advisor. Applications for upperclassmen students are reviewed once a year with an application deadline of May 31.

What are the admission requirements for the Honors thesis option?

Students interested in the thesis option can apply directly to the Frederick Honors College at any time during their BSN curriculum. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.50 and are required to identify a research mentor and submit a brief research proposal and plan of study to the Frederick Honors College in collaboration with the mentor. More details are provided below and you can learn more here.

How competitive is the admission to the Nursing Honors program?

Our nursing students are top-notch, and with enough passion and dedication, any student could successfully complete an Honors thesis (the highest undergraduate distinction). However, typically 2¬ to 5 nursing students complete a BPhil (Honors thesis) every year. You will find a list of recently completed undergraduate honors theses here. The Nursing Honors curriculum option is a fairly new pathway, and the Class of 2023 will be the first cohort. Based on number and quality of applications, the Frederick Honors College admitted around 14 to 18 nursing students in this option annually in the last 2 years.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the University of Pittsburgh Essays 2023-2024

The University of Pittsburgh, or Pitt, is a public research university just a few miles east of downtown Pittsburgh. With a campus encompassing 132 acres, Pitt enrolls almost 20,000 undergraduates, and is composed of 17 different undergraduate and graduate schools.

Pitt is moderately selective and is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the country. The most popular departments at Pitt are business, engineering, health, and the social sciences.

There are no optional supplements applicable to all applicants, other than the main personal statement on the Common App , Coalition Application , or Pitt Application. Honors applicants must write a separate essay, however, and international applicants are asked to answer another prompt in lieu of the personal statement.

In this post, we’ll break down how to write these essays to improve your chances of acceptance.

Read this Pitt essay example to inspire your own writing.

Pitt Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, if you have written a common application personal essay you are not expected to also submit a personal statement below. we will receive your common app personal essay if completed., submission of either the optional personal statement or common app personal essay is required for scholarship review, if applying without sat or act scores, and may increase the likelihood that you are considered for guaranteed admission programs or given special consideration due to extenuating circumstances..

The personal statement is your opportunity to communicate directly with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story, being mindful and thoughtful about the quantity and quality of information shared. Share information not included elsewhere in your application. (750 words)

International Applicants

Describe an experience where you had to adapt to a new environment (i.e. a different culture, situation, or way of thinking). (1500 characters recommended)

Honors Applicants

Please select one of these questions. (200-300 words recommended).

Option 1 : What is something you would like to see change in the world? Explain why.
Option 2: If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your TED Talk be about?
Option 3: What does it mean to be “educated”?

The personal statement is your opportunity to communicate directly with the Admissions Committee. Applicants are welcome to submit anything that helps tell their story, being mindful and thoughtful about the quantity and quality of information shared. Share information not included elsewhere in your application. (750 words).

This personal statement is optional for those submitting the Common App Essay. While we typically encourage you to write all optional essays to demonstrate your interest, this is an exception since this prompt is presented as an alternative to another essay. If you aren’t submitting the Common App, however, then you should complete this personal statement.

The goal of the personal statement is to share a story about what makes you unique. As we mention in our guide to the Common App Essays, a good personal statement should answer these four core questions:

“Who Am I?”
“Why Am I Here?”
“What is Unique About Me?”
“What Matters to Me?”

This essay should tell a story and use a narrative/creative writing format rather than your standard academic essay format. We recommend reading our Common App Essay guide for more advice on crafting a great personal statement.

Finally, keep in mind that while you have up to 750 words, you don’t need to use the full word count. While we typically recommend maximizing your allotted space, this essay is presented as an alternative to the Common App essay, which only goes up to 650 words. An essay of 550-650 words should be the sweet spot for saying what you want without dragging it on.

Describe an experience where you had to adapt to a new environment (i.e. a different culture, situation, or way of thinking). (1500 characters recommended, about 200-400 words)

Being an international student is a unique experience, and Pitt wants to know that you are prepared for the challenges of adapting to a new country, culture, and environment.

For this prompt, you will want to share a story that illustrates your adaptability, awareness, and open-mindedness. Hone in on one experience and take a deep dive into your thoughts and emotions as you were going through this transition.

Try to steer clear of cliche storylines; many students will generally discuss how it was difficult at first to study abroad, move to a different location, or overcome homesickness at an overnight program. Instead, focus on a specific aspect of the experience you choose to write about. For instance, a student who loved their study abroad experience would tell an anecdote about how they got lost in a foreign city and had to piece together their knowledge of the language to talk to taxi drivers and random strangers. Describing a specific moment like this will showcase your mentality and emotions in the moment where you were adapting to a new environment, which is what admissions officers want to learn from this essay.

Don’t feel obligated to write about experiences that are obviously relevant to being an international student. The prompt also mentions new “situations” or “ways of thinking.” You could also write about joining a new club, trying a new sport, or learning about a different way to approach a problem. The key is to pick a topic that will allow you to be reflective and illustrative of how you will adapt as an international student on Pitt’s campus.

As you decide on a topic and write your essay, ask yourself:

Which experience best allowed me to demonstrate my adaptability and openness?
What did I learn from this experience?
What were my thoughts and emotions as I was going through this experience?
How will this experience help me thrive as an international student?

Your essay should answer all of these questions, while still being exciting and engaging. For example, you might want to write about how you switched from a public to a private school. Don’t give an overview of your experience. Instead, tell the story of your first homecoming game where you were surrounded by students with pride for their school. Even though it was a new environment you were still getting acquainted with, seeing the school spirit and cheering on your team helped you feel like you belong at your new school. Despite the fear you might have felt the first few weeks of school, you decided that if you could cheer alongside your peers, you could talk to them in class as well. You now know that despite the challenges that might arise the first few weeks of college, when you’re standing in the stadium cheering on the Panthers you will feel the same sense of camaraderie and you will be able to connect with your peers.

Honors Applicants, Option 1

What is something you would like to see change in the world explain why. (200-300 words).

There’s so many ways you can go about this essay, and the key is to begin by brainstorming what it is you’re passionate about, and why you’re passionate about it. Pitt Honors College is specifically looking for students who “want to advance research, better the community, and leave a global footprint.” They’re asking you to think big, and think altruistically—so don’t be afraid to write about lofty dreams. Just be sincere and specific.

It would be even better if you have past experiences working towards implementing changes, which would give you more credibility and grounding. Even if it’s as small as being a member of a community service club, or volunteering, you could use these experiences as a jumping off point for your future goals. Also, if there’s a personal reason why you’ve chosen your topic, you should definitely talk about it, as it could lead to strong anecdotes that would make your essay come alive.

At the end of the essay, you could even go into how you see Pitt Honors College fitting into your trajectory towards changing this proposed problem. You could talk about a Pitt Honors first year seminar, like “Power and Resistance,” mention how you would love to engage in meaningful conversations by living in Honors housing, and list an honors pod you would want to join—like the community engagement pod or the health sciences pod.

Here are some examples to think about:

Maybe you want to study education, and in particular, you want to make a dent in reforming public education. You can acknowledge that this is a huge, structural problem probably unsolvable by a single person, but that you nevertheless want to give it your best try. You want to start by participating in Pitt’s Combined Accelerated Studies in Education, granting you a bachelor’s and a master’s in five years. You could discuss how you want to start as a student teacher, then manage your own classroom to learn how best to help children learn. Maybe after a while, you can go into education policy, and specifically work on creating less segregated public schools, and bringing more funding into underserved areas.
Maybe your intended major is computer science, and the problem you’d like to address is a lack of rural connectivity to the internet, even in America. You want to take the normal slate of computer science classes, but also many classes in public policy, to know how the government plays a role in broadband access. After graduating, you’d want to both work as a programmer, but also advocate on behalf of rural communities, especially through granting local and state funding to develop better internet service in rural areas.
Maybe you are really interested in racial justice since you have grown up feeling the effects of systemic racism and discrimination. You want to provide justice to Black Americans by becoming a death row lawyer and working with people who have been wrongly convicted. You plan to take law classes at Pitt that will teach you more about the complex workings of the justice system and how to perfect your public speaking skills. On campus, you want to join the Prisoner Legal Support Project to work with other like-minded students who care about these issues. After graduation, you plan to go to Louisiana, the state with the highest incarceration rate, to get some experience working with lawyers and inmates before law school.

Honors Applicants, Option 2

If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your ted talk be about (200-300 words).

This creative prompt from Pitt asks you to brainstorm about a topic that deeply interests you. Ideally, you should choose a timely topic that relates to your ongoing academic or extracurricular interests.

Additionally, because TED talks are meant to bring value to a broader audience, the topic should be influential for many people to hear. For example, you may want to avoid talking about building an interplanetary defense system to protect against asteroids from hitting Earth because it’s not a hugely current societal problem.

Before you begin writing, familiarize yourself with the format of a TED talk. Watch a few of the most popular ones , or search for some that align with your interests. If you’re having trouble thinking of a topic, ask yourself:

What are the important lessons you’ve learned?
What are you good at?
What are you passionate about?
What is an unusual experience you’ve had?
What do you want to teach others?
What can you talk about for a full 10 minutes?

A good TED talk will most likely be a strong response to more than one of these questions. For example, maybe you’re passionate about backyard gardening, and even started a local neighborhood gardening group. You might give a TED talk called “Your Friendly Neighborhood Gardner: A Lesson In Crop Rotation,” where you discuss your experience and how others can coordinate gardening groups and share ground with neighbors to make the most of their harvests. Or, maybe you love chemistry and cooking, and want to teach others how to use science to improve their dishes. Your speech might be called “Molecules and Meatballs: The Chemistry Behind Our Food.”

Make sure to include a few key details when putting together this essay about a TED talk. Include the following: 1) a catchy title that captures the reader and summarizes what you will talk about; 2) the message you want to get across to your audience and why it is meaningful to you; and 3) what the overall impact your talk could have on the community at large. By including all three of these key ideas you will better express your thoughts, interests and dreams to the admissions readers who are eagerly looking forward to reading your essay.

As long as you pick a topic you’re genuinely excited about, and frame it in a way that makes it applicable to others, your TED talk should be strong. Definitely have some fun with this one!

Honors Applicants, Option 3

What does it mean to be “educated” (200-300 words).

This prompt essentially has two parts: one, establishing what being educated means to you, and two, linking that definition to your life experiences.

For the first part, reflect on the times you’ve genuinely enjoyed learning, which could be in or outside the classroom.

For example, you could discuss how education to you means broadening your horizons beyond the classroom by attending independent film screenings or local art exhibits in your town. You could define education as exploring new ideas by connecting to those with different opinions and points of view. Education could mean learning new languages in order to be able to learn about new cultures and belief systems. Whatever position you decide to take, be sure to explicitly address what being educated means to you in your introduction.

As you begin to build on your essay beyond the introduction, think about what moments in your own life have provided you with experiences that have “educated” you in the way that you define it. Perhaps you define “education” as learning new languages in order to be able to learn about new cultures and belief systems. To better explain this definition, use the rest of the essay to write about the time when you traveled internationally to South America and lived in Brazil and it was only after learning some broken Portuguese that you fully embraced the culture there. You learned to speak with the locals, were taught how to Samba, danced to unique music like Pagode and Bossa Nova and tried all the delicious local street food delicacies.

Once again, this is a very open-ended prompt so feel free to make it your own and provide your own voice and background to make your definition of “education” unique to you.

Where to Get Your University of Pittsburgh Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Pitt essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg

What is the David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg? What if I am already a member of the Honors Program? General Requirements for New and Sustaining Members Honors College Programs Earning Academic Credits Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) Key Benefits of Membership How to Apply

What is the David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg?

The Frederick Honors College, which is the official name of the honors college on the Pittsburgh campus, is being extended to the Greensburg campus. The Pitt-Greensburg Honors Program is now The David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg. However, students who enrolled in classes prior to Fall 2023 can still pursue honors recognition through the original Honors Program.

Grandfathering Existing Students

Since many of Greensburg campus students are already working toward an Honors Program recognition developed prior to this proposal, existing students can choose to remain within the original Honors Program and its requirements and benefits. They also have the option of transferring into one of the Honors College programs, if that is a manageable option. If you are a current Honors Program student and wish to transfer to one of the David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg programs, contact one of the Honors Program mentors to discuss this option.

Any student admitted to Pitt-Greensburg beginning the fall 2023 semester or later, however, is required to participate in one of the Honors College Programs.

General Requirements for New and Sustaining Members

Students will be admitted into David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg according to the previous requirements for the Honors Program: a 3.5 GPA for existing Pitt-Greensburg students, and typically a 3.8 GPA for incoming high school students (though this is weighed against other considerations).

To remain a member of David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg, students must maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA and be making regular progress toward the completion of their chosen honors program. Students whose GPA falls below 3.5 will be on probation for one semester with the expectation that they will restore their cumulative GPA to 3.5. If they are unable to do so, their membership will end.

Honors College Programs

I. Honors Distinction Requirements:

Curricular: 9 academic credits of Frederick Honors College approved courses
Global or Experiential: 3 academic credits from a global or experiential activity (can include research, independent study, study abroad credits, internships, and co-ops)
Capstone: Already a graduation requirement for all students.
Outside of the Classroom: Completion of the Pitt-Greensburg Honors OCC (see below)
Minimum GPA: 3.5

II. Honors Degree Requirements:

Curricular requirements: 18 academic credits of Frederick Honors College approved courses
Co-Curricular requirements: 6 experiential credits (including research, independent study, study abroad programs, internships, and co-ops)
Outside of the classroom curriculum: Completion of the Pitt-Greensburg Honors Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC, see below)

III. Bachelors of Philosophy General Degree Requirements Each BPhil degree candidate must:

Complete the degree requirements (e.g., major requirements) of their home school (Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Swanson School of Engineering, School of Nursing, College of Business Administration, School of Computing and Information, etc.)
Complete a Program of Study approved by the Frederick Honors College
Maintain a 3.50 cumulative GPA

An approved Program of Study will demonstrate that the student has exceeded the requirements for a standard undergraduate departmental degree. Existing curricular options may fulfill the Program of Study requirements, such as multiple majors or double-degree programs, or the approved Program of Study may be individualized. In general, it is expected that a student’s curriculum will reflect the breadth and/or depth. Curricula that are built around an intellectual theme (those that reflect focus) are also acceptable, especially for students in highly structured academic programs. It is incumbent upon each candidate to demonstrate the scholarly merits of the proposed curriculum as it relates to their own work.

Special Degree Requirements

The special degree requirement is met through the preparation and defense conducted by an Examining Committee no later than during the candidate’s last term. One member of the Examining Committee must be from outside the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

Each BPhil degree candidate must:

Select a thesis advisor from the faculty in their major department of study
Submit a synopsis of the proposed research, the Thesis Prospectus (which has been accepted by the thesis advisor) to the Frederick Honors College
Be evaluated by the Examining Committee; this evaluation consists of a public presentation and discussion of the thesis or project, followed by a private oral examination conducted by the Examining Committee, similar to a master's thesis defense

Earning Honors Credentials

Academic Credits: Honors Designated Courses:

Any course can be taken as an H-designated course. The designation indicates that the student engages in learning activities beyond those normally required for the course. Such activities are determined by the nature of the course, but might consist of special projects, extended reading assignments, research, class presentations, etc. The student and instructor will together determine what the learning activity might be.

The instructor and student must sign an Honors Designated Course Agreement Form outlining the enrichment requirements. This should be submitted to the Greensburg administrator of the Honors College no later than the end of the first week of the semester.

The Registrar’s Office will oversee the formal honors designation toward the end of the semester once the plan for the learning activity has been completed.

Honors Option Courses:

Unlike H-designated courses, you can enroll in Honors Option courses at the same time you enroll in all your other courses. They are designed to include additional content for honors students. Rather than having students determine a unique enrichment activity with the instructor, the instructor will pre-design regular courses to have additional content for any student who wishes to take the class as an honors version.

Simply look for “Honors” in the “Gen Ed and Enrollment Notes” column in the Class Schedule to identify classes that you enroll in for honors credit. You may have to get the permission of instructor or ask your advisor to enroll you as a member of the Honors College. Note also that students not involved in any honors program can also enroll in an Honors Option course, but they will need permission from the instructor.

Honors Only Courses:

Some courses may be designated as an honors course without being attached to a standard version of the course. These courses will tend to be interdisciplinary and team-taught. For example, INDIST 1100 is an interdisciplinary special topics course that has been used for honors only courses. The theme and instructors can be very different each time it is offered.

Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC):

All students pursuing an Honors College program will be required to complete the Honors GEM OCC (Greensburg Experience More Outside the Classroom Curriculum) by earning 150 points in each of the following competency areas.

Communication and the Arts
Career Preparation, Research, Scholarship and Creative Work
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Global Engagement
Leadership Development
Service and Civic Engagement

Some Key Benefits of Joining

Students who complete any of the three honors college programs will be recognized for their achievement at graduation. But there are several other benefits available to the students throughout their career as a Pitt student:

Honors Research Programs, including Brackenridge, Creative Arts Fellowships etc.
Honors Study Abroad/Study Away Programs (including Abroad Select and Wyoming)
Honors Internships
Residential Community
Dedicated Engagement Space
Engagement activities, including Speaker Series, programming, and excursions
National Scholarships Advising

How to Apply

Complete the David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg >>

Please send questions to [email protected] .

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Information For

High School, Transfer & Current Student Applicants

Towson university honors college - are you up for the challenge.

The Honors College accepts applications from incoming first-year students, students transferring from other institutions, and current Towson University students with 60 or fewer completed or in-progress college credits on the schedule of deadlines established by University Admissions:

Incoming first-year students must complete the Honors College Application as part of the Towson University Admissions Application . The Early Action deadline for fall entry and regular deadline for spring entry is November 15. The Regular Decision deadline for fall entry is February 1.
Students transferring from other institutions must complete the Honors College Application as part of the Towson University Transfer Admissions Application . The application deadline for spring entry is November 15. The Early Action deadline for fall entry is March 1.
Incoming first-year and transfer applicants who miss submitting the Honors application materials initially through the general Towson University Admissions Application may still apply for admission to the Honors College through this supplementary portal . Please note : students using this method will need their TU Admissions portal login credentials to gain access. If you experience any problems using this method, please contact University Admissions .
Current Towson University students can apply to the Honors College using the Honors College Application for Current TU Students through November 15 for spring entry, and March 1 for fall entry.
Incoming international students can apply to the Honors College through the TU Admissions Application through November 15 for priority consideration, and afterward through the Honors College Application for International Students through May 1 for regular consideration.

Admission to the Honors College is competitive. Honors College students make up less than five percent of the incoming freshman class each year, and the approximately 700 active Honors students represent just under four percent of all undergraduate students at Towson University. Our application looks holistically at an applicant's experiences and considers quality of engagement over sheer quantity, self-awareness and reflection of involvement, and authenticity.

Most Honors students apply in high school and are admitted for their freshman year, but transfer students and current TU students may also apply to the Honors College. To be considered, an applicant must complete the Honors College application for admission. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Enrollment is not available to students who are pursuing second bachelor's degrees at TU. Students must complete Honors seminars at the main Towson University campus in Towson, MD.

Internal transfer applicants with more than 60 completed or in-progress college credits at the time of application will not be considered for the Honors College. Options for TU students with more than 60 credits include departmental honors programs and the campus chapter of the Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity .

Admission Requirements

Admission for first-year students.

While the Honors College attracts top-performing high school seniors, there are no minimum criteria that a student must meet in order to apply to Honors. Since Towson University and the Honors College are permanently test optional, students may submit their standardized testing scores through the Common App as part of their application materials, but are not required to do so. In terms of academic performance in high school, though first-year students admitted to the Honors College in the fall term have historically had these middle 50% ranges in their weighted GPAs, any student whose performance falls outside these ranges is strongly encouraged to apply for admission:

Applications from first-year students are evaluated through a comprehensive holistic review that also considers the following:

Course selection and the rigor of the student's high school curriculum
Strength and clarity of ideas and writing demonstrated in an essay
Engagement and demonstrated leadership in co-curricular and extracurricular involvement
An optional letter of recommendation from a major subject teacher

Admission for Students Transferring from Other Institutions

Transfer students admitted to the Honors College in the fall term have historically had these middle 50% ranges of their college GPAs:

Transfer students applying to Towson University who will enter with 60 or more credits must apply to the Honors College at the same time as they apply to TU, as they will no longer be eligible for admission once they become current TU students.

Transferring students with fewer than 30 credits are evaluated based on the items listed below and on their high school academic record. Transferring students with 30 or more college credits are evaluated through a comprehensive holistic review that also considers the following:

Course selection and the rigor of the student's curriculum at the college level
An optional letter of recommendation from a major subject teacher or college professor

The Honors College recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of students currently participating in Maryland Community College Honors Programs. In acknowledgment of these achievements the Honors College at TU has developed Memoranda of Understanding with the following Maryland Community College Honors Programs:

Carroll Community College, Pappalardo Scholars Program
Community College of Baltimore County, Honors Program
Frederick Community College, Honors College
Harford Community College, Honors Program
Howard Community College, Rouse Scholars Program
Prince George’s Community College, Honors Academy

Students applying from one of the above programs will be granted admission into the Honors College at TU provided the student meets all of the following criteria, subject to confirmation from their institution's Honors program:

Has been accepted to Towson University for a fall term
Has applied to the Honors College by the published application deadline
Has met or will meet all requirements of their community college honors program prior to transfer to Towson University
Will complete an Associate Degree and/or a minimum of 60 undergraduate credits from their community college before joining the Honors College
Has at least a 3.5 cumulative college GPA at the time of application to the Honors College at TU

Applicants from a program that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Honors College who do not meet the above requirements are still eligible to apply to the TU Honors College, without guaranteed admission.

Admission for Current Towson University Students

Current Towson University students may apply to the Honors College as internal transfers if they have been enrolled at Towson University for no more than four semesters and will have 60 or fewer completed college credits after the end of the term during which they will apply. Applicants with more than 60 completed or in-progress credits are ineligible except for in extraordinary circumstances.

Applicants are evaluated on:

Course selection and the rigor of the student's curriculum at Towson University (and at the high school level, if fewer than 30 completed college credits)

Application FAQs

Honors admissions faqs, application process.

How will my Honors College application be reviewed? A panel of Honors College faculty and staff review each application on the basis of a number of factors: • Essay • List of activities • Secondary/post-secondary school GPA • Rigor of secondary school course load* • Standardized test scores (if provided)* • Class rank (if provided)* • Letter of recommendation (optional) *Only for applicants from high school or with fewer than 30 completed college credits Applicants are assessed primarily on the basis of their ability to succeed in the Honors College curriculum. There is no absolute cutoff score for consideration or automatic admission.

I want to apply to the Honors College but I have a low GPA. Should I still apply? The Honors College strongly encourages potential applicants to apply. The Honors review process is holistic, taking into account a number of aspects of related to the applicant as a person and his or her ability to succeed in the Honors College while contributing as a valuable member of our community. While high school and college GPA are strong indicators of future academic success, we recognize they are only one piece of the puzzle.

I filled out the Honors section of my TU application but submitted it after November 15. Will I be considered for Honors College admission? No. The deadline for Honors College consideration is November 15. While applications begun on or before November 15 may continue to display an option to apply to the Honors College after that date, only applications submitted and received by Towson University Admissions by 11:59 pm on November 15 will be considered for admission in to the Honors College.

I submitted an application and want to check to make sure you received all of my documents. Who should I contact?

If you are a new student to TU and applied through the Towson University application, contact University Admissions at admissions AT_TOWSON or 410-704-2113. If you are a current TU student, contact the Honors College at honors AT_TOWSON or 410-704-4677.

Required Essay

Can I submit the same essay for my Towson University application and my Honors College application?

For the 2023 admissions cycle the Honors essay is separate from the TU essay, as the two sets of prompts address different topics. You will need to submit a different essay for each. How strict is the essay word count requirement? The range between 500 and 750 words is fairly wide, and provides the appropriate amount of space to form and support a clear position in direct response to the essay prompts provided. Any essay much shorter than 500 words will likely have insufficient support for your argument, and anything much longer than 750 will likely be too unfocused.

Optional Letter of Recommendation

How do I know that my recommender received my letter request? When is their letter due?

Letter of recommendation requests are emailed to the recipient as soon as you click the send button in the recommendation section of the TU application, and can be sent out far in advance of your application submission. Recommendations can be submitted after the application deadline. The Honors College generally begins application reviews within two weeks of the application deadline, so any recommendations not received by then may not be included in the review process.

I have several teachers who want to write me letters of recommendation. How can I provide you contact information for multiple recommenders? We will only consider one letter of recommendation in support of your Honors College application. Additional letters of recommendation will not be read. Can you use the same letter of recommendation submitted as part of my Towson University application? Yes! The recommendation requested by the Honors College asks for specific information and insight, so we encourage you to ask your recommender to respond to the Honors prompt. Their letter can support both your Honors application and general TU application. My recommender/high school insists on mailing a physical copy of my recommendation or giving me a sealed recommendation in person. What do I do? The Honors College strongly prefers letters of recommendation submitted through the online request portal to guarantee the recommendation is correctly attached to your application file. Physical letters can be mailed to: Honors College 7800 York Road Building, Suite 134 Towson, MD 21252-0001 Please ensure that your recommender includes your full name and the name of your high school in the letter. If your recommender gives you a sealed envelope, please write your name and high school on the exterior. This will help ensure the letter is added to your application file. My recommender/high school only submits recommendations through Naviance (or a similar service). What do I do? As long as the letter is submitted by the recommender whose name you indicate on your application, it will be added to your application file and included in your Honors application review. I provided contact information for my recommender, and now they can’t/won’t write me a letter. Now what? Contact the Honors College at honors AT_TOWSON or 410-704-4865 with your full name and the name and email of a replacement recommender, and we will send them the relevant information to submit a letter of recommendation. Can my boss/coach/family friend write my letter of recommendation? Character references - those from individuals who are not teachers - are not useful for the Honors review process. We strongly suggest that your letter of recommendation writer be a primary subject teacher, as our recommendation prompt encourages submission of information regarding your presence in the classroom. If you would like someone who’s not a primary subject teacher to write your letter, you please provide a written justification to honors AT_TOWSON of why that person is equipped to assess your academic abilities.

Admissions Decisions

When will I hear back regarding my application? The Honors College finalizes admissions decisions during TU's winter minimester, and all decision letters are mailed out by February. All applicants receive a decision letter regardless of outcome. What do I need to do in order to accept an offer of admission to the Honors College? In order to accept admission into the Honors College, all you have to do is submit your official Towson University Enrollment Contract with deposit to University Admissions by May 1 (or the deadline listed in your TU admission letter). If you plan to live on campus, you must submit your housing request and deposit to the Department of Housing & Residence life by their spring deadline, posted on their housing application page .

I was not admitted to the Honors College. Can I appeal my decision?

The Honors College does not consider appeals. Every applicant who was not admitted through the admissions process has had their application file considered through an extensive and thorough holistic review, therefore no appeals are accepted. Entering the Honors College as a freshman is not your only option. We also accept applications from Towson University students who have 60 or fewer credits at the time of application.

Current Towson University students may apply to the Honors College if they have freshman or sophomore class standing—i.e., 60 or fewer credits—and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Applicants are evaluated based upon their academic record, participation in leadership, extracurricular, and community service activities and a well-written application essay. The Honors College accepts applications from September 1 to November 15 of each year. TU students admitted through this process may join the Honors College for the ensuing spring semester and will receive most benefits of Honors status, although they will not receive a scholarship and most likely will not be able to move into Douglass House mid-year if they don’t already live there. However, they will be eligible to move into Douglass House for the next academic year if they currently live on campus.

University of Pittsburgh 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

University of pittsburgh 2023-24 application essay question explanations.

The Requirements: 1 essay of 200-300 words

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball

Hello, future University of Pittsburgh grads. (We’re speaking it into existence!) The prompt below is only for applicants who wish to apply to Pitt Honors. Let’s dive in!

In lieu of an essay or personal statement, we ask interested applicants to answer a short answer question. The Admissions Committee reviews responses for quality rather than length. However, the most effective responses typically range from 200-300 words per question. Responses that are longer or shorter are acceptable. The question is required for Pitt Honors consideration.

Please select one of these questions., what is something you would like to see change in the world explain why..

The Admissions Committee wants to accept ambitious students who want to change the world for the better. So, if you could change anything in the world, what would it be? Take some time to brainstorm and write down anything that comes to mind. Maybe, if you had the power, you would make sure that no one in your city went to bed hungry. Why is this particular issue important to you? What steps would you take to enact this change? If, after reading this prompt, you immediately thought of something on the sillier side (flying cars! superpowers! robot dogs!), don’t be afraid to explore that topic and why it matters, too. As long as you are giving admissions better insight into who you are and what makes you tick, you’re on the right track. Let your imagination run wild and show the University of Pittsburgh admissions committee that you aren’t afraid to dream big.

If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your TED Talk be about?

We at CEA love this question because it’s a unique way of asking applicants the following questions: What do you care about and why? What’s important to you? What information do you wish other people had access to? Start by making a list of topics you could discuss or read about for hours. Maybe you’d like to use your TED Talk platform to speak about media literacy and how we can and should consider what we see online through the lens of the powers that dictate how and when we receive information. Perhaps you’d want to discuss AI art, plagiarism, and how it threatens human artists’ livelihoods. What keeps you up at night? What kind of positive effect do you want to have on the world? These are the questions you should be asking yourself when brainstorming for this prompt. Bonus points if you can speak to how a Pittsburgh education will prepare you to address this issue head-on in the future!

What does it mean to be “educated”?

Since this question is for those applying to the honors college, we can assume that most applicants answering it are high-achievers in the traditional sense. But we all know that’s not the only type of education out there. Pitt is looking for a deeply considered, creatively written essay , so as we here at CEA so often recommend, grab a sheet of paper and start brainstorming! Which words, feelings, or characteristics do you associate with the word “educated?” Are there any people you can think of—people in your life, thought leaders, or even fictional characters—who don’t have a formal education but whom you would consider to be highly educated? What different kinds of education can you think of? In what ways are they different and in what ways are they fundamentally the same? Bonus points if you can describe how a Pitt degree would educate you in more than one way!

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Length of Honors Essays?

I’m just wondering what the length of the Honors essays should be for Pitt. The website says nothing about this, and I tried googling but nobody else seems to have asked this same question. So, how long do you think they should be? Currently mine are 300-400 words, and I’m wondering if they should be longer. Thanks in advance.

I submitted my application around a week ago, and I’m 80% sure that it says on the top of the essay page that they prefer around 200-300 words. Mine was a little longer than 300 though.

That’s what it says for the normal college, not the honors college,

I think H2P said that the Honor’s essay should be a normal structured essay at 650 word length cap.

@coryindahouse there is no length limit but use our tips while you’re writing!

Pitt Honors Essay Tips: -Use the essays to tell us something your application, grades, and test scores cannot. -Don’t summarize or restate your accolades, activities, and awards; use this opportunity to provoke thought and engage your reader. -Proceed as if these essays are the most important factor in the Pitt Honors admissions process.

@hailtopitt1787 The honors college website indicates the average SAT is 1450 for honors students. May I ask whether you know if 1450 is the cutoff for honors. Should one with a lower SAT expect not to get in – maybe shouldn’t bother applying?

@sugaree20 that is an average so some students could have scored lower. The essays are really the chance for you to stand out!

@Sugaree20 Unless you have some other, incredible hook, you need an SAT score of at least 1450.

little worried now because I thought the honors essays were supposed to be the same length as the other ones so mine were between 200 and 300 words.

Quality essays are about content not length. In fact, many believe it’s much more difficult to write a compelling short essay (than a longer one). Editing is challenging.

An outstanding writer I know views it as valuable real estate. Make every word count. Editing is more than correcting sentence structure. It’s about discernment. Do the ideas matter? He judges every sentence with the “who cares” filter. Be brutually honest with yourself and don’t get married to any word, sentence, or thought. The final product will be far shorter than the original.

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Pitt's David C. Frederick Honors College expands to Greensburg campus

The University of Pittsburgh’s David C. Frederick Honors College is expanding to include high-achieving students enrolled at its suburban Greensburg campus in Hempfield, officials announced Tuesday.

Effective this fall, undergraduates with the necessary academic qualifications can enroll in the newly formed David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg.

Students there, many enrolled in Pitt-Greensburg’s honors program, will gain access to the same programming, funding and honors-specific support as their peers in Pittsburgh, officials said in announcing the expansion.

It could be scholarships, study abroad funding and the ability to take classes not only available in Greensburg, but those team taught by faculty to honors college students delivered remotely, Pitt-Greensburg President Robert Gregerson said Tuesday.

“I’ve been at Pitt-Greensburg five years. I attend every single admissions event that we have on campus. And I was hearing, honestly, often from parents about this,” he said.

They want honors opportunities including an honors college.

“There were definitely students and families who had that as an expectation.”

Enrollment projections are fluid, but “we anticipate 40 to 50 students will be participating in the David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg in fall 2024,” campus spokeswoman Susan Isola said Tuesday.

Pitt’s Honors College, founded in 1987, includes lectures, special classes, advising, housing and support, according to its website. Students can opt for a research-based degree, the Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil).

It is housed on the 35th and 36th floors of the Cathedral of Learning, providing a sweeping view of the Oakland campus.

But Greensburg students need not travel to Oakland to obtain the honors degree, though they will have access to classes delivered there.

Both campuses will benefit greatly from the expansion, predicted Nicola Foote, dean of Pitt’s Frederick Honors College and a professor in the university’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

The expansion “will allow a wider range of curious, talented and ambitious students to participate in challenging interdisciplinary learning opportunities and become part of an intellectual community that provides mentorship and support,” she said in remarks posted to Pitt’s website.

Students will gain research, leadership and other opportunities.

Gregerson said, for Pitt-Greensburg, it is another way to attract students interested in an Honors College education but in a smaller setting closer to home.

Pitt-Greensburg, second largest of Pitt’s four branch campuses, enrolls 1,321 students and is approximately 30 miles and roughly an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh, depending on traffic. It, like other regional campuses, has suffered in a weak student market.

“It’s another tool in our toolbox to bring in students that would not come here, just like, you know, if you have a student who wants to play lacrosse, and you don’t have a lacrosse program. That student is just going to find someplace that does.”

It is another way to boost retention of students who otherwise might leave after two years to finish their Honors College degree in Oakland.

Honors education at Pitt-Greensburg is rooted in creation in 1999 of the Academic Village , four living-learning communities serving the most intellectually curious students.

The honors program at Greensburg was formally established in fall 2020 by Frank Wilson, assistant vice president for academic affairs and fellow Pitt-Greensburg faculty members Sheila Confer, William Pamerleau and John Prellwitz.

Pitt in July 2022 announced a multimillion-dollar gift by David C. Frederick and Sophie Lynn to rename the University Honors College and establish the David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt. Frederick is an alumnus (A&S ’83) was Pitt’s first Rhodes Scholar and studied at Oxford.

Honors College admission looks at classroom academics in part but also takes into consideration student performance in an essay assignment and other factors including demonstrated interested in community engagement. Gregerson said students enrolling typically have a 3.5 gpa and up.

Bill Schackner is a TribLive reporter covering higher education. Raised in New England, he joined the Trib in 2022 after 29 years at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where he was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. Previously, he has written for newspapers in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. He can be reached at [email protected] .

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Photo Essay: Celebrating 2024 Commencement

"As you become alumni of HDS, I ask that you take the School's vision, its mission, and the responsibilities of upholding such aspirations with you wherever your journey may lead.

"Harvard Divinity School Class of 2024, we need you. We need religious leaders to help us navigate sorrow and celebrate life's greatest joys."—HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick

Harvard Divinity School celebrated the Class of 2024 during the Multireligious Commencement Service on May 22 and the Diploma Awarding Ceremony on May 23.

Below is a selection of photos featuring our new graduates with their student colleauges, HDS faculty, proud family members and friends, staff, and alumni.

For more pictures of 2024 Commencement, please visit HDS on Instagram .

Graduates make their way into the tent on the Campus Green before the festive Multireligious Commencement Service. / Photo: Justin Knight

The HDS Justice and Music Collective jammed together, singing and opening the Multireligous Commencement Service with their rendition of “This Little Light of Mine.” / Photo: Justin Knight

As a part of the Multireligious Commencement Service, graduating students were invited to share part of a religious text or arrangement that showcases their faith or practice. Here, Amin Qureshi, MTS '24, recited chapter 1, verses 1-7 from the Qur’an as a part of the offerings of wisdom. / Photo: Justin Knight

Francesca Robinson, MDiv '24, and Eve Woldemikel, MDiv candidate, led a powerful singing meditation of Molly Bajot’s “Change Is Coming.” Alongside the HDS Commencement choir and band, their voices were a testament to the transformative power of community imagination. / Photo: Justin Knight

From the Assamese tradition, Twyla Barkakoty, MDiv ‘24, performed a Bihu dance, “Sotote Sokori X Boxontor Janoni,” choreographed by Lakhinandan Lahon. / Photo: Justin Knight

HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick delivered the faculty address during the Multifaith Commencement Service. She spoke about her family and how her experiences with grief, hard work, and joy have informed her time as Dean of Harvard Divinity School. She concluded with a call for love to guide our work and to never to stop believing we can create a better world. / Photo: Caroline Cataldo

Auds Hope Jenkins, MDiv '24, was the class speaker at the Diploma Awarding Ceremony on May 23. Jenkins' address began with the poem, "If I Must Die," by Refaat Alareer, and concluded with a call for graduates to stand in their truth, united with the force of their love. / Photo: Justin Knight

During the Diploma Awarding Ceremony, HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick hands Samirah Jaigirdar, MTS ‘24, her diploma. / Photo: Justin Knight

—by Maddison Tenney, HDS communications editorial assistant

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Welcome to the Frederick Honors College!

We’re glad you’ve chosen to attend pitt and become part of the honors community..

Get to know us by exploring all the resources and opportunities available to you, explore summer opportunities, and reach out to us with any questions you have.

What's Next?

If you haven’t already, set up and start checking your  Pitt email ! Your advisors will email you about how to get ready for fall at your Pitt email address - you don't want to miss your advisors' emails!
Interested first year FHC students may select the Honors Living Learning Community (LLC) in Sutherland Hall as their top preference. Remember, living in the Honors LLC is not a requirement.
You must complete the Honors LLC form through your Pitt housing application under the "LLC" section by June 1.
Take a virtual tour of Sutherland Hall.
If you have any questions about making your housing selection, please contact Panther Central at 412-648-1100.

June & July

The Frederick Honors College advising team will host a number of online information sessions in June and July. The team will talk about how to have a fantastic first year in the Honors College, why all Honors students should consider studying abroad, career opportunities for Honors students, opportunities in research for Honors students and more! You'll be able to ask questions during all of these sessions, as well as schedule one-on-one follow-up chats with your Honors advisor. Watch your Pitt email for upcoming details about these Honors information sessions. 

Stay tuned for more information about Frederick Honors Welcome Week events.

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The David C. Frederick Honors College is expanding to Pitt-Greensburg

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The Honors Program developed by dedicated faculty at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is about to receive a major upgrade through a Pittsburgh campus partnership.

Starting fall 2024, current and incoming students can become members of the newly formed David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg and gain access to the same programming, funding and honors-specific support as their peers in Pittsburgh. The historic collaboration is the result of a profound commitment to improving accessibility to an honors education by the Frederick Honors College and Greensburg honors faculty.

“It is impossible to overstate how exciting this new partnership is for both campuses,” said Nicola Foote, dean of the Frederick Honors College. “The establishment of the Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg will allow a wider range of curious, talented and ambitious students to participate in challenging interdisciplinary learning opportunities and become part of an intellectual community that provides mentorship and support, as well as a curated approach to research, leadership and global and community engagement. This is a major step in the emergence of our school as a regionally and nationally preeminent honors college.”

Honors 101: A brief history

The foundation of honors education at Pitt-Greensburg can be traced back to 1999, when the Academic Village was established to serve as a system of four living-learning communities (LLCs) for the campus’ most intellectually curious students. The LLCs were separated by academic division until 2010, when they became integrated into one interdisciplinary village and served as the campus’ unofficial honors community.

“My long-time involvement at Pitt-Greensburg with the Academic Village and the Honors Program has put me in regular contact, in and out of the classroom, with many of the bright and creative students who have made this such a great place to teach,” said Frank Wilson, assistant vice president for academic affairs for Pitt-Greensburg. “Becoming witness to and partnering with them as they grow intellectually and excel academically is inspiring and rewarding. As a sociologist who is increasingly worried about the future of our social worlds, it is my interaction with these young people that continues to give me reason to keep hope alive.”

Wilson, along with fellow Pitt-Greensburg faculty members Sheila Confer, William Pamerleau and John Prellwitz, took this idea to the next level and became founders of the Honors Program, which they formally established in fall 2020. They placed emphasis on creating a culture of exploration for educators and students alike, focusing on developing opportunities for interdisciplinary studies, collaborative teaching and student leadership.

At the Pittsburgh campus, honors education has experienced changing modalities in recent years. Founded in 1987, the honors college is one of the oldest in the nation, with a unique tradition of inclusive excellence. In 2018, it launched a joint degree program to complement the legacy BPhil degree and moved to a direct-admit model for incoming first-year students.

In July 2022, former Chancellor Patrick Gallagher announced a multimillion-dollar gift by David C. Frederick and Sophie Lynn to rename the University Honors College and establish the David C. Frederick Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh. An alumnus of the honors program under Founding Dean G. Alec Stewart, Frederick (A&S ’83) was Pitt’s first Rhodes Scholar and studied at Oxford University from 1983 to 1986. Frederick has since become one of the country’s most successful appellate lawyers, having argued more than 60 U.S. Supreme Court cases.

[Read more about the Frederick Honors College expansion.]

Paving a two-way street

The idea of creating the Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg emerged following a series of campus visits by leadership and faculty members and was inspired by the goals of the Frederick naming gift.

“David Frederick was clear in committing to the transformative naming gift that his goal was to ensure the Frederick Honors College gained recognition for its inclusive approach to honors education,” said Foote. “This included ensuring that students at Pitt’s regional campuses will have access to honors education. President Gregerson and I have worked together before, and I enormously admire the innovative honors program that has emerged under his leadership, and so collaborating on this partnership felt like a very natural step.

“We are thrilled to see the partnership formally launch and see this collaboration as a reflection of the ambitious vision for student success set by Chancellor Gabel’s revised Plan for Pitt, as well as Provost McCarthy’s commitment to innovation at the regional campuses.”

“We are excited to join our emergent honors program with the Frederick Honors College and are grateful to the leadership of the college and Mr. Frederick for his support,” said Robert Gregerson, president of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. “This is a unique opportunity for Pitt students at regional campuses to participate in an elite honors education. Admission to the Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg will provide them with extensive opportunities for deeper learning, additional experiential options and expansive co-curricular programming.”

A hallmark of the Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg will be cross-campus networking among instructors and students. Foote and Gregerson believe modern technology will facilitate easy collaboration and encourage faculty from both campuses to develop and co-teach honors courses.

“This partnership will enhance the Pitt-Greensburg faculty’s abilities to individualize instruction to adapt and respond to student interests and needs in creating learning opportunities that support community organizations and help address pressing community needs,” said Prellwitz, associate professor of communication. “I am inspired when I enjoy the privilege of being present with students as they address problems from environmental challenges to cultural issues and enduring disciplinary questions with curiosity, passion and a will to make things better.”

Students who complete the honors joint degree or the highly prestigious Bachelor of Philosophy degree will graduate from both their school of admission and the Frederick Honors College and have access to additional research, community engagement and other co-curricular opportunities as well as funding to support their learning outside of the classroom.

“They will have access to programs and scholarship advising provided on the Pittsburgh campus,” said Pamerleau, professor of philosophy. “And for our most motivated students, the Bachelor of Philosophy program will allow students to pursue research projects that will cultivate their intellectual growth and boost their academic credentials.”

Giving Greensburg a competitive edge

Pitt-Greensburg students have only just begun to showcase their successes to the wider Pitt community, with Kaylee Huber and Ethan Crosby becoming the first students from a regional campus to receive Brackenridge Fellowship s .

“We have always known how special our students are at Pitt-Greensburg,” said Confer, director of the Academic Village and instructor of theatre arts and first-year studies. “This partnership will allow us to show their accomplishments to an even larger audience.”

More recently, Madison Vogel, a Pitt-Greensburg senior majoring in psychology, received a Gilman Scholarship . Dean Foote believes access to the Frederick Honors College’s Office of National Scholarships, Office of Honors Research and other resources will increase the number of competitive awards earned by Greensburg students.

“We know that there are incredible students at the Greensburg campus,” she said. “Through enhanced access to the Frederick Honors College’s national scholarships advising, we are hopeful that we will soon be advancing Greensburg candidates for all of the most prestigious fellowships, including the Fulbright, Truman, Rhodes and Marshall. Our goal is ultimately to win a Rhodes from Pitt-Greensburg.”

— Terry Rowley, photography by Tom Altany

Michele V. Manuel is the first woman U. S. Steel Dean of the Swanson School of Engineering

Pitt-bradford earned its 14th consecutive military friendly designation, pitt is updating its campus master plan.

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Honors
The David C. Frederick Honors College application process for first-year students entering in Fall '24 is now closed as the December 1 deadline has passed. For helpful info regarding the 2024 application process, ... The Frederick Honors College essay can be submitted with your application. This can be the University of Pittsburgh Application ...
PDF Frederick Honors Degree Program Essay
Frederick Honors Degree Program Essay. Using the space provided, please reply to the following essay prompt: If you could change anything in the world, what would it be? Explain why and how you would change it. Your essay should be no longer than 500 words. Frederick Honors College University of Pittsburgh. Created Date. 1/7/2021 10:04:12 AM.
First-Year Admissions
Admission to the Frederick Honors College is competitive; we enroll approximately 700 new first-year students into the Honors Degree program every fall. When you apply through the University of Pittsburgh's application process, the Common App, or the Coalition App, you will be asked to select and respond to an essay prompt, which allows us to learn more about you and your intentions to be an ...
A Great Pitt Honors College Essay Example
The area that could use the most improvement in this essay is the last paragraph dedicated to Pitt. Although it's great that this student took the extra step to include how attending the Honors College will allow them to achieve their goals, the paragraph is a bit vague. To improve it, there should be more specific details, about classes ...
Honors Degree
Honors Degree Requirements. Complete 18 academic credits of Frederick Honors College-approved courses. Earn 6 experiential credits (includes research, independent study, study abroad programs, internships, and co-ops) Complete the Honors Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) Earn a GPA of 3.250 or higher.
David C. Frederick Honors College
University of Pittsburgh David C. Frederick Honors College 3600 Cathedral of Learning Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-624-6880 www.honorscollege.pitt.edu.
Honors Degree
Admission for internal transfer students (current Pitt students in all campuses) is conducted by the David C. Frederick Honors College and is based on an evaluation of a current Pitt transcript with minimum GPA of 3.50 after completion of two semesters (24 credits), review of an essay prompt, and one academic letter of recommendation from an ...
How do I apply for consideration for Frederick Honors College?
You can do it right as you are filling out your Pitt application!On the application, mark "yes" for your interest in Frederick Honors College and respond to the Frederick Honors College essay prompt that will show up on your application.
Honors College
Honors College. Program website. Program Manager: Dr. Bruce Thompson Email: [email protected] Phone: 301.846.2535. Honors is an academic enrichment program that can be incorporated into most transfer degree programs at FCC. All honors learning is designed to go deeper, broader, or more complex, and the program strives to develop emerging ...
Admission Requirements
These essays will be reviewed by University Admissions Office who make admission decisions at this point. If you are already a freshman or sophomore in the BSN program and you are interested in the Honors curriculum option, Pitt's David C. Frederick Honors College still admits a limited number of upperclassmen into its degree program ...
How to Write the University of Pittsburgh Essays 2023-2024
An essay of 550-650 words should be the sweet spot for saying what you want without dragging it on. International Applicants. Describe an experience where you had to adapt to a new environment (i.e. a different culture, situation, or way of thinking). (1500 characters recommended, about 200-400 words)
Admissions
The David C. Frederick Honors College is located on the 34-37th floors of the Cathedral of Learning on the University of Pittsburgh's campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The 34th floor houses our Student Engagement Center and Academic Advising Center. Students can utilize shared communal spaces to study, prepare a snack, and have class on 35.
David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg
To remain a member of David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg, students must maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA and be making regular progress toward the completion of their chosen honors program. Students whose GPA falls below 3.5 will be on probation for one semester with the expectation that they will restore their cumulative GPA to 3.5.
High School, Transfer & Current Student Applicants to Honors College
3.51-3.91. Transfer students applying to Towson University who will enter with 60 or more credits must apply to the Honors College at the same time as they apply to TU, as they will no longer be eligible for admission once they become current TU students. Transferring students with fewer than 30 credits are evaluated based on the items listed ...
2023-24 University of Pittsburgh Supplemental Essay Guide
University of Pittsburgh 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations. *Please note: the information below relates to last year's essay prompts. As soon as the 2024-25 prompts beomce available, we will be updating this guide -- stay tuned! The Requirements: 1 essay of 200-300 words. Supplemental Essay Type (s): Oddball.
Length of Honors Essays?
I think H2P said that the Honor's essay should be a normal structured essay at 650 word length cap. hailtopitt1787 October 22, 2019, 6:15pm 5. @coryindahouse there is no length limit but use our tips while you're writing! Pitt Honors Essay Tips: -Use the essays to tell us something your application, grades, and test scores cannot.
Pitt's David C. Frederick Honors College expands to Greensburg campus
The University of Pittsburgh's David C. Frederick Honors College is expanding to include high-achieving students enrolled at its suburban Greensburg campus in Hempfield, officials announced ...
Honors College
Applicants must be eligible to join the Frederick Community College Honors Program according to the guidelines stated in the FCC handbook: Students are awarded $1,000; GPA equivalent to 3.6 or higher; Or SAT Score = 1100 overall (out of 1600) with at least 550 on verbal,
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David C. Frederick Honors College 3600 Cathedral of Learning Pittsburgh, PA 15260. 412-624-6880 Fax: ...
University of Pittsburgh (Frederick Honors College)
He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid. College Transitions is a smarter approach to college admission. College Transitions offers a data-driven menu of services that help students identify ...
Photo Essay: Celebrating 2024 Commencement
"Harvard Divinity School Class of 2024, we need you. We need religious leaders to help us navigate sorrow and celebrate life's greatest joys."—HDS Dean Marla F. Frederick. Harvard Divinity School celebrated the Class of 2024 during the Multireligious Commencement Service on May 22 and the Diploma Awarding Ceremony on May 23.
Welcome to the Frederick Honors College!
David C. Frederick Honors College 3600 Cathedral of Learning Pittsburgh, PA 15260. 412-624-6880 Fax: ...
The David C. Frederick Honors College is expanding to Pitt-Greensburg
The Honors Program developed by dedicated faculty at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is about to receive a major upgrade through a Pittsburgh campus partnership. Starting fall 2024, current and incoming students can become members of the newly formed David C. Frederick Honors College at Pitt-Greensburg and gain access to the same ...

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Total Credits: 24

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