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Director: John Mark Adrian
The Peake Honors Program offers academically-motivated students further opportunities for engagement and growth through participation in intensive, interdisciplinary courses and enriching out-of-class activities. Students completing the program not only gain the skills associated with advanced study, but also earn the distinction of graduating “With College Honors.”
Admission to the Peake Honors Program is generally granted to qualified incoming freshmen with an academic GPA of 3.5 or above and a combined SAT score of 1200 or better (Math + Critical Reading). Sophomores, juniors, and transfer students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above are also eligible to apply for admission to the program. These students should provide a letter of recommendation from a faculty member at either UVA Wise or their previous college. Any student who is not accepted into the Peake Honors Program may submit a letter of appeal to the Director that will be reviewed by the Honors Committee.
Students in the Peake Honors Program are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above. They are also required to complete the following program of study:
- 9 hours of 3000- or 4000-level Honors Courses (only 3 hours of which may be taken within a student’s major);
- 8 Honors events; and
- 3 hours of an Honors Senior Capstone Project OR 2 independent research projects completed at any point during their time in the program.
Honors seminars are small, discussion-oriented courses with more rigorous reading, writing, and speaking components than average courses. The classes usually revolve around specialized topics and are often interdisciplinary in nature. In order to allow for flexible and innovative course offerings, most Honors seminars are taught as special topics courses that vary from semester to semester. Please see the Program Director for up-to-date information about current and upcoming course offerings.
Recent offerings have included: Religion and Science, Hamlet and Its Influence, Morality and Capitalism, Propaganda, The Black Plague, Race, Class and Gender in Latin America, The Commercial Future of Space Exploration, The Italian Renaissance, The Knight in American Culture, The Year 1968
HON 3950: Special Topics (3)
HON 4950: Special Topics (3)
HON 4990: Senior Capstone (3)
An independent, interdisciplinary research project culminating in a paper and a public presentation in a special Honors colloquium.
The Honors Program offers access to a variety of on-campus and off-campus events designed to broaden students’ understanding of and appreciation for a wide range of arts and sciences. Students may attend lectures, plays, and musical performances, visit museums or historic landmarks, participate in a service project, or travel abroad. Qualifying events include honors-specific events as well as general college events designated as “cultural activities.” (Note: if a student attends a college-designated “cultural activity,” this event cannot serve as both a Liberal Arts Core cultural activity and as an Honors Event.) The student should attend the event and also submit a 1-2 page written reflection/critique to the Program Director. Participation in 8 approved events (or 2 per year) over the course of one’s academic career is required.
Senior Capstone
During their final semester of study, Honors students will undertake a semester-long, interdisciplinary research project. Working closely with at least 2 faculty members from different disciplines, the student will generate a topic, conduct research, compose a paper, and present his/her findings at a special Honors colloquium. Prior to beginning the Capstone Project, the student must submit a proposal to the Program Director that will then be submitted to the Honors Committee for approval. Note: the same project cannot be used to fulfill a departmental capstone and an Honors capstone.
Independent Projects
As an alternative, a student may design and complete two smaller, independent research projects at any point during their time in the Honors Program. Such projects could include an independent study with a faculty member, an additional research paper in a regular class, a study abroad journal or presentation, the writing of a play or other creative manuscript, or any other suitable academic/creative exercise. Projects must be approved beforehand by the Program Director and should culminate in a paper, presentation, or other tangible display of knowledge.
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