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- Brinson Honors College
Brinson Honors College
Western Carolina University's Brinson Honors College provides an academic community in which high-achieving students challenge themselves to meet and exceed their own academic goals and to carry that success beyond graduation. As the oldest and one of the largest residential honors colleges in the University of North Carolina System, the Brinson Honors College at WCU attracts students from diverse backgrounds with diverse aspirations who live and learn together and push each other to excellence.
Honors Students
in Undergrad Research Nationally
Average Class Size
A Living-Learning Community
Join the Brinson Honors College
WCU's high-achieving freshman applicants are offered admission into the Brinson Honors College in their first year. Upperclassmen who did not enter as freshmen may apply to join the Brinson Honors College if their GPA meets minimum standards.
Admission Criteria
Academics
WCU's Brinson Honors College goes beyond the typical honors "core curriculum" approach to allow students to design their own honors courses working directly with faculty in their field of study.
About Honors Academics
Honors Community
Accepted Honors students are invited to live in Balsam Hall, one of WCU's newest residence halls. In addition, students participate in honors community activities designed by the student-run Brinson Honors College Board.
About the CommunityEngaged Learning
WCU: A National Research Leader
Undergraduate Research
For the past decade, Western Carolina University has been among the Top 10 institutions in the country for the number of student research abstracts accepted to the National Conference for Undergraduate Research. Students team with faculty to conduct research in their field and practice their research presentations as part of WCU's Undergraduate Research Expo.
Preparing students for advanced professional degrees
Pre-Professional Studies
Many of WCU's Brinson Honors College students plan to go on to post-graduate studies in professional fields such as healthcare, engineering and law. Honors Advisors provide specialized guidance to these students, including assisting them in the design of coursework, projects and internships that will help them compete for entry into graduate level programs.