Castle Scholars Honors Program
Manhattanville seeks to challenge high-achieving students and encourages them to explore new areas of interest beyond the normal intellectual parameters during their entire undergraduate career.
The Castle Scholars Honors Program
The Castle Scholars Honors Program offers students of exceptional ability a broader and more intensive program of study than the usual college curriculum. It provides motivated students in any major field with challenging, cross-disciplinary courses that encourage their academic and personal growth. Participation in the Castle Scholars Program encourages intellectual exchange among students and faculty and fosters independent initiative in academic and creative realms. Castle Scholars are well prepared for success in graduate and professional schools, as well as in the professional world.
Honors seminars are the core of our program. Manhattanville’s most engaging faculty offer innovative and often interdisciplinary seminars that are limited to 15 students, a format that ensures in-depth discussion and exploration of the subject matter. In addition, many of our seminars incorporate experiential learning through trips into New York City and other sites in the region. These classes provide high-achieving students with the opportunity to explore areas within and without their intended major, and all of them will fulfill some of Manhattanville College’s General Education Requirements.
Benefits
Castle Scholars in good standing are accorded the following privileges:
Eligibility
Incoming first-year students with a demonstrated record of achievement based on the following criteria are eligible to apply:
- A combined SAT score of 1160 or greater (critical reading and math), or an ACT score of 25 or greater
- A high school GPA of 3.4 or greater
- An exceptional record of extracurricular activity or unique achievement
If incoming first-year students have achieved two or more of the above, or if they feel strongly that the Castle Scholars Honors Program is right for them, they may apply to join the honors program.
Transfer students with up to 60 credits may also apply; students who have been enrolled in honors courses at other institutions should consult with the Castle Scholars Honors Program Director regarding approval of transfer courses towards completion of the Castle Scholars Honors Program.
Continuing students who have earned at least a 3.6 cumulative GPA at Manhattanville by the end of their second semester are eligible to apply for admission to the program, up to the fall semester of their junior year.
Castle Scholars Honors Program Requirements
Program requirements consist of five components in the following categories:
- An Honors First Year Seminar (students who join the program after their first year will substitute a 3000-level CSCH seminar for this requirement.)
- 2 3000-level CSCH seminars (for sophomores, juniors and seniors)
- 1 Independent Research Project OR Internship, both subject to approval by the Castle Scholars Honors Committee
- An approved, credit-bearing service project, which can be fulfilled in one of two ways (students may take both):
- CSCH 4500 - fall semester Castle Scholars service course organizing Human Rights Awareness Day (1.5 credits)
- CSCH 4501 - spring semester Castle Scholars service course organizing the Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Fair (1.5 credits)
- CSCH 3080 Senior Capstone (1.5 credits): Coordinated by the Honors Program faculty, students will participate in a formal program evaluation of a college-wide program and will share the results of their research at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Fair.
In addition, Castle Scholars must:
- Earn a grade of B or better in Honors courses in order to receive Honors credit
- Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 or higher
- Participate actively in the Castle Scholars Honors Program by attending at least two events per semester
- Remain in good standing in their non-academic activities
- Be positive role models for academic integrity
Departmental Honors
Several departments at the College offer an honors program within the major, to which qualified undergraduates are ordinarily admitted in their fourth semester, with a review for continuation in the program at the end of the sixth semester. Individual departments set the standards for acceptance into these programs. Departments that do not have a separate honors program may offer the award of “departmental honors”, which is conferred upon qualified students at graduation and is based on a certain level of achievement in major courses and in the senior thesis.
Dean’s List
The Dean’s List honors full-time students who achieve at least a 3.6 average during a particular semester. To be eligible, students must complete at least fifteen semester hours, with a minimum of twelve hours taken for letter grades. This achievement is noted on students’ transcripts for each semester in which they fulfill these requirements.
Latin Honors
At Commencement, the College awards Latin Honors.
These awards are based on the following cumulative grade point averages:
- cum laude – 3.7
- magna cum laude – 3.8
- summa cum laude – 3.9