Honors

Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program: Learning and Leading with Purpose

In the best tradition of the liberal arts, the Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program at Maryville College offers an academic and co-curricular experience designed for curious, socially conscious students dedicated to leadership, service, and meaningful inquiry. The program empowers students to learn and lead purposefully within and beyond their communities, supporting the College’s liberal arts tradition and mission to grow in wisdom, search for truth, work for justice, and serve with creativity and compassion.

Honors students participate in interdisciplinary seminars, mentorship, research, and immersive experiences that cultivate deep intellectual engagement and social responsibility. Community-engaged scholarship, travel-study opportunities, and reflective seminars challenge students to explore complex issues, collaborate across differences, and grow as ethical, informed leaders.

By combining academic achievement with community and global engagement, the Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program aims to prepare graduates who can think critically, act compassionately, and lead with integrity, always with a clear purpose.

Program Goals

1. Demonstrate ethical and value-driven leadership based on justice, service, and community responsibility.

a. Students will articulate and apply ethical theories to real-world leadership dilemmas.
b. Students will engage in applied learning by addressing a complex, real-world challenge through a wicked problem, case study, or other appropriate experiential method that promotes ethical action and meaningful impact.

2. Demonstrate advanced critical thinking and reflective insight into personal identity, worldview, and vocation.

a. Students will write a personal leadership philosophy informed by interdisciplinary perspectives and reflective practice.
b. Students will evaluate the influence of cultural, religious, and philosophical perspectives on their sense of purpose.

3. Lead collaboratively across diverse communities with cultural and global awareness.

a. Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate and collaborate across cultural differences.
b. Students will apply culturally informed leadership strategies to real-world challenges in global or intercultural contexts.

4. Students will engage in faculty-mentored research or creative inquiry, demonstrating the ability to design, conduct, and communicate original work that contributes to the understanding of complex problems.

a. Students will effectively communicate their findings or creative work to academic and public audiences, demonstrating clarity, relevance, and reflective insight into the broader implications of their work.

Honors Curricular Requirements

Level	Credits	Course Type	Typical Timing
100	3	HON 120H Honors Seminar: Self-Discovery and Leadership	First year, spring semester
100 or 200	3	Honors designated course: Either in the major, minor, core, or as an elective	Second, third or fourth years
300	3	Honors Travel Study	Second year (spring break or May term)
	3	Honors designated course: Either in the major, minor, core, or as an elective	Second, third or fourth years
	3	Honors Thesis •May be taken for 6 credit hours depending on the requirements of the major	Third or fourth year •Consult academic advisor
400	3	ETH 490H Philosophical and Theological Foundations of Ethical Thought – Honors Section	Third or fourth year •Consult academic advisor
	0-1	MCW 400H Honors Senior Year Seminar	Fourth year
	18-19

Completion of at least 18 credit hours of honors-designated courses and a minimum grade point average of 3.4 will earn an Honors diploma.

Honors Program Enrichment Experiences
The Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program fosters a strong sense of community, service, leadership, and mentorship. Through these interconnected experiences, students build meaningful relationships and engage deeply across class years and disciplines, creating a vibrant and supportive honors community.

1. Annual Retreats
2. Cohort-Building Activities
3. Speaker Sessions and Intellectual Engagement
4. Community-engaged service and scholarship

Program Eligibility
Admission to the Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program is selective and based on a competitive application process. The program follows a cohort model, and space is limited. Eligible first-year students will be invited to apply. Current Maryville College students and transfer students who meet the criteria may request an application from the Honors Program Coordinator.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

First-Year Students

1. GPA with ACT or SAT Scores

o High school GPA of at least 3.5
o ACT scores (≥ 25) or SAT scores (≥ 1200)
o Demonstrated leadership and/or sustained service experience lasting at least 6 months

1. Examples may include student organization officer, athletic team captain, volunteer project leader, community service initiative, or entrepreneurial venture

2. GPA without ACT or SAT Scores

o High school GPA of at least 3.75
o Demonstrated leadership and/or sustained service experience lasting at least 6 months

1. Examples may include student organization officer, athletic team captain, volunteer project leader, community service initiative, or entrepreneurial venture

Current Maryville College Students & Transfer Students

1. Academic Progress

o Completion of at least 28, but no more than 36, college credit hours at the time of application
o College GPA of at least 3.3

2. Recommendation

o A recommendation from a faculty member, staff member, or academic advisor highlighting:

▪ Leadership potential and meaningful engagement in the college or broader community
▪ Academic strengths and readiness for Honors-level work
▪ Alignment with Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program values: empathy, resilience, collaboration, and dedication to doing good

Note: Participation in the Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program does not include an academic scholarship. Students may still qualify for other institutional scholarships and financial aid.

Honors Program Good Standing Policy

To remain in good standing within the Myrtle Coker Wilkinson Honors Program, students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 beginning in the sophomore year, with no single semester GPA falling below 3.0.

If a student’s GPA falls below these thresholds, the Honors Director will review the student’s academic record and may issue a Good Standing Warning for one semester. During this time, the student will be encouraged to meet with the Honors Director or the Academic Success Center to discuss strategies for improvement.

Students who raise their GPA above the required minimum by the end of the following semester will return to good standing. Students who remain below the required GPA for two consecutive semesters may be dismissed from the program.