"Cold Mountain" author Charles Frazier meets with Honors students in the Reynolds Hall lobby.

The Special Studies option works for many students, including pre-professional students, but it will not work for students in specially accredited programs such as education or nursing. 

Requirements

All Special Studies students must complete the Liberal Studies Program. For the B.A., students must complete the modern foreign language requirement for WCU B.A. programs. Read more about the Special Studies Program.

"Fast Track" Approval

Since 2004, Honors students have had the option to get “fast track” approval for Special Studies degrees. Of course, Special Studies Honors students can complete Honors requirements and graduate with The Honors College diploma. 

To gain approval for a Special Studies degree, the Honors student must:

1. Begin the process by consulting with a primary advisor (check with Dean Railsback to determine who this will be).
2. Work with the primary advisor to create a Special Studies degree proposal, which will include the completed Special Studies Program Form for Honors Students (PDF) and all required signatures, a list of all courses needed to reach at least 120 total hours for the degree (including Liberal Studies), and a statement (usually one page) from the student that explains how the proposed Special Studies degree will meet that student’s professional plans after graduation (career or graduate school).
3. Once the Special Studies degree is approved, the student must follow the plan and all courses required in order to graduate.

For more information or to get started, contact Dean Railsback at 828-227-7383.