What is the Honors Program?

The Honors Program is an intensive course of academic study that's specially designed for students with high academic ability. The Honors Program brings together exceptional students and faculty who work together, in a spirit of shared inquiry, to pursue the highest standards of scholastic achievement. Students who successfully complete the Honors Program will earn either an Honors Certificate or an Honors Diploma, depending on the number of Honors credits they earn.
 

What is the difference between an Honors Certificate and an Honors Diploma?

The Associate in Arts Degree (AA), which is designed for students who intend to transfer to senior colleges and universities, requires a total of sixty (60) semester hours. Students who earn an AA Degree with at least fifteen (15) hours of designated Honors courses (along with fifteen [15] hours of Service Learning) will receive an Honors Certificate; students who earn an AA Degree with at least twenty-four (24) hours of designated Honors courses (along with twenty-five [25] hours of Service Learning) will receive an Honors Diploma. To be eligible for either the Honors Certificate or the Honors Diploma, students must earn an overall minimum Grade Point Average of 3.5.
 

What are the differences between Honors courses and regular college courses?

All of the regular college courses in the Arts and Sciences at IRSC provide a solid academic foundation for students intending to transfer to senior colleges and universities after they earn their Associate in Arts Degrees. However, Honors courses offer students with high academic ability exceptional opportunities to develop their intellectual capacities well beyond the scope of the standard AA degree program.

Honors courses are open only to students who qualify for the Honors Program, and they are taught by specially selected members of the Honors Faculty. Honors courses typically have much smaller enrollments than regular college courses, and they are typically much more intellectually challenging. Honors courses are often conducted as discussion seminars, and they generally emphasize the principle of shared inquiry between students and faculty. All Honors courses are designated as such on student transcripts. Additional information about Honors courses, including links to syllabi for particular courses, can be accessed via the link below.
 

What are the benefits of being in the Honors Program?

Students who are enrolled in the Honors Program will enjoy numerous benefits, including:
 

Once enrolled in the Honors Program, Honors students must make reasonable progress toward their degree; part-time Honors students must complete a minimum of nine (9) credit hours per calendar year, and full-time Honors students must complete a minimum of eighteen (18) credit hours per calendar year.
 

To earn an Associate in Arts Degree (AA), students must earn a total of sixty (60) semester hours. To earn an Honors Certificate in conjunction with the AA Degree, Honors students must complete at least fifteen (15) hours of designated Honors Courses with an overall minimum Grade Point Average of 3.5, along with fifteen (15) hours of service learning.
 

To earn an Honors Diploma in conjunction with the AA Degree, Honors students must complete at least twenty-four (24) hours of designated Honors Courses with an overall minimum Grade Point Average of 3.5, along with twenty-five (25) hours of service learning. In addition, students who graduate with an Honors Diploma will complete a capstone project to be presented to the Honors Faculty at the completion of their academic program.
 

Am I eligible for the Honors Program?

It doesn't matter whether you're a dual enrollment high school student, a high school graduate, or a student already enrolled in college--you're still eligible for the IRSC Honors Program as long as you meet any one of the criteria described below:
 

There are two simple steps in the application process: first, complete a brief application form and submit two letters of recommendation, and second, visit the campus on an appointed date to be interviewed by members of the Honors Faculty and to write an impromptu essay on a topic developed by the Honors Committee. Complete details about the application process are available via the link below.
 

Are the Honors faculty as exceptional as the students in the Honors Program?

They certainly are! The members of the Honors Faculty were carefully selected from among the most distinguished scholars on the IRSC campus. Most of them have earned doctorates in their fields, and all of them have substantial records of outstanding scholarly accomplishments. Each of the members of the Honors Faculty maintains an extensive Faculty WebPage describing his or her academic credentials and interests in detail; those Faculty WebPages can be accessed via the link below.
 

How can I get more information about the Honors Program?

If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact Dr. Judith Megaw, the Honors Program Coordinator. She can be reached by telephone at (772) 462-7492 or by e-mail via the link below.