INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS -- Honors

Honors courses enable qualified, highly motivated students to enrich their study through challenging honors course work. Honors courses differ from regular sections in that your goals and assignments are more centered on your evolving interests. You will be encouraged to think independently and critically, to participate actively in discussions and to learn in collaboration with your fellow students. Honors courses stimulate broader and deeper consideration of the subject matter and encourage the exploration of the interrelationships of ideas across disciplines. Each honors course will have a special transcript identifier. Universities and employers favor students who seek the greater challenge offered through honors courses.

The approach to honors courses may vary from campus to campus. At some campuses, special sections are designated as honors courses. Some campuses offer specified combinations of honors courses scheduled and designed in coordination with one another for the purpose of interdisciplinary study. "Honors options," in which honors students take part in a regular course section while also completing a special honors component of the course, are also offered. Honors contract courses, in which the student and instructor agree to a particular independent study, are also offered. Honors faculty advisors are available at each campus to aid you with course selection. The Counseling Services Center can provide you with further information.

Honors Enrollment Requirements
To be considered for the Honors Core curriculum or an honors course, you must meet at least one of the following requirements: (1) present life experience, special aptitude or interest that indicates potential for success in honors courses; (2) honors-level scores on NVCC placement tests; (3) a cumulative GPA of 3.50 at NVCC; (4) graduation in the top 10 percent of your high school class; (5) score of 1200 or more on the new SAT (verbal and math); or (6) a written recommendation from an NVCC faculty member.

Due to their content, certain honors courses may have special additional prerequisites; for this information, see the Honors Committee Chair, the faculty member teaching the course, or the Honors counselor at the campus offering the course. To remain eligible for honors courses, students must maintain an acceptable level of academic achievement.

Honors Core Curriculum
The Honors Core curriculum provides a comprehensive educational experience for honors students and allows them to interact as a community of learners. Students may satisfy the requirements of both the Honors Core and any degree program by enrolling in the honors sections of courses or electives within the degree program requirements. If you complete at least 18 hours of specified honors courses, the completion of the Honors Core Curriculum will be designated on your transcript and on your diploma. You will also receive the Honors Certificate of Completion. This represents a significant enhancement of your academic credentials.

First Year	1st Semester	2nd Semester
Honors ENG 111-112 1	3	3
Honors humanities, social sciences, or math/science	3-4	3-4
Honors College Success Skills (SDV 100) (strongly recommended)	1
Second Year	1st Semester	2nd Semester
Honors elective 1	3
Honors Seminar 2		3

¹If you take a regular section of ENG 111 the first semester, and then decide to pursue the Honors Core, you may substitute any other honors course in English.

²To take the Honors Seminar, it is recommended that you have completed a minimum of 3 semester hours in honors English and 3 semester hours of the humanities, social sciences, and math/science honors unit.