Honors Program Mission
The Honors program mission is to develop exceptional teaching and learning experiences for students at Chesapeake College. Honors program courses, Honors contracts, and Honors events offer a variety of opportunities for students and faculty to interact with and learn from one another. The purpose is to assist students in taking personal ownership of their education and in engaging more fully, not only with course material, but with their fellow students, faculty mentors, and the local community.
Through experiential and intellectually engaging course projects, off-campus retreats and travel to national conferences, the program seeks to provide engaging, enjoyable, and relevant learning experiences that will equip students to succeed at Chesapeake and beyond.
While students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement are strongly recommended for the Honors Program, previous academic performance is not the only criterion for acceptance in the Program. The desire and motivation to excel, as well as intellectual curiosity, are also important factors.
Honors Program Requirements
Students wishing to graduate as Honors Scholars must meet the following qualifications:
- Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above during their tenure at Chesapeake College;
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Complete a minimum of five Honors courses (totaling 15 credits or higher).
- Students must earn a final grade of “B” or higher to receive Honors credit for each course.
- In the process of earning 15 Honors credits, students must complete one or more Honors courses in at least three of the following discipline areas:
English
Mathematics
Fine Arts/Culture
Natural Science
Social/Behavioral Science
Career & Professional Studies
Upon successful completion of all graduation and Honors Program requirements, Honors Scholars will receive special recognition at graduation, including an Honors certificate and engraved medallion. Also, student transcripts will have an Honors Program graduate designation.
Honors Program Recommendations
It is recommended that all aspiring Honors Scholars who wish to earn a Bachelor’s degree take the Honors 101, Honors Vision Seminar. This course is specifically designed to assist students in identify their long-term educational goals and to equip them to achieve those goals through the development of an academic portfolio. That portfolio will be used in applications to four-year schools, scholarships and grants.
Enrollment in Honors Classes
Students may register for Honors courses (including contracts) with one of the following:
- A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. A high school GPA may be used for incoming students.
- Special permission from the instructor.
Honors Course Descriptions
The syllabus and course objectives for an Honors course or Honors contract must clearly differentiate the objectives of the Honors section from objectives for non-Honors students. It is expected that these objectives will reflect increased emphasis on development of critical thinking skills, student application, analysis of material, and creativity. Although specific objectives will differ for each course, as determined by the instructor, an Honors course is expected to meet the following broad criteria:
- The course will be seminar or practicum based, either through small groups or individual research, where students participate in guided instruction allowing for greater student responsibility and creativity in the learning process.
- An Honors course may include such methodologies as peer collaboration, field research, self-guided projects, reports, presentations to peers and faculty, engagement with more challenging texts, and other similar assignments.
