Honors Program
Are you academically strong and want a challenge? Do you want to study courses in your major in greater depth? Do you want an advantage when transferring to another college or university? Blue Ridge Community College’s Honors Program may be for you!
Acceptance into the Honors Program
Currently Enrolled BRCC Students
Students enrolled at Blue Ridge Community College must meet the following requirements:
- Complete at least 12 hours of college credit
- Maintain a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA
- Obtain recommendations from 2 Blue Ridge Community College instructors
Newly Enrolled High School Students
Students newly enrolled from high school must meet the following requirements:
- Top 10% of the student’s graduating class
- Minimum 1650 SAT score or minimum 24 ACT score or minimum COMPASS scores of 81 in reading, 76 in writing, and 47 in algebra
- Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA in high school
Newly Enrolled Non-Traditional Students
The Honors Program Director will consider past academic performance, life experiences, and other factors when a newly enrolled non-traditional student applies to the Honors Program. The student must submit a letter outlining why he or she should be admitted to the program.
Students with special circumstances – Acceptance is at the Honor Program Director’s discretion, and if granted, will be a provisional acceptance until grades are posted at the end of the semester.
Graduation from the Honors Program
- Complete 3 courses along with the Honors Contract requirements for the course
- Complete 2 eight-week Honors Seminars (1 credit each)
- Submit the Honors Program Graduation Application
- Graduate with a minimum 3.4 cumulative GPA
Recognition of Honors Work
All courses with Honors Contracts that the student completes with a grade of B or better will be marked as Honors courses on the student’s transcript. Students do not need to graduate from the Honors Program in order to take courses with Honors Contracts; however, they must maintain a cumulative 3.2 GPA in order to be eligible to take Honors courses.
Graduates of the BRCC Honors Program will receive special recognition at graduation and will have this distinction noted on their transcripts.
Honors Contracts
Honors work takes place through Honors Contracts made with a faculty member in a class he or she is currently teaching. Students must be enrolled in the course to be eligible to do honors work in the course. Any student who qualifies for the Honors Program can create an Honors Contract for any class with the instructor’s cooperation. Upon completion of the requirements of the Honors Contract and earning a grade of B or higher in the course, the student will receive Honors credit for the course. The actual Honors Contract is a short document prepared by the student in collaboration with the course instructor that changes the course into an Honors course.
To begin the process of creating an Honors Contract, the student will meet with the instructor before the course begins or shortly thereafter. When the instructor and student have agreed upon the terms of the Honors Contract, they should fill out an Honors Contract Proposal form. This form must be submitted to the Honors Program Director by the fourth week of the semester.
Instructors often, but not always, agree to substitute the Honors Contract work for a significant course assignment or weight it heavily in calculating a final course grade. Honors work should be of special interest to the student and involve more time and effort than typical course assignments. While many Honors Contracts may involve writing a paper, this is not always required. Fieldwork or other assignments may be an appropriate basis for the project.
Honors Seminars
Honors Seminars (HUM 195 – Honors Program Seminar – 2nd 8-weeks course)
Each fall and spring semester, a one credit-hour Honors Program Seminar will be offered during the second 8 weeks. Topics and projects will vary by semester. The course is graded on a pass/fail basis.
To apply or ask questions, contact Dr. Julia Lewis, Honors Program Director at lewisj@brcc.edu or at (540) 453-2272.
