How to Apply
How can I participate in the Richland Honors College?
Becoming part of the Honors College is as easy as enrolling in an honors designated course that matches your particular interests or educational needs.
- Enroll in one or more Honors courses identified in the Richland Course Schedule. Qualifications are usually the same as for any credit course in the schedule.
- Remember, these are smaller, discussion-oriented classes emphasizing reading, writing, and collaboration with your peers.
- Scan the list of courses provided in the Academic Enrichment Brochure, printed each fall and spring semesters, or consult the list here on the Honors pages.
- When you successfully complete the course, it will be flagged as “Honors” on your college transcript.
If you need more help, contact the Honors College in the Academic Enrichment Office and an honors advisor will help you decide the best choices for your academic plan.
If all you want is to take a few honors courses because you like the format or the challenge, welcome aboard – but if you want to stretch your education wings a bit more – consider applying to become an Honors College Scholar and graduate with an Honors College Scholar designation on your transfer transcript.
The Honors College Curriculum consists of at least 21 credit hours of Honors designated courses. Three theme-based mandated courses plus four additional honors courses that represent at least one course from each of the tiers of the DCCCD 2009 core curriculum.
The three mandated Honors College courses will be based on the following three themes: **
- Social Justice and the Diversity of the Human Condition – Humanities 1315/2319
- Stories that Shape our Lives – English 1302/2333/2343
- Building Sustainable Local and World Community which will also be the Capstone Experience– this course should be taken the latter semesters of study before graduation and can be any humanities or social science course with an honors designation using this theme
The Honors capstone experience completed as part of the “Understanding and Building Sustainable Local and World Community” course should ideally be completed in the latter semesters before graduation. The capstone requirements include:
- The completion of an honors academic portfolio (students will receive a list of requirements when they are admitted to the Honors College with the understanding that the portfolio must be completed before graduation).
- Completion of a project that includes some form of community engagement and incorporates activities that demonstrate an understanding of the three basic elements of sustainability: Social Justice and Diversity, Environmental Stewardship, and Economic Responsibility.
The four additional honors courses required to complete the Honors College Curriculum includes at least one courses from each of the tiers of the DCCCD approved core curriculum of transfer courses.
SO - If you were successful in that first honors class experience and want to be an Honors College Scholar follow the simple process listed here:
- Successfully complete one of mandated honors theme-based courses, or be within six weeks of that course completion.** (either the Humanities or the English course)
- Complete the student Honors College Application and return it with your essay and two letters of recommendation to the Honors College in the Academic Enrichment Office.
- Complete the remainder of the required honors course and maintain at least a 3.5 grade point average.
- Complete at least one service learning –community engagement project each fall and spring semester after acceptance into Honors College until graduated from Honors College or transfer to university.