Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I'm new and I don't know yet if I'll have time to do extra work. Can I start next semester?
A: Yes. You may start at any time but you will need to file a petition to skip a semester when you do not take any honors classes a particular semester.
Q: I'm a second-year student. Can I still participate?
A: Yes. Although you may not have time to fulfill all of the requirements for finishing the Honors Enrichment program, the opportunity to take honors classes is an attractive option. The challenge of exploring an area in depth and the personal satisfaction gained are certainly worthwhile — and honors classes are always an asset on your transcript.
Q: How many honors credits do I need?
A: At least 15 honors credits. In order to complete the program you must take the honors seminar (HEP 200) and four others in at least three separate academic disciplines.
Q: What If I only take an honors class or two, but don’t complete the program?
A: Even taking just one or two honors classes can be a rewarding learning experience, valuable in and of itself. And transfer institutions do like to see students who have taken on a challenge, so it can be a benefit in the transfer process, too.
Q: Are Honors classes harder?
A: It depends on your perspective. Some students find them harder because of the enriched nature of the course. Other students find them so stimulating that they don’t think of them as harder. Many honors students do better in these classes because they are comfortable in them. Moreover, the classes have fewer students than non-honors sections do, and this allows for more individualized help from their honors professors.
Q: How competitive is the Honors Program?
A: Honors students are highly motivated and competitive by nature, but most of their competition is with themselves. We think you’ll find that most honors students will be supportive of one another and appreciative of the chance to interact with other students as motivated as themselves. Take advantage! Form study groups, hang out together—make the most of the experience.
Q: Which Honors courses should I take first?
A: To finish the program in two years, you’ll need to average 4 units per semester. Although the order of courses does not always make a difference, there are two courses you should take during your first year in the Program- English 101 (which you can take as an honors course) and Math 96. English 101H is a rigorous course, one vital to your success both as a reader and as a writer of clear, well constructed essays. We have designed English 101H with your honors curriculum in mind. Because so many of our classes depend on your ability to write effectively, this class too is crucial to your success. So take English 101H as soon as you can. After your first year, make sure you fit in the honors seminar (HEP 200) into your course schedule in either the fall or spring semester so you can complete the honors program requirements.
Q: Why do you require the Honors Seminar? Will it transfer to the UC System?
A: Our main reason is that it helps you become much better at critical thinking. You also become more aware of multidisciplinary approaches to different issues. Currently the UC system perceives the Honors Seminar (HEP 200) as an independent study course focusing on a particular topic. The UC system has said it will award credit for the course on a cases-by case basis once the applicant has been accepted. The Honors seminar will be updated to articulate more closely with UC requirements during the academic year.
Q: Will being in the Honors program hurt my GPA or hurt my chances of transferring?
A: More likely it will help you. Certainly, honors professors set high standards. But they often give you extra help, too. Certainly most students have to work harder in Honors courses than in regular courses. And while some students find the rigor too much for them, many others are so stimulated that they do better in Honors courses. Many students benefit greatly from the smaller honors learning environment and subsequent personal attention from the professor thus making it more possible for them to earn a good grade. Also consider what universities such as UCI and UCLA have told us: that they respect a B in an honors class at least as much as an A in a regular one.
Q: What kind of assignments do you give in honors classes?
A: Many of our assignments are like those you’ll find in other classes. Our professors encourage you to think for yourself as do teachers in the non-honors curriculum who go beyond just training you or telling you what to believe. We ask you to study challenging college-level works and issues and to develop your abilities to articulate your insights about these works orally and in writing. We want to pique your curiosity and stimulate you to do some original thinking, certainly some critical thinking. You will read, write, speak, and above all think more deeply and intensively in an honors class.
| Next | Last |
"I am seeking; I am striving; I am in it with all my heart." - Vincent Van Gogh
You can also download the complete Handbook as PDF or Word document.