Honors students will become part of a community of scholars, be involved with advanced projects, internships, service learning, and travel opportunities through the Honors Program, providing an exceptional RRCC experience.
Developing interdisciplinary problem solving and research skills help students gain a competitive edge in the college transfer and scholarship process.
Honors students will become part of a community of scholars, be involved with advanced projects, internships, service learning, and travel opportunities through the Honors Program, providing an exceptional RRCC experience.
Program Benefits
- Scholarships
- Honors coursework
- Honors capstone project
- Priority registration
- Honors advising and mentoring
- Honors retreat, field trips/workshops
- Experiential learning emphasis
- Honors designation at graduation
Application for 2023-2025 opens March 7! Select the Dr. John U. Trefny Honors Program when you apply.
This is a two-year program intended to help students prepare for transfer and develop knowledge, skills, and abilities that will benefit each student. Once admitted to the program, the Honors student receives specialized advising, takes Honors classes and becomes part of a student community.
Applicants will be selected based on a combination of admission criteria:
- College/High school GPA 3.5 or above, or evidence of continuous improvement (submit unofficial transcripts)
- Placement scores/Honors, IB, AP courses
- An essay about your passions
- One Reference
In order to graduate as an Honors Scholar, must maintain a 3.5 GPA, participate in Honors events, participate in one Honors Poster Session/panel discussion/professional conference, complete service learning hours, and complete a minimum of 18 honors credits.
- A student accepted into the Honors program will receive a scholarship each semester as long they remain in good standing and are making progress toward their degree.
- A student who completes the Honors Program will be recognized at graduation as an Honors Scholar.
- If a student participates in honors classes and/or acquires honors option credits but is unable to complete the total requirements to graduate as an Honors Scholar, those credits will still appear on their transcript as Honors work.
Maintain a 3.5 GPA once admitted to the program
Pass all HNR courses with an A or B
Professional presentation (poster presentation/panel discussion/professional conference)
Complete volunteer/service learning hours
Complete a minimum of 18 honors credit hours:
- HNR 1000 – 1 credit seminar
- HNR 1002 – 2 credits colloquium
- HNR 2002 – 2 credits colloquium
- HNR 2089 – variable 2-4 credits capstone
- 9-13 additional honors option credits
All students working toward an Associates Degree may participate in the Honors Program.
Yes, as entry to the Honors program is competitive, a separate application form is required for admission.
No, there is not an additional application fee for the Honors program.
Honors classes do not cost students more than non-honors classes.
College credits taken in high school are accepted on a case by case basis.
Honors courses are currently offered only during the morning and afternoon. There are currently no Honors courses offered during evening hours.
There are seven Honors courses that must be completed. Degree completion is accomplished by taking other major-specific courses (in addition to the mandated honors courses) in subject areas where honors courses are not required.
The Honors curriculum is compatible with all RRCC Associate of Arts (AA) and Associate of Science (AS) degree programs. The Honors curriculum is not compatible with most Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees or any Certificate program at this time.
No. Honors course grades are calculated in the same way as any other course grade towards GPA. Honors courses are designated with an “H” distinction on student transcripts.
There are two deadlines: for early admission, the deadline is April 30st, for regular admission the deadline is September 1.
Students may only apply to the Honors Program for Fall acceptance. Honors HNR courses must be taken in sequential order.
Yes, Honors students will be expected to maintain a 3.5 GPA.
The Honors program is intended for students who will spend two years at RRCC. We understand however, that circumstances may cause students to leave before two years of study are completed. Any Honors coursework completed will be evident on your transcript.
While students in regular classes read almost entirely from a textbook, Honors students read a variety of sources beyond the textbook; as a result, Honors class discussions explore a wider range of perspectives. Honors classes incorporate experiential and active learning. Honors writing and research assignments are more sophisticated than those in non-Honors classes. This is because class sizes will be limited and because students will be selected on their record of successful academic work and high achievement.
Honors classes will never exceed 25 students and in many cases may have significantly fewer students.
Yes! Honors sections will have an H in the section number. There are at least three offered each semester and this is a great way to try out Honors or just take a deeper dive into a subject you love.