Honors sections and seminars of regular courses offered through the MCC’s Honors Institute are available to all eligible students in all programs throughout the College. Honors Studies provide educational experiences for students with outstanding ability. They bring curious, highly motivated students together in small classes. Many honors courses are taught by MCC Distinguished Professors or faculty members who have received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Tuition for honors courses is charged at the regular tuition rate. Eligible full-time students (12 credits) may add an honors course with no additional tuition.

Certificate in Honors Studies

Becoming a student member of the Honors Institute entitles you to participate in our “knowledge-tracks” and allows you to graduate with a SUNY certificate in Honors Studies in addition to your regular degree. This certificate program will become available starting Fall 2008.

To graduate with a Certificate in Honors Studies, a student must:

• Complete five honors courses, including IDC 195 – Honors Seminar in Critical Analysis, and ENG 200 – Honors Advanced Composition. (15-16 credit hours)
• Complete a Service-Learning Elective.
• Complete all certificate requirements with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or better

Students in honors courses and student members of the Honors Institute at MCC come from programs and disciplines from across the college, and they want a challenging and memorable academic experience – an experience that will prepare them as they continue their education at a wide variety of top American universities and colleges, such as SUNY Brockport and Geneseo, St. John Fisher College, Cornell University, Columbia University, and Amherst College, to name just a few.

Institute students are eligible to participate in advanced learning experiences, which involve first-hand encounters with history, culture, politics, the arts, science, and more. Advanced learning experiences will provide students the opportunity to learn about themselves and others in personal encounters through travel, team research and project learning.

Eligibility

Honors courses are offered at the regular credit hour rate. Qualified students who have registered for at least 12 credits hours may add an honors seminar or section without additional cost.

Eligibility to enroll in an honors course is based on one or more of the following:

• New Students - In general, high school students should have an 85 or better GPA and/or be in the top 15% of their class. In addition, strong AP, SAT, or ACT exam scores are helpful.

  For non-high school students entering MCC, student membership in the Honors Institute is based on one or more of the following: prior academic record, kinds of courses taken, class standing, and/or letters of recommendation from teachers or counselors. Please contact the Honors Institute office (292-3351) for more information.

• Continuing Students - Completion of at least 12 credit hours at MCC with a cumulative average of 3.5 or higher, or a cumulative average of 3.25 or higher with a recommendation by a professor. If you meet either of these criteria you will receive a packet from the Honors Institute office with instructions on how to apply for Honors courses online.

If you did not receive the Honors informational packet or would like another copy, please contact the Honors Studies office (292-3351).

Students wishing to apply for admission to the Honors Institute should begin the process by contacting the Coordinator of Honors Studies at 292-3351.

Students will then asked to fill out a brief honors application (.pdf)  and make an appointment to meet with the Coordinator of the Honors Institute at MCC or in area high schools to discuss the program and how it can best meet the students' needs.

Credit

Seminars meet three hours per week for three hours of credit. The credit may be in the category of general elective, humanities, social science, or natural sciences, according to the seminar chosen. Credit for Honors sections is the same as regular sections.

Costs

Honors courses are offered at the regular credit hour rate. Qualified students who have registered for at least 12 credits hours may add an honors seminar or section without additional cost.

Since Honors courses are not a separate degree program, they are available to qualified students in all programs throughout the College. Honors students are expected to be self-starters who enjoy reasoning and communicating and who want to work with others in a challenging and stimulating environment.