Honors Program

The College Honors Program is an extraordinarily versatile sequence of courses which is designed for members of a diverse student population as they seek to optimize their undergraduate experience and as they look beyond graduation to the unique opportunities the Oneonta Honors experience can provide for them. Honors students share a demonstrated excellent academic ability, a solid desire to succeed, and a willingness to seek out new challenges and experiences. Designed for many of our most academically talented students, with admission only available by invitation and faculty review, the Honors Program consists of three stages. Depending upon their interests and schedules, students may participate in as few as one or as many as all three of the stages. This provides maximum access and flexibility for interested students across the broadest span of academic undergraduate majors. Theses particular courses and stages only are available to Honors students.

The first and second Honors stages consist of an enhanced General Education experience (nine semester hours each) designed to be taken freshman and sophomore years. The third stage (also nine semester hours) provides an extraordinary capstone opportunity in the junior/senior years for Honors students to engage in creative activities, scholarship, and/or research. Thus, completion of the full Honors Program entails twenty-seven Honors semester hours out of the overall 122 semester hours required for graduation.

Benefits

Only open to Honors students, Honors General Education sections in the first two Honors stages typically are smaller in size than the College's normal General Education sections. This fosters even closer, individualized interaction between the professors and Honors students as well as the opportunity for enhanced Honors intellectual experiences typically unavailable to non-Honors students in normal sections. The learning environment and experience are enriched to even better prepare you for the intellectual challenges ahead. The third stage not only leads to recognition on campus but likely external recognition as well, depending upon the precise project identified by the faculty and student and the project's completion. Students who complete all three stages receive notation on their transcripts that they have completed the College Honors Program. In addition, completion of the Honors curriculum and its final stage yields the chance for a uniquely powerful springboard into graduate programs or the job market upon graduation from the College at Oneonta. Indeed, many universities and colleges simply do not provide such a valuable and rewarding College Honors Program including a capstone culmination experience for their students. Students completing Stages One and/or Two but not the full Program also receive appropriate transcript notations defining their level of Honors accomplishment while at Oneonta. Additional practical advantages exist through access to the College Honors Center not normally available to other students and assignment of Study Carrels in the campus Library on a first come-first served basis.

Eligibility

Entering freshmen are invited to apply to become an Honors finalist only after a careful review of their academic credentials. Particular emphasis is placed upon high school GPA and SAT or ACT scores. Upon being invited to apply, the student submits a writing sample to the College's Honors Advisory Committee. Very few Oneonta-accepted students are given this opportunity. The Committee reviews these samples in the order they are received and available Honors seats typically fill rapidly. Thus, even fewer students actually make the transition from Honors finalist to Honors student. Returning and transfer students not currently in the Program are invited to participate based upon academic performance at the College at Oneonta. Once accepted into the Program, a student must maintain status as a full time enrolled undergraduate student, a minimum overall GPA of 3.50, and demonstrate progress toward completing the Program's requirements. Students who are dismissed from the Program for academic reasons have the opportunity to reapply for admission thereafter.

Why be an Honors Student at the College at Oneonta?

• Opportunities for enhanced intellectual growth through typically smaller average section sizes permitting more individualized work with instructors
• Opportunities for enhanced intellectual growth through treatment of unique honors topics, cover age of topics in special ways such as research or depth of treatment, or unusual combinations of topics
• Opportunities for enhanced development of critical thinking and communication skills which are valuable throughout life
• Opportunities (particularly the Honors Capstone) to develop research, analytical, or performance skills which will prepare students for work in graduate school or other post graduate experiences
• New Honors students join an intellectual community of equally serious, motivated students making friendships which can last throughout College and thereafter
• Access to the College Honors Center not normally available to other students
• Assignment of Study Carrels in the campus Library on a first come-first served basis
• Unique mentoring opportunities for graduate admissions and careers
• Transcript notation consistent with the level of Honors completion
• Enhanced exit options for graduate school and/or career by having excelled in a College Honors Program

Oneonta's College Honors Program is student-centered. A successful college honors program creates superior intellectual opportunities and challenges not otherwise available for undergraduate students.

Oneonta's College Honors Program fosters intellectual growth, academic integrity, commitment to lifelong learning, and an opportunity to meaningfully explore ideas and possibilities both within and outside a major. This is valuable for students professional and personal future.