Honors FAQ

Yes. The form is quick and easy: Honors Program Form

If you are a new applicant to BCC, or if you have not yet completed 6+ college-level credits, you can apply to the Honors Program with a 3.25+ GPA on your high school transcript, or with a recommendation from a current BCC faculty member and a meeting with the Honors Coordinator. 

Once you have completed 6+ college-level credits either at BCC or from a transfer institution, your college GPA needs to be a 3.25+ to join the Honors Program.

Statewide policies require students to be enrolled in an associate degree to join an Honors program.  But if you are in a certificate program, or if you are a Dual Enrollment high school student, you may still be eligible to take most 100-level Honors courses.  Contact the coordinator for more information.

You have to take 3 Honors courses, one of which must be a seminar, to graduate from the Honors Program.

A seminar is an interdisciplinary course that looks at wide-ranging topics that will help students to think more broadly and critically.  Seminars feature semester-long projects and research.  These courses are also developed specifically for the Honors Program and can be found under the course code HON 298.

Honors courses are also taken from the academic disciplines on a rotating basis.  We have offered courses in literature, environmental science, sociology, psychology, history, philosophy etc.  We also offer the possibility for independent studies, as well as 1-credit Honors components which can be added to existing non-Honors courses. There is also an Honors composition sequence, which can be taken in place of the traditional composition sequence.

You must get approval from the honors coordinator, as well as the sponsoring faculty member, no later than the first week of classes.  Go to this link for details on the process for adding a component.

The Honors composition sequence can be taken instead of BCC’s traditional composition sequence and is a great gateway into the program for incoming students. It consists of two courses, ENG 103 Honors Composition I and ENG 104 Honors Composition II, both of which are designed to give students exposure to the standard practices of academic writing, research, and presentation methods in an Honors setting.  Students who are interested in working in the Writing Center can take ENG 235H Honors Advanced Composition & Tutoring, which counts as Composition II credit.

Yes, students who are successful in ENG 101 are encouraged to register for ENG 104 or ENG 235H.

The Honors composition sequence is especially designed for students who wish to challenge themselves in a rigorous academic environment that seeks to expose them to the practices of academic writing. While all of our composition courses have similar aims, this sequence is especially geared toward research writing, argument formation, critical readings strategies, and a variety of presentation methods that you might encounter in academic life.

Yes, you must maintain a GPA of 3.25

You receive a one-semester grace period during which you can work to raise your GPA. If you are still below 3.25 after the grace period, you will be removed from the program.

Yes, if you once again meet the eligibility requirements.

Yes, you must earn a B or better in your Honors courses in order for them to count toward graduation from the program.

It is perfectly fine to apply to the Honors Program, take the course you are interested in, and then leave the program. Of course, we do hope that you will stay in the program to make use of the benefits of graduation.  

There are numerous benefits.

Honors courses are capped at 16 students, which means smaller class sizes and more individual attention from the instructor.  Honors courses are both rigorous and challenging, which will help you to reach your potential while preparing you for advanced coursework at transfer institutions.  Your classmates will also tend to be highly motivated, resulting in lively and engaging class environments.  The courses are an opportunity to dive into topics that are not typically addressed in other courses.

• Transfer: we are part of the Commonwealth Honors Program, which consists of the UMass institutions, state colleges and universities, and the fourteen community college members. This means that you can move seamlessly from our program and transfer into the program at your chosen four year school.  If you graduate BCC as an Honors Scholar (completing the requirements of the program), you are guaranteed admission to Honors Colleges and Honors Programs at these schools (as long as you are accepted to that college or university).
• Honors Courses on Your Transcript: Whether or not you graduate as a Berkshire Honors Scholar, any honors courses you take will show up on your transcript as Honors courses.
• Events: Honors events range from informal luncheons to speaker series and are geared toward engaging students in the intellectual and social life of the college
• Travel and Scholarship: We send Honors students to statewide and regional honors conferences to either take part, or present their work.  Membership in the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) has enabled students to travel to national parks for outdoor travel study in places like Capitol Reef (Utah) and the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.
• Honors Center: The Honors Center is a dedicated student space on campus where you can relax, study, make use of the computers, and enjoy complimentary snacks and coffee.