Honors Program
About the Program
The Honors Minor Program provides students like yourself who have excellent academic credentials and a genuine desire to learn, the opportunity to experience a challenging an enriching academic experience. You will not just acquire knowledge but gain an in depth understanding of how it applies to your life and the world at large. You'll forge a close bond with other students as well as faculty. More than that, Honors courses will engage you in the learning process and offer material in greater depth enabling you to really get inside what you're learning.
The Honors Minor program is outstanding preparation for those students looking to transfer their academic credits to a four-year institution upon graduation. Some of our students have gone on to attend some of the most prestigious schools in the country, including Cornell, Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, American University and Howard University. Click here to see what students are saying about the Honors Program at Onondaga.
To participate in the Honors Minor Program at Onondaga Community College you will need to apply and be accepted to the Honors Minor Program.
Honors Minor Application Requirements
You may apply to the Honors minor as an entering freshman, transfer student, and as a current Onondaga Community College student.
Entering Freshman must have:
- a minimum average of 90 as determined by your high school transcript, and
- a minimum combined SAT score of 1100 or equivalent ACT score of 23, and
- two letters of recommendation.
Onondaga Community College students or transfer students, you may apply on the basis of:
- completing at least 12 credits of college work
- a minimum GPA of 3.5 and no grades below B, and
- two letters of recommendation form a faculty member with your academic abilities.
If your most recent college experience includes at least 12 credits at Onondaga within the past two years, you may request that only your Onondaga record be taken into account.
If you wish to participate in the Honors Concentration’s honors courses you must apply by submitting the following information and be accepted to the Honors Concentration.
- Download the Honors Application (.pdf)
- Download and print the Letter of Recommendation (.pdf) form. For all applicants, at least two of your letters of recommendation must be from teachers familiar with your academic abilities.
- Return the complete application and have three letters of recommendation sent to:
Stephanie Putman
Onondaga Community College
Honors Office, Ferrante Hall 262
4585 West Seneca Turnpike
Syracuse, NY 13215-4585
315 498-2490
putmans@sunyocc.edu
Honors Minor Requirements + Courses
The Honors concentration provides students in all majors the opportunity to include Honors coursework while meeting individual degree requirements. Honor Students must meet the Minor Requirements to receive an Honors Minor. Click here for current Honors courses.
Honors Minor Requirements
The Honors minor requires completing a minimum of 13 credits of Honors work (described below) with no grade below B in those courses, and a semester and cumulative GPA of 3.5. All Honors courses meet the general elective or required courses toward your degree requirements. There are no restrictions on course sequence, but you are advised to distribute your 13 Honors credits throughout your semesters at Onondaga. The 13 Honors credits consist of the following:
- The Art of Inquiry, LIB 100H (1 credit – 10 weeks). This is a required course for all Honors Minor students. Students are advised to take this course as early as possible.
- At least 3 of the Honors credits must be in an Honors section, Honors Course Offerings or an Honors Special Topics course.
- The remaining 9 Honors credits may be selected from any suitable combination of Honors Enrichment Contracts, Honors sections, and Honors courses.
If you want to participate in the Honors Minor, take individual Honors courses or arrange Honors contracts, you need to apply and be accepted into Honors.
Honors Course Offerings
Honors Courses are designed to actively engage students in the learning process. Students are encouraged to interact with the faculty and each other and to explore a subject in greater depth.
- Honors courses meet the general or social science electives of your degree requirements.
- Honors classes are smaller with a maximum of 16 students per Honors course.
In addition to regular Honors courses a 4-credit Honors capstone literature based interdisciplinary course is offered each spring semester. The Honors capstone course is taught by the English department with faculty from two other disciplines and includes a service learning/research project. Previous topics have included, ”Literature and Nature,” “Hunger and Homelessness Globally and Locally,” “Darwin in Discourse: The Cultural Impact of the Theory of Evolution” and “Exploring of Islam”.
The Art of Inquiry course a 1 credit 10 week course is a required Honors course taught each semester.
Click here for current Honors course offerings or email putmans@sunyocc.edu
.
If you want to participate in the Honors Minor, take individual honors courses or arrange enrichment contracts, you must apply and be accepted into the Honors Concentration program.
Faculty & Advisors
A student should first meet with the Honors Program Coordinator to discuss the Honors Minor requirements. Honors students will then meet with his/her own curriculum Honor advisor.
Phi Theta Kappa
Phi Theta Kappa is the official honor society for two-year colleges. The mission of Phi Theta Kappa is two-fold: to recognize and encourage the academic achievements of two-year college students and to provide opportunities for individual growth and development through participation in scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service programming.
Onondaga Community College's chapter is Alpha Sigma Zeta. The Chapter is student-run with elected officers. To be eligible for membership in Phi Theta Kappa a student must be matriculated; have completed 12 credit hours at OCC; earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 and maintained a high academic standing throughout his/her enrollment at OCC.
Invitations are sent each fall and spring to eligible students inviting them to join the Honor Society. Both part-time and full-time students are eligible for membership.
Although membership in Phi Theta Kappa is independent of participation in the Honors Program, Honor students are typically members.
Scholarships
Contact the Honors Office for further information about the Allyn Foundation Honors Scholarship. We can also help you qualify for scholarships you can apply toward completing a four-year degree. Also, many four-year institutions have specific scholarships for Honors and Phi Theta Kappa students when you transfer.
Q + A
Is Honors for me? Here are some Questions and Answers that may help you decide if the Honors Program at Onondaga is right for you.