HCC Honors College
The Honors College at Houston Community College is a place where talented students like you study together with inspiring faculty members as part of an exciting learning community. Your courses will be interdisciplinary and built around themes that will challenge you intellectually. And since your classes will be small and highly interactive, you will get to know your fellow students and professors in a more in-depth learning environment.
In addition to an exciting educational environment at Central College, where the Honors College is located, you will have access to many resources to support your learning experiences: individualized academic, career and transfer counseling as well as an opportunity for international travel. We want to expose you to a global community of new places and new ideas.
In addition to your honors classes, you will meet with other Honors College students in a weekly seminar to develop and enhance your leadership skills. Not only are we committed to helping you earn your academic degree in two years and transfer to a four-year university, but we also are committed to helping you reach your full academic potential in a structured learning environment.
What is the Honors College?
The Honors College is a place where a specific enriched learning experience is provided to goal-oriented, academically gifted students. The Honors College offers a rigorous curriculum that is a challenging array of courses and seminars. Leadership opportunities, internships, study travel tours and service learning activities further enhance intellectual and personal growth. Honors courses will generally be small and seminar-based.
The purpose of the Honors College is to provide courses that show students how knowledge in the field is acquired, developed, evaluated, argued, tested and applied. Assignments stress theory, analysis and synthesis. Original research, whether in the library, field, laboratory or on the Internet is required, along with a culminating project that is publicly shared and critiqued. Honors courses use active and collaborative learning. Students conduct interviews, keep journals, write term papers, work on advanced problem sets and produce creative solutions to complex problems. Successful Honors College students are prepared to transfer to many of the most prestigious colleges and universities in the state and the nation.
Who is eligible?
To be considered for admission in the Honors College, applicants must meet established criteria and submit proof of the following:
- A 3.70 GPA and college-level placement on the COMPASS or a combined SAT score of 1200 (math, critical reading) or a composite ACT score of 26
- An essay on an assigned topic (see application)
- Three letters of recommendation, one each from a counselor, teacher and a community leader and supervisor
- Official high school transcripts
An oral interview will be conducted upon meeting all requirements.
Are scholarships available?
Admitted students in the Honors College receive the Honors College Fellows Award. The award covers the cost of in-state tuition, fees and books; this is in addition to any other scholarship or financial assistance a student may receive*. The Honors College Fellows Award is renewable for one additional year if Honors College requirements are met.
*Awards made to students receiving federal or State of Texas financial aid may vary according to regulations.
What are the advantages of being admitted in the Honors College?
Students in the Honors College are part of a small, selective learning community. They enjoy special privileges that include:
- Small, interactive classes with highly qualified professors committed to students
- Campus leadership roles
- Special access to cutting-edge science, language and computer laboratories
- Individual attention and opportunities to collaborate with professors and peers
- University transfer advisement resulting in the opportunity to graduate from prestigious universities
- Internships and service learning activities related to the student’s field of study
- Study-travel opportunities
- Personalized and seamless registration
- Individualized counseling for educational and career planning
- Development of a capstone project that may result in research for a presentation or publication
- Special notation of Honors College degree on transcript and diploma
- Recognition as an Honors College graduate at commencement
How do I apply?
Applications are available at the Houston Community College-Central Office of the Dean for Academic Development or contact:
Dr. Cheryl Peters
Academic Dean
Houston Community College-Central
1300 Holman
Houston, Texas 77004
To inquire about the application deadline or for more information, call 713.718.6000.
Download Application and Instructions
