The Laurel Ridge Community College Honors Program is designed to challenge students who are intellectually motivated and academically able by providing opportunities for in-depth study. A student may obtain honors credit by:
- Earning an A or B in a course in which he/she has successfully completed an honors component
OR
- Earning an A or B in an honors seminar
Graduating students with a GPA of 3.2 or higher, who have earned honors credit in at least three courses plus one honors seminar (for a total of at least 12 credits) receive the title “Honors Program Scholar,” which is designated on their transcripts and diplomas.
1. Courses with Honors Components
Honors credit may be earned in any course at Laurel Ridge Community College if the course professor offers this option. Most, if not all, professors will be willing to do so. If you are interested in earning honors credit in a particular course, ask the professor early in the semester about how you might do so.
If the professor is unsure about how to do this, ask him or her to contact one of the Honors Program Coordinators:
- Jenni VanCuren, Assistant Professor of English (Middletown Campus)
- Nicole Martin, Assistant Professor of History (Fauquier Campus).
The student and professor must agree on what should be done to qualify for honors credit. When this work is completed to the professor’s satisfaction and the student earns a grade of an A or B on the honors project, as well as in the course, the professor sends an Honors Credit Report to the Honors Program Coordinator at the end of the semester.
Honors credit in a course is noted on the student’s transcript.
2. Honors Seminars
Honors seminars are offered online in the fall and spring semesters. Students must have a GPA of 3.2 or higher to enroll in an honors seminar. See the class schedule or consult with a seminar professor for details. Students may earn credit for more than one honors seminar. A grade of an A or B is required for honors credit in a seminar. Students who complete an honors seminar but do not earn a B or better will receive “regular” credit, but no honors designation.
HUM 298 (Fall): Leadership Development Honors Seminar (three credits)
- This honors course meets throughout the fall semester.
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- ENG 111 and ENG 112 with a B or higher are prerequisites.
- Professor Jenni VanCuren — a certified Phi Theta Kappa leadership instructor— teaches the course. The course is designed to provide emerging and existing leaders the opportunity to explore the concept of leadership and to develop and improve their leadership skills. The course integrates readings from the humanities, experiential exercises, films, and contemporary readings on leadership.
HUM 298 (Spring): Interdisciplinary Transformations Honors Seminar (three credit)
- This honors course meets during the spring semester.
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher
- ENG 111 and ENG 112 with a B or higher are prerequisites.
- Professors Nicole Martin and Jenni VanCuren co-teach the course. The seminar explores past, current, and projected transformations in a variety of fields, to include history, science, agriculture, religion, technology, economics, business, and a variety of other areas. The course integrates readings from across disciplines, discussions, films, and contemporary readings on transformative points.