Welcome to Prairie State College Honors Program
Honors Home Page | Facts about Honors Classes | Honors Course List
PSC Honors Program: It's Not What You Think!
- What Is the Honors Program?
- Are You Eligible?
- Will Honors Course Be More Difficult?
- Benefits of the Honors Program
- How To Get Started
- Download Honors Brochure (PDF)
Honors Biology Class Project!
What Is the Honors Program?
The Honors Program is a series of courses designed to reward students who are high achievers. Each is a special section of a regular course, and is limited to Honors students only. In recent semesters, Honors classes have been offered in English, Communication, History, Humanities, Philosophy, Political Science, Social Science, Theatre, Business, Psychology, Astronomy, Art, Music, and Biology.
Students who have enrolled in Honors classes have:
- Enhanced their transfer and job opportunities. Each is a special, smaller section of a regular, general education course, and will be designated "Honors" on your transcript. At some transfer colleges, Honors credit qualifies you for their Honors programs and/or special scholarships.
- Enjoyed a rich educational experience in a creative and challenging atmosphere, with individualized attention from instructors. The courses feature such "extras" as small class size, field trips, and/or guest speakers. Previous Honors classes have visited places of worship, museums and theaters in the area.
Check out the Facts about Honors Classes for more information.
Are You Eligible?
To begin taking Honors courses, you must have either twelve hours of 100+ level PSC coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.5, or any one of the following composite scores: ACT 25, COMPASS 220, SAT 1140, with college level placement scores in reading and English. Transfer students are eligible with similar qualifications. To continue taking Honors courses, a minimum GPA of 3.5 must be maintained.
The Winged Bull of Khorsabad, from the palace of Assyrian
King Sargon II (721-705 B.C.E.) at Dur-Sharrukin, dwarfs Prof. Flannigan during a humanities/English field trip to the
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago
Honors student looks at a painting by J.M.W. Turner during a field
trip to the Art Institute of Chicago
Will Honors Course Be More Difficult?
In an Honors class, your work is graded according to the same standard as is used in regular sections. Previous Honors students have enjoyed the opportunity to exchange ideas with other high-achieving students, and have found the classes more stimulating and rewarding than their regular classes, but not more difficult or more time-consuming. Topics are explored in more depth, and discussion is lively, but Honors courses do not necessarily take more time than regular college courses, and qualified students do not find their usual grades harder to achieve.
Go to List of Honors Courses for the current term.
Benefits of the Honors Program
- Special early registration privileges
- Honors designation on your transcript
- Eligibility for Honors programs and scholarships at transfer colleges
- Get to know fellow Honors students
- Exchange ideas in a creative atmosphere
- Go on field trips
Humanities Honors hosts a Buddhist Guest speaker
How To Get Started
If you qualify for the program, just register for any Honors courses listed in the Honors Course List. New Honors students must register in person. After that, you may register for your Honors classes either online or in person.
Enrollment Advisors for Honors:
- Sarah Hein (708) 709-3508
- Wallace Bailey (708) 709-3641
Other Contacts:
- Maurine Stein, Professor, Humanities, Honors Coordinator (708) 709-3771
- Susan Solberg, Associate Vice President/Dean of Arts and Sciences (708) 709-3758
E-mail Maurine Stein if you have questions or suggestions for this web page.