Honors Program
The Honors Program is designed for students with excellent
academic performance, broad extracurricular interests and
leadership abilities. Approximately 40 freshmen and firstsemester
sophomores are admitted to the Honors Program
each year. Like all Roanoke College students, Honors students
must pass at least 33 academic units, including at least one
unit of intensive learning, two one-quarter unit physical
education activities (or the equivalent) and a one-quarter unit
co-curricular requirement for a total of 33 3 /4 units or the
equivalent. However, Honors students must complete the
Honors curriculum (described below) in lieu of the Centers
of Distinction curriculum, maintain a 3.2 overall grade point
average, and participate in the Honors Plenary Enrichment
Program each semester they study on campus. Students who
fail to achieve a grade point average of 3.0 in any term will
be evaluated by the Honors Program Director.
The Honors Program substitutes a coordinated sequence of
interdisciplinary courses for a portion of the core
requirements. This sequence of courses includes:
Honors 101 Plenary Enrichment Program
(Satisfies the College co-curricular
requirement) 1 / 4 unit
Honors 102 Plenary Enrichment Program
(After the first year, required each term
the student studies on campus. Graded;
no credit)
Honors 105 The Freshman Experience
Honors 170 Values Practice
Honors 201 The Human Journey I
Honors 202 The Human Journey II
Honors 301 Topics in Honors
(Two units from different divisions)
Honors 411 Contemporary Challenges
Honors 412 Independent Elective/Study Project or
Independent study in the student's major.
One unit
In addition, Honors students are required to complete either
1) three one-unit courses from the mathematical and
laboratory sciences and two units from the social sciences, as
described in Option I below, OR 2) two one-unit courses
from the mathematical sciences, two units from the laboratory
sciences, and one unit from the social sciences, as described in
Option II below. For both options, any one-unit introductory
lab course in biology, chemistry, or physics may count toward
the science requirement; any one-unit introductory course in
anthropology, economics, geography, political science,
psychology, or sociology may count toward the social science
requirement.
OPTION I COURSE REQUIREMENTS
(a) MATH (111 or higher) or STAT course
(b) Intro. Lab Science course
(c) Lab Science in different discipline from (b); or CPSC;
or MATH (111 or higher); or STAT (if STAT course not
taken in (a) above)
(d) Two Social Science courses (different disciplines)
(e) One of HNRS 301 courses must be from the
science division
OPTION II COURSE REQUIREMENTS
(a) MATH (111 or higher) or STAT course
(b) CPSC course; or MATH (111 or higher);
or STAT (if STAT not taken in (a) above)
(c) Two Lab Science courses (different disciplines)
(d) One Social Science course
(e) One of HNRS 301 courses must be from the social
science division
Honors students must also demonstrate proficiency in a
foreign language through the intermediate level. In cases
where a student presents a language at the introductory level
but one which Roanoke College does not offer (Latin, for
example), completion of only one year of a modern foreign
language at Roanoke College will be required. Students must
complete two physical education activities. One of these must
be HHP 160 (Fitness for Life); the other may be a one-quarter
unit course in a different activity or participation in a
varsity sport. A Plenary Enrichment Program of supplemental
activities, a special scholarship, and a distinct recognition on
the diploma and transcript are provided to Honors students.