The Honors Program is designed for students with excellent academic performance, broad extracurricular interests and leadership abilities. Approximately 40 freshmen and first semester 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:

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.

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.