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, 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.

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
• 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

Dr. Darin LaMar Baskin, Executive Director, Weekend and Honors College,
3100 Main St, 12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-718-6071

Central College - Central Campus
Dr. Nicolas Rangel, Director of Honors College-Central, 713-718-6336

Northeast College - Northline Campus
Dr. Carolyn M. Cross, Director of Honors College-NE, 713-718-2452

Northwest College - Spring Branch Campus
Dr. Simone Gardner, Director of Honors College-NW, 713-718-7421

Southwest College - Stafford Campus
Dr. Robin Reagler, Director of Honors College-SW, 713-718-5675

Southeast College - Eastside Campus
Dr. Toni Holland, Director of Honors College-SE, 713-718-6859

Online College - Online College
Dr. Jim Ross-Nazzal, Director of Honors College- Online, 713-718-7131

Coleman College- Coleman College of Health Sciences
Professor Levi Beard - Director Honors College, 713.718.2646

Out of State

• American University
• Arizona State University
• California Polytechnic University, Pomona
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Evergreen State
• Grinnell College
• Louisiana State University
• Loyola University
• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Purdue University
• Reed College
• Rhodes College
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Pennsylvania
• Valparaiso University
• Wellesley College

In State

• Baylor University
• Houston Baptist University
• MD Anderson Health Science Center
• Rice University
• St. Mary’s University
• Sam Houston State University
• Stephen F. Austin University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Southern University
• Texas Tech University
• Texas Women’s University
• University of Houston (Bauer College, Honors College, Cullen College of Engineering)
• University of St. Thomas
• University of Texas (Austin, Arlington, Dallas, San Antonio)
• University of Texas Health Science Center

To be considered for the HCC Honors College, you must meet one of the following:

• 3.5 high school GPA (on 4.0 scale) and college-level placement on TSI Test Reading 351; Writing 363; Writing Sample 4; Math 350 OR
• SAT EBRW score of480 AND Math Score of 530 or ACT score of 23 composite OR 3.5 high school GPA
• 3.5 HCC GPA in college-level courses (if currently an HCC student)

Please submit all of the required documents through this digital application

• A complete Honors College application and copies of all requested documents
• An essay on an assigned topic in English
  
  
  You may choose one of the following essay topics. Explain your choice and be as explicit as possible.

  • Describe a significant experience that changed your life perspective.
  • Choose a family member or an individual and describe how this person has influenced your life.
  • If you could change one thing about the world to make it a better place, what would that one thing be?

• Two letters of recommendation from either high school or college faculty, counselors, employers or community members
• Copy of high school and/or HCC transcript, if applicable
• Copy of test scores, including HCC test scores, if applicable. (Many test scores are posted on high school transcripts.)

A combination of awards will be available to students (federal, state, or foundation). All students with the exception of students with the F1 Visa are required to complete and submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to maximize financial aid opportunities. Undocumented students should complete the TAFSA (for Texas grants). Merit scholarships are available for students who have completed the application process for FAFSA and TAFSA and whose grant funds do not cover all tuition and fees. In addition, the HCC Foundation (www.hccsfoundation.org) has many scholarships for recent high school graduates.

Most scholarship applications are due by June 15.

Please note—Merit scholarships are also available for F1 students, but they are limited.

All applicants should review HCC Foundation for more scholarship opportunities at: www.hccsfoundation.org/Scholarships

Students who meet the criteria listed above may submit an Honors College application. A combination of grades, test scores, recommendations, essay on an assigned topic and the personal interview will be used holistically to determine acceptance into the Honors College.

• Maintain a 3.2 GPA
• Carry a full-time course load of 12-18 credit hours each semester
• May not withdraw from classes without consultation with Director on site
• Sign and maintain the Honors College Code of Behavior and Academic Honesty
• May not change their major without consultation with Director on site

Dr. Darin LaMar Baskin, Executive Director, Weekend and Honors College,
3100 Main St, 12th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713-718-6071

Central College - Central Campus
Dr. Nicolas Rangel, Director of Honors College-Central, 713-718-6336

Northeast College - Northline Campus
Professor Carolyn M. Cross, Director of Honors College-NE, 713-718-2452

Northwest College - Spring Branch Campus
Dr. Simone Gardner, Director of Honors College-NW, 713-718-8392

Southwest College - Stafford Campus
Dr. Robin Reagler, Director of Honors College-SW, 713-718-5675

Southeast College - Eastside Campus
Dr. Toni Holland, Director of Honors College-SE, 713-718-6859

Online College - Online College
Dr. Jim Ross-Nazzal, Director of Honors College- Online, 713-718-7131

Coleman College- Coleman College of Health Sciences
Being Filled