1. Academics & Programs
  2. Honors Program

Honors Program

The SC Honors program provides intellectually gifted, curious and motivated students a unique qualitatively enriched experience in the classroom and co-curricular activities

Student presenting at the SC Honors Capstone

As an SC Honors student, you’ll take interdisciplinary coursework taught by a faculty member with multiple areas of expertise or multiple faculty members blending their knowledge and experiences to enhance the course. Students also have the opportunity to participate in other activities to foster your intellectual growth amid similarly talented peers.

Why become an honors student?

You’ll be one of the first to register for the next semester’s classes. You’ll take five courses (or 20 credits) of your choice in the Honors program and complete an SC Honors capstone project, ensuring a dynamic and rigorous educational environment. Many of these courses help to fulfill requirements within the general education program at Simpson as well. Collectively, this will help you move through your required coursework seamlessly and help make achieving your academic goals possible including multiple majors or minors if desired. Future employers and graduate and professional schools will be impressed to see the skillset acquired from your honors distinction.

In addition to diversifying your knowledge through a more holistic liberal arts curriculum, you’ll also have opportunities to dig deeper into important subjects. Honors interdisciplinary courses and seminars explore big ideas, issues and challenges confronting society, such as: medical ethics and advocacy, stress and mental health, passion and purpose, preservation of natural resources, freedom of speech, and arts and social justice. This expanded knowledge will improve your professional profile, as well your understanding of being an aware citizen of the world and leading a life of meaning and purpose.

Honors students are encouraged to apply for national fellowships, scholarships and grants. Opportunities also exist to participate in regional and national conferences such as those offered by the National Collegiate Honors Council. On campus, your courses connect you to unique undergraduate research opportunities and participate in reserved leadership roles including social media, programming, governance and peer mentoring.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates typically have earned a 3.5 or higher GPA in high school and preferably a minimum of 24 or higher on the ACT (1200 SAT; test optional are still encouraged to apply) at the time of application to Simpson. Extra-curricular involvement, honors and awards are also considered during application review.

Apply now for SC Honors

How to Graduate with honors

In order to graduate from SC Honors, you must be admitted to the program, maintain good academic standing (3.3 cumulative GPA or higher) and complete 20 Honors credits + capstone with a grade of a B- or better.

These required elements are as follows:

  • Honors Foundations SC 110 and SC 111
  • Three interdisciplinary Honors designated courses (or 12 credits in addition to Foundations). These courses often also count as part of your general education requirements. If Honors Foundations were not taken, five total courses (or 20 credits) are required.
  • If students complete 16 credits of study in the same language, they will receive credit for one honors course (see World Language policy below for more details).
  • Interdisciplinary Honors Capstone (2 – credit)
  • Engagement in the co-curricular programs each year

World Language Policy:

If students complete at least 16 credits of study in the same language, they will receive credit for one honors course equivalent to 4 credits of Honors coursework. Study abroad experiences that are language immersive and approved by the Honors Council will count towards world language credit in the Honors program. Students wishing to utilize this course exchange should complete a Course Substitution form available on the Registrar’s website.

Transfer policy:

Transfer students can transfer in a maximum of 2* Honors courses from other institutions and must take a minimum of 3 Simpson Honors courses (equivalent to 12 credits) as well as the Honors capstone. If they transfer in the equivalent of one Honors course, they must take a minimum of four Simpson Honors courses (equivalent to 16 credits) as well as the Honors capstone. Students may choose to take an Honors first-year seminar course in place of the transfer seminar course to count as one of their Honors courses. Transfer students should upload any documents of previous Honors coursework to their application portal (e.g. syllabi, course descriptions, evidence of work from Honors courses, transcripts, etc.) to be reviewed for transfer credit into the program.

*If a student is 1-2 credits shy of completing 20-Honors credits (prior to capstone) due to transferring in Honors courses that are 3-credits each, these 1-2 credits will be waived.