Lana Oconnell
Harper College offers an Honors Program that provides students with smaller class sizes, more discussion, and interaction with other high-achieving students. The program emphasizes enrichment over acceleration, with a focus on critical thinking and independent learning. To be eligible for the Honors Program, students must complete an application and meet certain academic criteria, such as a high school GPA of 3.5 or 4 (out of 5). While the Honors Program does not guarantee special entry to universities, Harper College does have partnerships with several universities, including Lake Forest College, which offers a seamless transfer program for Harper Honors students. Additionally, Harper College students in all academic areas have the opportunity to transfer to four-year institutions to complete their bachelor's degrees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Requirements to be an Honors Program Graduate | 12 hours of Honors credit, take the Honors Colloquium course, maintain an overall Harper GPA of 3.25, graduate with an Associate degree |
| Requirements to enter the Honors Program | High school GPA of 3.5 or 4.5 out of 5, ACT score of 25+, SAT score of 1130+, recommendations by Harper instructors |
| Class size | Capped at 15-18 students |
| Course content | Same material as regular undergraduate courses, with a focus on independent learning, discussion-based experiences, and critical thinking |
| Workload | Generally will not exceed two hours of out-of-class work for each hour of course credit |
| Benefits | Recognition at the Spring Honors Convocation, smaller class sizes, reduced workload, social life, support from dedicated Honors faculty and Coordinators, access to scholarships and financial aid, guaranteed admission to partner institutions |
| Partner institutions | Lake Forest College, DePaul, Loyola, Northwestern, Harvard, Wisconsin-Madison, University of California-Berkeley, Michigan State, Elmhurst College, Roosevelt, Northern Illinois, Barat College, University of Chicago, Northeastern, Indiana University, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois-Urbana/Champaign, Columbia College, Colorado State |
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What You'll Learn
Harper College's Honors Program criteria
Harper College's Honors Program is designed to stimulate, encourage, and recognise students' work of depth, scope, and originality. The program emphasises enrichment over acceleration, focusing on the nature of the learning experience rather than increasing the workload.
Honors courses at Harper College offer a more intimate setting, with class sizes ranging from 15 to 18 students, allowing for more discussion and interaction among students and with the instructor. This encourages students to be active and constructive participants in their education, emphasising cooperation over competition. The program also provides a community for students, allowing them to get to know each other well through multiple shared classes and optional extracurricular activities, cultural and service outings, and informal weekly meetings.
To be eligible for the Harper College Honors Program, students must meet certain criteria:
- Academic Record: While a genius-level IQ is not required, students should demonstrate qualities such as motivation, responsibility, persistence, curiosity, and a strong commitment to their education. A high school GPA of 3.5 out of 4 or 4.5 out of 5, an ACT score of 25 or higher, or an SAT score of 1130 or higher may be considered.
- Honors Credits: Students must accumulate a total of twelve hours of Honors credit, typically by completing four Honors courses, including the Honors Colloquium (HUM/HST 105) course.
- Grade Point Average: Students need to maintain an overall Harper grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
- Associate Degree: To graduate with Honors Program distinction, students must earn an Associate degree.
- Application and Recommendations: Students must complete and submit an Honors Program application, along with letters of recommendation from two Harper College instructors and written consent from the Honors Program Coordinator.
Graduating from the Harper College Honors Program provides a smooth path to continuing education at various universities, including Lake Forest College, which has a special partnership with Harper College. This partnership includes guaranteed admission for qualified students with a minimum GPA of 3.25 and the completion of the Harper Honors Program requirements.
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Benefits of the Honors Program
While Harper College does not explicitly mention special entry to universities for its honour students, the college does offer a smooth path to a bachelor's degree at Lake Forest College due to a special partnership between the two institutions, which includes the Harper Pathway Scholars Program, Guaranteed Admission, and scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
Academic Enrichment
Honors courses at Harper College emphasise enrichment over acceleration, providing a more in-depth and challenging learning experience without increasing the workload. The courses cover the same material as regular undergraduate courses but with a greater focus on critical thinking, independent learning, and discussion-based activities. The reduced class sizes of 15-18 students in the Honors Program foster a more interactive and engaging learning environment, encouraging active participation and constructive contributions from students.
Recognition and Graduation Status
Honors students who complete the required number of Honors courses and maintain a high GPA will receive recognition at the Spring Honors Convocation and graduate with Honors status. This distinction enhances their academic profile and can be a valuable asset when transferring to other schools or applying for scholarships and admissions at other institutions.
Community and Support
The Honors Program at Harper College offers a strong sense of community and support. Students often develop close connections through shared classes and extracurricular activities. Additionally, dedicated Honors faculty and coordinators provide support throughout the program, assisting with course selection, scholarship applications, and transfer admissions.
Personal Development
The Honors Program is designed to cultivate essential qualities such as independence, academic talent, intellectual curiosity, and persistence. By engaging with a diverse range of ideas and multidisciplinary approaches, students enhance their leadership skills and breadth of understanding. The program encourages students to be motivated, responsible, persistent, curious, and serious about their education, fostering a well-rounded personal development that extends beyond the classroom.
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Lake Forest College's transfer program
Lake Forest College offers a smooth transition for transfer students, with generous transfer credit acceptance, scholarships, financial aid, and a diverse and inclusive community. The college has a 2+2 transfer program with guaranteed admission for qualified students. The college also offers a Guaranteed Honors Admission Program for Harper College students.
Application Process
Transfer students may apply for free using the Lake Forest Transfer Application or the Transfer Common Application. Students are required to submit their official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, as well as their high school transcript. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, but students with a GPA between 2.8 and 3.0 will also be considered on a holistic basis. If you have more than 30 semester hours, you must submit a letter of recommendation from a professor at your previous college. If you have fewer than 30 semester hours, you may submit a recommendation from a secondary school teacher.
Transfer Credit Guides
Transfer students can transfer all coursework with a grade of C- or better towards a bachelor of arts degree. Students who have completed an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree with no grade less than a C- will automatically fulfill the Distribution Requirement. Students who have completed Advanced Placement courses and the appropriate examinations may apply for college credit. The college also accepts COVID-19 semester passing grades for transferable courses.
Pathway Scholar Programs
Lake Forest College offers Pathway Scholar Programs for Harper College students who have completed their associate degrees or 60 transferable semester hours of credit. The college provides pre-advising to Harper students on course selection and career opportunities. Students earning a 3.6 GPA or higher in their first semester can select a fifth course for free in the second semester.
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Requirements for Honors Graduation status
Harper College offers an Honors Program that provides students with enhanced academic challenges and opportunities. The program is designed to stimulate, encourage, and recognize students' work of depth, scope, and originality. It offers smaller class sizes, with a cap of 15 to 18 students, allowing for more discussion and interaction between students and the instructor. The program emphasizes enrichment over acceleration, with a focus on the nature of the learning experience rather than an increased workload.
To be eligible for Honors Graduation status, students must meet the following requirements:
- Accumulate a total of twelve hours of Honors credit, typically consisting of four Honors courses.
- Complete the Honors Colloquium course (HUM/HST 105) at some point during their studies. This course, "Great Ideas of World Civilizations," offers a multidisciplinary approach to significant thinkers in history, including Plato, Freud, Nietzsche, and more.
- Maintain an overall Harper grade point average of 3.25 or higher.
- Graduate with an Associate degree.
Honors students at Harper College are expected to produce quality work, actively participate in their education, and engage in the classroom. The program provides a community for students to get to know each other and offers various optional ways to engage beyond the classroom, such as cultural and service outings. Additionally, students in the Honors Program have access to dedicated Honors faculty and coordinators who support them throughout their academic journey.
Harper College also has partnerships with other institutions, such as Lake Forest College, which offer seamless transfer opportunities for Honors students to continue their bachelor's degree studies. These partnerships often include special agreements, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities. Overall, the Honors Program at Harper College provides a well-rounded and enriching educational experience, preparing students for their future academic and career pursuits.
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The workload of Honors students
Harper College offers an Honors Program that seeks to stimulate, encourage, and recognise the work of its students. The program is designed to be a place for intellectual inquiry and the free and open exchange of ideas. It emphasises enrichment over acceleration, with a focus on the nature of the learning experience rather than the amount of work assigned.
The workload for Honors students at Harper College is carefully considered, with a weekly expectation of no more than two hours of out-of-class work for each hour of course credit. This balance ensures that students can engage in enrichment activities and develop qualities such as motivation, responsibility, persistence, and curiosity.
Honors courses at Harper College are enhanced rather than accelerated, providing a more in-depth and challenging learning experience. The reduced class sizes, typically capped at 15 to 18 students, foster an environment conducive to discussion and interaction. This encourages active participation, independent learning, and critical thinking.
The Honors Program at Harper College also recognises that students have varying capacities and offers support to help manage the workload. Students are advised to promptly seek guidance from counselors and teachers if they feel overwhelmed, as adjustments can be made to their class schedule if necessary.
While the Honors Program at Harper College aims to provide a manageable workload, it is important to note that Honors courses are academically challenging by nature. They require active and constructive participation, quality work, and a commitment to one's education. The program attracts motivated and dedicated students who are often involved in extracurricular activities and community engagement.
Overall, the workload of Honors students at Harper College is designed to be enriching and manageable, fostering a community of engaged and curious learners who support each other throughout their academic journey.
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Frequently asked questions
Smaller class sizes, a more interactive and discussion-based learning environment, and a more motivated student cohort are some of the benefits of being an Honors student at Harper College.
A high school GPA of 3.5 or 4.0 out of 5.0, ACT scores of 25 or above, or SAT scores of 1130 or above are some of the indicators of a successful application. Recommendations by Harper instructors can also be considered.
While there is no explicit mention of special entry to universities, Harper College does have partnerships with other institutions, such as Lake Forest College, that offer guaranteed admission or scholarships to qualified Harper Honors students.
Harper College Honors students are expected to attend classes, actively participate in their education, and produce quality work. To graduate with Honors, students must accumulate 12 hours of Honors credit, take the Honors Colloquium course, maintain an overall GPA of 3.25, and graduate with an Associate degree.
The weekly workload for Honors students at Harper College is generally manageable, with a recommended limit of two hours of out-of-class work for each hour of course credit.
