Students who successfully complete Honors Program requirements graduate with Honors distinction. To earn Honors distinction on transcripts students must be admitted into the Honors Program. Entering RCC Students must have earned a B+ high school average and scored at least 250 and 5 on the reading and writing placement exams. Current RCC students and transfer students are eligible for admission into the Honors Program if they have completed 12 college level credits with a minimum 3.2 GPA. Current RCC students and transfer students who were not previously in a Commonwealth Honors Program must provide one faculty letter of recommendation. 

Once students have been accepted into the program, they must meet the following requirements: 

• Maintain a 3.2 GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.2, students will be allowed to continue in the program for one probationary semester to raise it. 
• Maintain at least a "B" average in all Honors courses. 
• Take at least 3 Honors courses (9 or more credits), including one Honors Colloquium.  
• Students may complete an Honors Project in place of one of the honors courses*.   
• *Students may not complete an Honors Project to get credit for an Honors Colloquium. 

Click here to download an application to RCC's Honors Program. 

Honors courses are distinguished by their attention to student inquiry, writing, critical thinking, class discussion and oral presentation. Faculty who teach honors courses are encouraged to provide opportunities for laboratory or field research, archival or library research, activities in the creative arts and access to student enrichment activities such as guest speakers, service opportunities or other activities that promote learning excellence. Faculty interested in teaching honors courses should complete the form below and send it directly to Jason M. Laguna at jlaguna@rcc.mass.edu. 

The following Honors courses were offered during the Fall 2023 semester:

• ENG 101 HO English Composition 1 Honors

• SSI 111 HO Black Studies 1 Honors

• SSI 208 HO Introduction to Social Science Research Methods Honors

• SSI 203 HO Psychology of Racism Honors

The following Honors courses are being offered during the Spring 2024 semester:

• CJP 203 HO Restorative Justice in Courts Honors

• ENG 101 HO English Composition 1 Honors

• ENG 102 HO English Composition 2 Honors

• SCI 123 HO Principles of Chemistry 1 Honors

• SSI 112 HO Black Studies 2 Honors

• SSI 290 HO Honors Colloquium

Click here to download the Honors Course Proposal Form. 

Students may receive Honors designation for a regular course if they successfully complete an Honors Project. The Project deepens engagement in the course content and should be above and beyond the requirements for the standard course. Honors Projects may be facilitated through lab research, creative production or artwork, archival or literary research, social science study, or service learning. Honors Project applications are accepted at the beginning of each semester and must be submitted to the Honors Program Coordinator by the end of the 4th week. 

Click here to download the Honors Project Contract. 

The Honors Program is affiliated with Commonwealth Honors Program (CHP), National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC), and International Honors Society (Phi Theta Kappa). 

Students should contact Professor Jason M. Laguna at jlaguna@rcc.mass.edu or 857-701-1506 to learn more.