The Honors Program, also called Honors in General Education, adds value to a Chico State degree and enhances opportunities after graduation by providing an innovative, inclusive, and challenging interdisciplinary arts and sciences education that culminates in an integrative capstone project. The program attracts and supports an inquisitive and diverse group of first-year, transfer, and international students through personalized advising, engaged faculty, and intentional community.
Honors Program students receive many benefits, including:
- Early registration for courses
- Individual and personalized advising
- Community with other Honors students
- Instruction from award-winning faculty
- Student lounge with snacks, computers, and printing
- Honors recognition on diploma and transcript
Who should join Honors?
Any student who is eager to learn about topics beyond their major and discuss books and big ideas with award-winning and content-expert faculty in small classes.
How do I know if I am eligible to enroll in the Honors Program?
Any current or admitted Chico State student who is committed to excellence may enroll in the Honors Program. For admitted freshmen, there are no GPA or test-score requirements to enroll. For transfer/continuing students, there is a 3.0 GPA requirement to enroll.
What is expected of students in Honors courses?
The Honors faculty ask that students be curious and care about the well-being of others.
When should I enroll?
Enroll as soon as possible. Space is limited, and the enrollment period will conclude when we have reached capacity.
Before enrolling, students in the following high-unit majors must first receive permission from Honors advisor Tricia Sweet:
- Computer Information Systems
- Computer Science
- Liberal Studies (a BA degree for students planning to apply to a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential program)
- Mathematics (Option in Mathematics Education)
- Music (Option in Music Education)
- Nursing and Pre-Nursing
These majors require multiple and specific non-Honors courses for Honors GE Areas, and Honors students from these majors commit to re-taking at least one GE Area (thus adding units to graduation).
How do I enroll?
Enrolling in the Honors Program only requires a few clicks(opens in new window) and then you will complete your enrollment by either:
- Uploading a file of something that you are proud of (either something that you have created or a description of something that you have accomplished); or
- Speaking with an Honors Program staff member at a recruitment event (for admitted students) or with the Honors Program director (for continuing students)
Due to capacity, the Honors Program is no longer able to enroll new transfer students or continuing students. Please check back in late September.
What GE subject areas are required in the Honors Program?
For Honors in General Education:
- Area 1C Oral Communication (HNRS 100)
- Area 3A Arts (HNRS 101)
- Area 3B Humanities (HNRS 102W)
- Area 5A Physical Sciences (HNRS 103)
- Area 6 Ethnic Studies (HNRS 300)
- Upper-Division 3 Arts and Humanities (HNRS 391W or HNRS 392)
- Upper-Division 4 Social Sciences (HNRS 390 or HNRS 393)
- Upper-Division 5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (HNRS 350)
For Honors in Upper-Division General Education:
- Upper-Division 3 Arts and Humanities (HNRS 391W or HNRS 392)
- Upper-Division 4 Social Sciences (HNRS 390 or HNRS 393)
- Upper-Division 5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (HNRS 350)
What if I want to change from Honors in GE to Honors in Upper-division GE?
Easy! Just complete these steps: 1) Talk to Tricia SweetHonors Advisor; 2) Email registrar@csuchico.edu and request to drop Honors in GE (remember to provide your student ID number); 3) Create a plan change form by logging in and entering your student ID number and then select "certificate" and "add" and select "Honors in Upper Division General Education" from the dropdown menu and finally click "save/print"; and 4) Email the downloaded file to jnice@csuchico.edu and in your email simply request that you would like to change from Honors in GE to Honors in Upper-Division GE.
What if I have satisfied some GE subject areas prior to enrolling?
In some cases, students are unable to complete all course requirements. In these cases, students may request the following substitutions from the Honors Advisor or Honors Director.
- For Honors in General Education
- a maximum of two Honors lower-division GE Areas (1C, 3A, 3B, 5A, or 6) may be substituted with required GE course(s) for the major or with courses completed prior to admission to Honors;
- a maximum of one Honors upper-division GE Area (3, 4, or 5) may be substituted with a required GE course or substitution for their major;
- Honors GE Area(s) may be substituted by a successful AP, IB, or CLEP test score; and
- Honors GE Area(s) may be substituted by study abroad courses.
- For Honors in Upper-Division General Education
- a maximum of one Honors upper-division GE Area (3, 4, or 5) may be substituted with a required GE course or substitution for their major; and
- transfer students must complete at least three Honors (HNRS) courses to graduate with Honors in General Education.
Is the Honors Program open to students in online degree programs?
Unfortunately, at this time we can't offer enough online sections, so the program is not a good fit for students in fully online degree programs.
What if I want to leave the Honors program?
No problem! If you'd like to leave the program - and not graduate with Honors in General Education - just complete these steps: 1) Talk to Tricia Sweet Honors Advisor; and then 2) SSend an email with your student ID number and a request to drop Honors in General Education to registrar@csuchico.edu(opens in new window) and jnice@csuchico.edu.
Is the Honors Program committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion?
Yes! The Honors Program recognizes that historically underserved students have not had equal access to Honors programming in high school and college, and we seek to maximize the recruitment, retention, support, and graduation of diverse students. The Honors Program is committed to supporting an inclusive, accessible, and equitable learning environment that embraces diversity of thought, freedom of expression, and respect for others.
Is the Honors Program the same as Honors in the Major or Honors at Graduation (summa cum laude, etc.)?
No. The Honors Program is Honors in General Education. Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. See the University Catalog(opens in new window) for a definition of Honors in the Major, as well as information about the Dean's List and Honors at Graduation (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude)
How much input do students have?
Honors students have direct access to the program director and to the program advisor. The program also conducts course evaluations for each Honors class every semester, soliciting the anonymous input of all students in the class. These evaluations encourage students to share their opinions regarding Honors classes and the program in general. Finally, an Honors Student Advisory Council (open to all) provides a formal mechanism for students to provide input to the Honors Director.
Are there social aspects to the program?
Yes. The Honors program, besides accommodating about half the Honors Freshmen in the Honors Housing, sponsors program-wide events every year – all involving free food and socializing: a fall welcome, a finals fuel-up at the end of each semester, as well as Celebration of Excellence for graduates. We also have monthly events in the Honors Lounge (such as cookie decorating, ice cream socials, etc.).
How do I register for Honors classes?
You register for Honors courses the same way as other classes: through your Portal(opens in new window) account. You will find Honors courses listed in the Class Schedule. Special advising for Honors students is available at summer orientation and throughout the year.
Do I need to maintain a certain GPA?
Yes. To graduate with Honors in General Education, you need a 3.0 GPA in General Education courses.
Is it possible to earn Honors in GE and study abroad?
Yes! The Honors Program encourages its students to study abroad and offers one of the most flexible ways to study abroad while completing General Education requirements. Go to the study abroad website for more information about their programs, and make sure to stop in to speak with an Honors advisor before you leave.