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The Honors Program at HCC

At Harford Community College we understand that if you're not challenged, nothing changes.

The Honors Program exemplifies this.

We're looking for students who are interested in pursuing intellectual challenges and opportunities above and beyond their program of study—those who know they can make a difference in the world and those who inspire a spirit and readiness for what's next.

Are you academically talented? Curious? Eager to engage with new ideas and experiences? We're excited to meet you.

Mission Statement

Mission Statement

The HCC Honors Committee recognizes that academically talented and curious students flourish in a challenging environment. Therefore, the mission of the HCC Honors Program is to: 

  • Nurture and challenge academically talented and curious students
  • Create an intellectual environment that stimulates high-level critical and creative thinking
  • Provide engaging experiences for students to deepen and enrich their scholarly knowledge, social networks, and professional opportunities 

The Honors Committee is also committed to mentor and lift students up to reach their highest academic standards through: 

  • completion of the Honors Program,
  • completion of their programs of study,
  • and completion of their academic and career goals beyond HCC, including transfer to other honors programs.

Eligibility/Criteria

Admission to the Honors Program is based on eligibility at the time of application submission. In certain circumstances, exceptions may be permitted with the consent of the instructor or Dean. 

NEW STUDENTS 

New students applying to the Honors Program must:
• have applied to the College
• be eligible to enroll in college-level English and reading 
• earn a qualifying score on math assessment
• have achieved a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.2 in high school

CURRENT and NEW TRANSFER STUDENTS

Current and new transfer students applying to the Honors Program must:
• be eligible to enroll in college-level English and reading 
• earn a qualifying score on math assessment
• possess a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.2 and have earned a minimum of nine credits in college-level courses
OR
• have earned a 1200 or higher composite SAT score or a score of 24 or higher on the ACT. 

CONTINUOUS HONOR PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

To remain eligible for the Honors Program over multiple semesters, a student must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in Honors courses AND an overall minimum GPA of 3.20.

COMPLETION

To successfully complete the Honors Program and earn an Honors designation on your transcript, you must earn a minimum of 9 credits  in Honors courses, possess a minimum 3.20 cumulative GPA in all honors courses upon completion of the Program AND hold an overall minimum GPA of 3.20.

Honor Societies

Consider joining an honor society at Harford Community College.

Each honor society has its own set of requirements and benefits but all allow you to stand out as an exemplary student who goes beyond what is expected or asked, purely for the sake of becoming the best they can be. So challenge yourself. And take advantage of the opportunity to show prospective universities and employers all you have achieved.

NOTE: Honors Societies at Harford are individually run extracurricular organizations that often have a regional or national affiliation. The Honors Program at Harford is an academic program with requiring students to take advanced Honor courses each semester.

Honor Societies at HCC:

LAMBDA EPSILON CHI 

PHI THETA KAPPA

ALPHA DELTA NU NURSING HONOR SOCIETY

DELTA ALPHA PI

PSI BETA NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY IN PSYCHOLOGY

MU ALPHA THETA

Scholarship Opportunities

THE HONORS PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship is awarded to students who earn an A or B in an Honors course at Harford. It provides students with the cost of tuition for one subsequent Honors Course. The Honors Scholarship may be awarded to students twice during their studies in Harford's Honors Program.

TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS

Honors Program completers who earn an overall 3.50 GPA or above are eligible to seamlessly transfer to the Honors Program at one of the following colleges and universities in addition to receiving the benefits shown below:

• Transfer to the Honors Program at Towson University and receive a $1,250 annual scholarship
• Transfer to Goucher College and receive an $8,000 scholarship
• Transfer to the Honors Program at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and receive a $4,000 annual scholarship and up to $6,500 with membership to Phi Theta Kappa
• Automatic admission to the Salisbury Honors College and receive a $1,000 scholarship
• Automatic admission to the University of Baltimore’s Helen P. Denit Honors Program
• Automatic admission to Sweet Briar College’s Honors Program
• Automatic admission to the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore’s Honors Program