Introduction
The New England College Honors Program (NECHP) offers special challenges and opportunities to a limited number of academically talented and highly motivated undergraduate students. It fosters collaborative relationships between students and faculty through small intensive classes, a faculty mentor system for introducing students to the intellectual standards and methodologies of academic disciplines, and informal contacts encouraged by co-curricular offerings. NECHP courses and projects represent additional opportunities for academically gifted and adventurous students; they are not an alternative curriculum. Honors programs are designed to nurture talent by providing opportunities to go farther into an academic discipline, to broaden and deepen an education beyond the usual required work, and to nurture and reward genuine intellectual curiosity.
Eligibility
Students may be admitted to the NECHP based on their academic achievements prior to their entry into the College. Criteria for admission to NEC as Honors students might include, but may not be limited to, one or more of the following:
- High School GPA (3.25 or better)
- Recommendations from two qualified referees aware of the competitive nature of the program.
- Application essay (specific to the NECHP application process)
Transfer Student Eligibility:
- Transfer GPA of 3.0 or above
- Recommendations from two qualified referees aware of the competitive nature of the program
- Application essay (specific to the NECHP application process)
NEC students
Students may apply to the program during their first year. Criteria through which second‐year might enter the program include exceptional performance in first‐year courses (including Honors versions of the 1st year courses which any highly motivated student might attempt with the instructor’s permission), a record of achievement in another college’s honors program and the recommendation of two or more Faculty members.
- An NEC GPA of 3.25 after 30 credits of work
- Recommendations from two qualified referees aware of the competitive nature of the program
- Application essay (specific to the NECHP application process)
Why should students aspire to become Honors Scholars at NEC?
- Challenging core courses
- Interaction with an outstanding group of peers
- Social and intellectual activities outside the classroom
- Priority registration
- Transcript notation of Honor’s Diploma can have practical benefits: prospective employers and graduate admissions committees often look carefully at an undergraduate record for evidence of extra initiative and genuine intellectual strength.
Honors Curriculum
Each Honors Scholar must complete a minimum of four honors courses and must enroll in the interdisciplinary honors seminar each semester that they are a student at NEC. In the junior or senior year, the student will conduct two semesters work on an honors project that is separate from any capstone or senior thesis required by the major. The student will work with a faculty mentor and will also be advised by an honors project committee of two additional faculty members.
Honors Research and Scholarly Work Symposium
At the end of the Spring Semester the honors students will help organize a showcase of scholarly and artistic work. Juniors and Seniors conducting an “honors project” will present their projects at this event.
Honors Diploma
Program Requirements for an Honors Diploma:
A student will receive an “honors diploma” by completion of all of the following
- A total of 4 designated Honors classes which may include Honors LAS 1 , Honors LAS 2 and Honors LAS 7 and/or additional honors eligible courses.
- Interdisciplinary honors seminar (total of five semesters) that the student is enrolled in the program.
- Honors Project and Presentation
- Final GPA of 3.25 or above
Honors Committee
The Honors Committee consists of the Director of the Honors Program and one faculty member from each of the College’s academic divisions.
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