Honors Program (all campuses)
971-722-5009 or 971-722-4081
Description
The Honors Program at PCC offers motivated students the opportunity to participate in classes and activities meant to challenge them to reach their potential. The program attempts to create a cohort of motivated students working toward their academic goals. The program includes coursework, extracurricular activities, and a capstone experience.
The bulk of an honors student’s program is taken in designated general education courses, such as WR 121H or COMM 111H. Students should take HON 101 early in their program which develops a cohort and provides leadership opportunities as they work toward the final course involving the completion of a capstone project.
Honors courses are open to all PCC students having a minimum GPA of 3.25 whether or not they are admitted to the program. Full membership in the program, however, offers significant benefits. Please contact a program representative for further information.
Honors Courses
HON 101. Introduction to Honors: Scholarly Inquiry. 2 Credits.
Guides motivated students into the theory and practice of scholarly reading, researching, writing and presenting academic work. Students will learn to explore the serious questions of our world. The students will begin to build their Honors program portfolio of work. This course should be taken early in the student's experience and will define a cohort of Honors students. Prepares students to succeed in multiple academic environments. Develops skills required to transfer. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and 3.25 GPA.
Art
ART 206H. History of Western Art: Honors. 4 Credits.
This is the honors version. Examines visual art and architecture as a reflection of human interaction with the socio-political and physical environment. Focuses on viewing, analyzing and comparing many art forms in an historical context, and covers the Renaissance and Baroque periods, beginning about 1300 CE. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and 3.25 GPA. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/AAOT, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B.
Biology
BI 101H. Biology: Honors. 4 Credits.
An honors laboratory science course designed for non-biology majors. Introduces the properties of life, morphology and physiology of cells, cell chemistry, energy transformation, and the basic principles of ecology. Course explores the application of biological principles to other disciplines. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement AND 3.25 GPA. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Science, Math, Computer Science/ASOT-B, Science, Math, Computer Science/AAS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AGS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AAOT.
Communication Studies
COMM 111H. Public Speaking: Honors. 4 Credits.
Honors version of COMM 111. Introduces speechmaking based primarily on a traditional public speaking approach. Covers classical rhetorical theory and highlights rhetoric's importance to public speaking. Develops theoretical understanding and practical application of oral communication skills. Includes techniques in controlling speech anxiety, how to structure and organize information to present to a variety of audiences, and physical and vocal delivery skills. GPA 3.25 minimum. Prerequisite: MTH 20 or equivalent placement test score, and WR 121. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/ASOT-B, Arts and Letters/AAOT, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS.
History
HST 101H. History of Western Civilization: Ancient to Medieval Honors. 4 Credits.
Honors version of HST 101. Explores the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Covers development of Judeo-Christian beliefs, early Islamic civilization, Byzantine civilization, and early medieval Europe. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and GPA 3.25 minimum. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/ASOT-B, Social Sciences/AAOT.
HST 102H. History of Western Civilization: Medieval to Modern - Honors. 4 Credits.
Honors version of HST 102. Covers the High Middle Ages and early modern Europe, including the Renaissance, Reformation, Scientific Revolution, Enlightenment and the French Revolution. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and GPA 3.25 minimum. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/ASOT-B.
HST 103H. History of Western Civilization: Modern Europe - Honors. 4 Credits.
Honors version of HST 103. Covers the history of nineteenth- and twentieth-century Europe including, nationalism, imperialism, socialism, Nazism, the Russian Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and the world wars and their aftermath. Required: GPA 3.25 minimum. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Social Sciences/ASOT-B, Social Sciences/AAOT, Social Sciences/AS, Social Sciences/AAS, Social Sciences/AGS.
Mathematics
MTH 111H. College Algebra: Honors. 5 Credits.
Honors version of MTH 111. Explores relations and functions graphically, numerically, symbolically, and verbally. Examines exponential, logarithmic, polynomial, and rational functions. Investigates applications from a variety of perspectives. Graphing technology is required, such as Desmos and/or GeoGebra which are available at no cost. The PCC math department recommends that students take MTH courses in consecutive terms. Recommended: MTH 95 taken within the past 4 terms. Prerequisite: MTH 95 and (RD 115 and WR 115) or IRW 115 or equivalent placement. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Science, Math, Computer Science/ASOT-B, Science, Math, Computer Science/AAS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AGS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AS, Science, Math, Computer Science/AAOT.
Philosophy
PHL 201H. Being and Knowing: Honors. 4 Credits.
Honors version of PHL 201. Introduces metaphysics and the theory of knowledge via the works of important figures in the history of philosophy. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and 3.25 GPA. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/ASOT-B, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAOT.
PHL 202H. Ethics: Honors. 4 Credits.
Honors version of PHL 202. Studies attempts by philosophers to account for the difference between right and wrong, for the notion of moral obligation and to answer the question: How should we lead our lives? Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement, and 3.25 GPA. Audit available. This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Arts and Letters/ASOT-B, Arts and Letters/AAS, Arts and Letters/AGS, Arts and Letters/AS, Arts and Letters/AAOT.
Writing
WR 121H. English Composition: Honors. 4 Credits.
This is the Honors version. Focuses on academic writing as a means of inquiry. Uses critical reading, discussion and the writing process to explore ideas, develop cultural awareness and formulate positions. Emphasizes development of a variety of strategies to present evidence in support of a thesis. Prerequisite: 3.25 GPA and placement into WR 121, or completion of (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115. Audit available.
WR 122H. English Composition: Honors. 4 Credits.
Honors WR 122. Focuses on argument as a means of inquiry, clear and appropriate writing style, and critical reading. Explores ideas and issues through discussion and writing. Students compose analytical, argumentative, and/or expository essays with appropriate documentation. Students will explore principles of classical and neoclassical rhetoric theory while becoming confident members of the academic community. Prerequisite: WR 121 and 3.25 GPA. Audit available.