Honors Points

Honors Points are the way we track student achievement of the academic requirements of the program.

Students must earn the equivalent of 15 credits of honors-level academic work by the time they receive their undergraduate degree. We use the word “points” instead of using the word “credits” because we recognize that students can strive above and beyond a typical academic program in co-curricular ways. Generally speaking, one point is equivalent to one credit for an academic course. For example, completing any 3-credit honors course earns three points.

To fulfill the academic requirements you must meet the GPA standard specified for your year level (3.2 upon entry to the program, increased by a tenth of a percent each year until reaching a 3.5 or greater in year 4 and beyond) and complete honors-level academic work in three categories (This is an abbreviated description of the Honors Academic Requirements - please see the Honors handbook for additional details:

• Honors in General Education - 3 points - usually done as a first year Honors seminar
• Honors in the Discipline - 3 points of upper level academic work
• Other Honors Achievements - 9 points of "elective" coursework or Honors experiences
• Students must complete at least 1 honors point per year until achieving at least 15 points

Honors Courses

Honors courses are identified by the honors attribute in the bulletin, and often by name (e.g., MATH-241H Honors Linear Algebra). Successful completion of an n-credit honors course counts as n points. You must pass the course with a standard letter grade (grades of “pass” and "satisfactory" are ineligible for honors points.

Students do not need to tell the Program office about successful completion of honors courses - records are updated automatically after final grades are submitted. 

Honors Options

If you take a course that you're passionate about, go above and beyond with an honors option. An honors option typically involves a project supervised by the instructor that enhances the course, culminating in a presentation. An honors option can also count for the In the Discipline requirement if for a class in the field of your primary major.

Students submit honors option applications at the start of each semester for approval by the Honors Office. Points cannot be earned if the option is not approved by the Honors office. At the end of the semester, after delivering the deliverables and completing the presentation, students report their honors option points here (select 'Honors Option", or 'Honors in the Discipline: Honors Option', and answer the required questions).

Need inspiration? Examples of past Honors Options can be found here. 

Graduate Courses 

Up to six credits of graduate level courses (600-level of above) can count as Honors points. A graduate course can also fulfill the Honors In the Discipline requirement if related to your primary field of study. For students in the Accelerated Scholars Program, graduate courses that double count are allowed. 

Report honors points for a graduate course here (select 'Graduate Course', or 'Honors in the Discipline: Graduate Course', and answer the required questions). Points will be awarded after SIS posts final grades. 

Non-required Co-op or Internship

If a student has already completed their major's co-op requirement, additional weeks can earn up to 3 honors points. A non-required co-op/internship must still fall within your program's definition of co-op/internship and be in your field.

Report points here (select 'Non-required Internship and Co-op', and answer the required questions).

Points are awarded as follows: 1-3 full weeks earns 1 Point; 4-9 full weeks earns 2 Points; 10+ full weeks earns 3 Points.

International Experiences

If your primary degree does not require a study/work abroad, the weeks spent completing an academic international experience can earn up to 3 honors points. The activity must be approved by RIT, either through RIT Global or the Office of Career Services and Co-op. If the international travel is part of an honors course, you will earn the larger of the available points (e.g., the honors points associated with the course, or the honors points associated with international experiences, but not both).

Report honors points here (select 'International Experiences', and answer the required questions).

Honors points are awarded as follows: 1-3 full weeks earns 1 Point; 4-9 full weeks earns 2 Points; 10+ full weeks earns 3 Points.

Faculty Mentored Independent Study

Is there a topic that piques your interest but it’s not in a course? Make one! Many professors are amenable to helping you develop a plan of study and guiding you toward new ideas and skills. Most programs have an independent study course that you can enroll in with prior approval from a professor. The 'course' should be 200-level or higher, and must be submitted for approval as an Honors option in the start of the semester.

Upon successful completion, report your points here (select 'Honors Option', and answer the required questions). The course name and number will correspond to the independent study you enrolled in on SIS.

Faculty Mentored Research

If a professor is doing research in an area that interests you, get involved! Non-required research can count up to 3 points per semester, and if related to your field, it counts as In the Discipline. Your work may be part of a larger, on-going research effort; it does not need to start and stop with you.

To earn honors points, you must produce a written report that you submit to the Honors Office, and give a public presentation of your work. Students can still earn honors points if they are on a stipend or earning academic credit.

Honors points are awarded as follows: 60 hours earns 1 Point; 120 earns 2 Points; 180 earns 3 Points.

Report your points here (choose 'Research/Scholarship (Faculty Sponsored)', or 'Honors in the Discipline: Research/Scholarship', and answer the following questions).

Competitive Scholarships

One honors point can be earned by completing an application for an international fellowship through RIT Global. Eligible programs include the Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes, Schwarzman, Churchill, and Fulbright (full, not summer). Candidates must meet with Jenny Sullivan in the RIT Global Office, as she will provide verification of your application.

Report points here (select 'Competitive Fellowships and Awards', and answer the required questions).

Coached Entrepreneurship

Points are determined by a Coach from the RIT Simone Center, based on entrepreneurial waypoints (progress toward creation of a company) and participation in designated experiences that foster entrepreneurship such as the Simone Center IdeaLab. Students can earn up to 3 Points for this experience.

Report points here (select 'Entrepreneurship (Faculty Mentored/Coached)', and answer the required questions).

Submit Honors Points here.

After completing one of the above experiences, it's time to submit Honors Points! The specific process can be found under any of the above options, or a general process is listed below:

1. Navigate to 'user tools'->'Honors Points' or click here.

2. Select the appropriate submission type,

3. Answer the required questions and submit.