Arts and Sciences (ASC) Honors Program Information for New Members
The ASC Honors Program is designed to provide a stimulating and diverse educational environment in which even the most accomplished students have numerous, diverse, and challenging opportunities to examine and develop their interests, talents, and intellectual capabilities at all stages of their college careers.
Some key features of the ASC Honors Program include:
- Dual advising system: All ASC Honors students are assigned to an Honors academic advisor and at least one departmental major advisor. You can find your departmental major advisor here. It is recommended that you see meet with your ASC Honors academic advisor at least once per semester.
- Distinct class structure: Honors courses are typically smaller in size, more discussion-based, and taught by some of our most distinguished faculty members.
- Challenging curriculum: All ASC Honors students are required to take Honors and upper-level coursework to fulfill a substantial portion of their General Education (GE) requirements. In many cases, students are also required to complete Honors coursework within their chosen major(s) and/or minor(s).
The ASC Honors program may be a good fit for you if:
- You want to be challenged by more in-depth and rigorous coursework and believe you can handle a more challenging curriculum.
- You are interested in more opportunities for interaction with faculty, staff, and fellow students.
- You are interested in becoming a part of the smaller community of Honors students at Ohio State.
The ASC Honors program may not be a good fit for you if:
- You want priority scheduling (this is one benefit of the Honors program, but should not be the main reason you decide to enroll).
- You want to take only small classes (even in the Honors program, students will take certain classes that will be larger in size).
- You took mainly Honors courses in high school and believe you should continue Honors in college (the Honors program is not a good fit for everyone, and that is okay; be sure you are making the best choice for you).
Important considerations:
- If you have already completed a major portion of the GE requirements through applicable AP/IB (EM) credit, transfer (K) credit, or non-Honors courses, it is worthwhile to consider whether joining the Honors program (and potentially completing additional GE requirements) is the right choice for you.
- For example, if you have already taken, or have credit for, Psychology 1100 and Political Science 1100, you have already completed your Social Science GE requirements. Since these are not considered Honors-quality or upper-level courses, however, you would be required to take 2 additional Honors-quality or upper-level Social Science GE courses, if accepted to the Honors program.
- It is perfectly appropriate for you to decide not to join Honors if it would mean a significant amount of additional coursework.