About the Honors Program

The Honors Program provides students an opportunity for enriched academic experiences as well as engagement in an inclusive environment that promotes community and personal discovery.

Successful completion of program outcomes may give students in the Honors Program a competitive edge in consideration for transfer admission to some four-year colleges and universities.

Students interested in virtually every major can participate in the Honors Program while making progress toward graduation from MiraCosta College and transfer to a four-year institution. Honors students are guided by a Transfer Center counselor to establish an individualized education plan that best suits their particular educational and transfer goals. 

Additionally, the Honors Program cultivates a heightened sense of community for its members by actively supporting social activities, learning groups, and cultural outings that build camaraderie and public service. The Honors Lounge, located in Building 4700 at the Oceanside Campus, provides communal space for students to study, collaborate, and socialize.

Honors courses are designed to develop exceptional academic ability by providing challenging coursework through intensive instruction from outstanding faculty in small classes and individual contract experiences. These courses fulfill California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) requirements and are offered every semester at both the Oceanside and San Elijo Campuses, as well as online.  

Of special note, students in the Honors Program have opportunities to present and publish their academic work at distinguished undergraduate research conferences in California.

Honors Program Transfer Partnerships

The Honors Program at MiraCosta College is a certified member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), closely coordinating our program outcomes with admission requirements for UCLA’s College of Letters and Science.

The Honors Program is also a certified member of UC Irvine's "Transfer Honors" and "Honors to Honors" programs. At UC Irvine, honors students enjoy benefits such as priority registration, academic mentorship, library study rooms, and specialized research opportunities. 

As an active member of the Honors Transfer Council of California, the Western Regional Honors Conference, and the National Honors Collegiate Council, the Honors Program enjoys other transfer partnerships with dozens of colleges and universities.

Honors Navigators

Honors students interested in leadership development may apply to become an Honors Navigator. Students carefully selected for this role serve as peer mentors or project leaders and participate in outreach efforts for the Honors Program.

Current Honors Curriculum

Any student may enroll in an honors course or seek an honors contract, and there is no additional cost to take honors coursework or participate in the Honors Program.

Complete at least 15 units from the following list of courses:
ANTH 101H	Biological Anthropology (Honors)
ART 260H	History of Modern Art (Honors)
ENGL 201H	Critical Thinking, Composition, and Literature (Honors)
ENGL C1001H	Critical Thinking and Writing (Honors)
ETHN 100H	Introduction to Ethnic Studies (Honors)
FILM 101H	Introduction to Film (Honors)
HIST 100H	World History to 1500 (Honors)
HIST 101H	World History Since 1500 (Honors)
HIST 110H	United States History to 1877 (Honors)
HIST 111H	United States History Since 1877 (Honors)
LIBR 201H	Media & Information Literacy (Honors)
MATH 150H	Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (Honors)
OCEA 101H	Introduction to Oceanography (Honors)
PHIL 101H	Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality (Honors)
PSYC 104H	Statistics for Behavioral Science (Honors)
PSYC C1000H	Introduction to Psychology (Honors)
RELG 101H	World Religions (Honors)
SOC 101H	Introduction to Sociology (Honors)

Honors Contracts

Honors contracts extend an opportunity for individualized and intensive instruction in close communication between the student and their instructor. Honors contracts are available for many but not all courses, and students can pursue an honors contract in a course without being a member of the Honors Program. Students who are interested in pursuing an honors contract should ask their instructor whether contracts are available in their course. For more information, please visit the Honors Contracts webpage.

Program Admission 

Any student can join the Honors Program. MiraCosta College welcomes students who share a passion for learning to participate in our Honors Program activities and take honors coursework. There is no additional cost to join the Honors Program or enroll in honors coursework.

Steps to join the Honors Program are outlined on the Honors Program webpage. Students who wish to learn more about the Honors Program are encouraged to email the Honors Office (honors@miracosta.edu) for information.

Program Certifications

Honors Certifications

Honors Certifications	MiraCosta College Honors Scholar Certification	UCLA Transfer Alliance Program Certification	UC Irvine "Honors to Honors" Certification	UC Riverside "Honors to Honors" Certification
Minimum cumulative GPA in degree applicable coursework*	3.25	3.5	3.7	3.25
Completion of 15 units of honors coursework**	yes	yes	yes	yes
Involvement for two semesters in MCC Honors Program (honors coursework or enrichment activities)	yes	n/a	yes	yes
Enrollment in honors courses for two semesters at MCC	n/a	yes	yes	yes
Transfer-focused education plan on file with Transfer Center	yes	n/a	yes	yes
TAP-focused education plan on file with Transfer Center	n/a	yes	n/a	n/a
Demonstrated responsible and ethical behavior	yes	yes	yes	yes

n/a = not applicable 

*

Up to two honors courses may be taken Pass/No Pass.

**

Up to two honors courses from other colleges may be included in unit count.