Honors Program

The Honors Program at Scott Community College aims to provide outstanding students with opportunities to further enrich their education. Through participation in this rigorous program, students are challenged to explore advanced topics, gain experience in their chosen fields, and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Students who participate in the Honors Program not only receive special recognition, they also encounter unique opportunities that allow them to earn college credit while pursuing advanced courses, developing special interests, working closely with faculty mentors, and serving their community.

Becoming an Honors Student


The Honors Program is designed for students who are academically successful, creative, thoughtful, and service-oriented. In order to participate in the Honors Program, students must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Current SCC students must have completed at least 12 credit hours of college level courses with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
  • Incoming high school students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5, a minimum ACT score of 25, a minimum SAT score of 1000, or previous participation in a high school TAG program.

Students who are interested in joining the Honors Program or verifying eligibility are encouraged to contact Brooke Oehme, boehme@eicc.edu or 563-441-4129.

Participating in the Honors Program


The Honors Program consists of three core components: Honors Seminars, Honors Independent Studies, and Honors Service Projects.

An Honors Seminar is a three credit-hour humanities course that is designed specifically for SCC Honors Program participants. Taught in a traditional classroom setting, these courses explore advanced topics that challenge students to further develop their abilities to think critically and creatively. The instructor and topic of this course change every semester.

An Honors Independent Study is a one credit-hour course in which the student designs and completes a project that is of personal interest to them. Throughout the semester, the student works closely with a faculty mentor who provides the student with guidance on the project and expertise on the subject matter.

An Honors Service Learning Project is a one credit-hour course in which students are given an opportunity to serve their community while deepening their knowledge in their field of study. In order to complete an Honors Service Project, students must complete 33 hours of volunteer service at a not-for-profit organization, keep a journal of their experiences, and write a reaction paper.

To graduate from the Honors Program, students must complete at least four courses within the Honors Program: at least one of each of the courses listed above, and either an additional Seminar or an additional Independent Study.

Even if students are unable to complete all of the requirements for special Honors distinction upon graduation, they are still welcome to participate in the Honors Program. All Honors Seminars, Independent Studies, and Service Projects will appear on the student’s college transcript, even if the student does not complete all of the requirements to graduate from the Honors Program.