Collin College

The National Society of Collegiate Scholars is an Honor Society which offers qualified students opportunities for internships, networking, and scholarships. Membership is by invitation, and students must maintain a 3.4 GPA or higher to be invited. The NSCS conducts an induction ceremony once a year.

For more information access the national website: NSCS.ORG

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest and most prestigious honor society among two-year colleges. Collin College enjoys a long and esteemed relationship with Phi Theta Kappa, which promotes academic achievement and offers qualified students networking and scholarship opportunities. Membership is by invitation, and students must have a 3.5 GPA or higher to be invited. PTK conducts an induction ceremony each semester.

To find out more, access the national web site: PTK.ORG

Benefits of membership include free graduation regalia.

• The Collin College PTK Facebook Page:
  https://www.facebook.com/collinptk
• Email questions about membership to the club email:
  PTK@collin.edu
• Check Facebook or email for information about current advisor.

• Graduates of the honors program who have earned an associate’s degree are guaranteed admission into TWU’s Honors Scholar Program.
• Students who have not graduated from the honors program are not guaranteed acceptance into TWU’s Honors Scholar Program.
• TWU will accept up to 12 hrs. of honors credit.
• All students in the Honors Scholar Program receive scholarship money that covers approximately 70% of costs.

• Students must maintain a GPA of at least a 3.35 on all completed college work and have up to a maximum of 72 total college hours when entering UNT Honors College.
• The UNT Honors College Scholar Award requires a total of 18 honors credits. Nine of which may be earned while enrolled at Collin College.
• The UNT Advanced Honors College Scholar Award requires a total of 12 honors credits earned as a student at UNT, including an honors thesis.  This award is only available to transfer students, but does not include transfer honors credits.
• The UNT Distinguished Honors College Scholar Award requires a total of 21 honors credits, including an honors thesis. Collin College students may count up to nine honors credits toward completion of this award.

What are the benefits of being in the Honors Institute?

• Exclusive access to the amenities in the honors suite.
• Smaller, more focused classes.
• Greater rapport with professors.
• First day registration privileges.
• Honor designation on transcript.
• Transfer agreements with honors programs at local universities.

How to take advantage of honors benefits such as free printing, scantrons, lounge area, and private study rooms:

Students currently enrolled in at least one honors course may make use of the Honors Institute during the semester in which they are enrolled.

What kind of recognition do I get for completing an honors course?

Students who complete honors courses enjoy a special honors notation on their transcripts.

Do honors courses cost more?

No, students do not pay more to enroll in an honors course.

Who can enroll in honors courses?

Any student with a 3.25 or higher cumulative GPA may enroll in an honors course.

How to register for honors courses?

• All Collin and dual credit Students may register either in person or through CougarWeb online.
• Students coming directly from high school must travel to the campus and must bring an official copy of their transcripts when registering.

Am I granted first day priority registration?

Yes, students with a GPA of 3.25 or higher at Collin may register on campus for honors courses the first day of registration, regardless of credit hours completed. Honors students must register face to face to enjoy priority registration.

What disciplines are offered?

Honors courses offered vary by semester, but a growing number of classes are included as Honors Institute listings.

Is creating a schedule that includes honors courses more difficult for students to manage?

No, the Honors Institute schedules courses at various times every weekday. The Honors Institute also provides courses on four campuses: Frisco, McKinney, Plano, and Wylie. Honors Institute staff understand that many students are enrolled in extracurricular activities so staff members do their best to schedule classes at times convenient for students' busy schedules.

How do honors courses differ from regular courses?

An honors course takes a slightly modified approach to education that will vary among professors. Honors classes are smaller and more specialized and emphasize critical thinking and contextual-learning. Classes may be designed to be more discussion-intensive than regular classroom formats, or they may include an honors project that varies depending on the course.

Are only certain majors able to participate in the Honors Institute?

The Honors Institute is available to all majors that meet the minimum GPA requirement of 3.25.

What if my GPA slips below a 3.25 one semester?

Students may not register for any honors courses until their GPA improves to at least a 3.25. If a GPA falls below 3.25 after registration, students will be dropped from the course.

Do I have to belong to the Honors Institute to graduate with honors?

No, graduating with honors is not dependent on being a member of the Honors Institute.  The term Graduating with Honors refers to students’ overall GPA at the time of graduation (cum laude with a 3.5 GPA, magna cum laude with a 3.75 and summa cum laude with 4.0).

I am interested in taking an honors course, but I do not want to add to the difficulty of my workload and cause a negative effect to my GPA. Should I just avoid taking any honors courses?

No, honors courses aren’t “more work” – they are “different work.” Honors courses are meant to enhance students' critical thinking skills and to provide them more agency in the ways they interact with the larger world. One benefit of taking an honors course is a closer rapport with instructors.

Will taking honors courses prolong my stay at Collin?

No, honors courses fit into the two-year core plan of the college. The great advantage of honors courses is that students do not have to change their academic plans or increase their time at Collin to receive a more specialized and rewarding classroom experience. 

 Am I able to take more than one honors course at a time?

Yes, students may register for multiple honors courses in one semester.

Are honors courses on a different grading scale?

Honors courses are on the same grading scale as any non-honors class.

Will college Honors be like honors courses in high school?

No, high school and college honors courses differ. High school honors classes are normal classes with difficult grading criteria. College honors courses are modified classes with the same grading criteria as normal college courses. Honors courses stimulate critical thinking, use provocative and innovative materials, and provide an informal, small class environment that encourages discussion and debate around important topics.

Will honors courses be too difficult for me?

No, if students have the eligible 3.25 GPA, they have already demonstrated the ability to succeed. Students also gain confidence in their own intellectual capabilities when they interact with other like-minded students who want to achieve academic success.