Honors Program

Overview

The CSM Honors Program was established with one goal in mind: to seek out students of exceptional ability and purpose, and to provide these students with the education they merit.

The program is open to all students regardless of major, age, or background and leads to an A.A./A.S. degree and/or transfer to the University of California or California State University systems in the junior year.

Affiliation may be at one of three levels:

1. President's Scholar – completes the full Honors Program curriculum before Graduation and/or transfer
2. Associate – takes a minimum of one Honors Program course per semester
3. Member – takes a minimum of one Honors Program course in any semester

Entry requirements vary with level of affiliation, but generally include a grade point average of 3.3 and eligibility for English 100, or other achievements which indicate ability to benefit from honors courses. President's Scholars will complete approximately 18 units in the program, made up of selected general education breadth courses and a Capstone Thesis in their major. Additional units will be needed to satisfy degree requirements and will be taken outside the program.

Students interested in applying should talk with their counselor/advisor and the Honors Program Coordinator in Building 15, Room 121, or call (650) 574-6638.

Honors at Graduation
Honors are awarded at graduation (A.A./A.S. degree) as follows, based upon GPA in all degree-applicable courses taken at College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College, together with GPA of those transfer courses used to meet graduation requirements.

• 3.30 - 3.49 Graduation with Honors
• 3.50 - 4.00 Graduation with High Honors

If transfer units are needed as electives to meet total unit requirements, units in courses most recently completed are utilized and included in the GPA calculation. If options exist within a semester to select among elective transfer courses, units are selected that most positively benefit the student’s GPA.

In every case, the student’s cumulative GPA in degree-applicable courses taken only at College of San Mateo, Cañada College and Skyline College must equal or exceed the minimum required GPA for the honors category for which the student is being considered.