Honors Program

The heart of our program is in our Honors core courses. All Honors freshmen participate in our two introductory Honors seminars in their first year at ABAC and 12 hours of Core Honors courses. Students pursuing Bachelor’s and Associate’s degrees in any discipline can be recognized for completing the Honors Core and are recognized with a medal at graduation.  The Honors Program offers the following courses on a regular, rotating basis: 

Honors Core 

• BIOL-1107H - Principles of Biology I
• BIOL 1108H - Principles of Biology II
• CHEM 1211H - Principles in Chemistry I
• CHEM 1212H - Principles in Chemistry II
• COMM 1100H - Human Communication
• ECON 2105H - Principles of Macroeconomics
• ENGL 1101H - Composition I
• ENGL 1102H - Composition II
• ENGL 2111H - World Literature I
• ENGL 2112H - World Literature II
• HIST 2111H - United States History I
• HIST 2112H - United States History II
• POLS 1101H - American Government
• HNRS 1102 - Honors Seminar
• HUMN 1101H - Topics in the Humanities

Honors students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree at ABAC have the unique opportunity to customize their education to meet their specific goals and interests by working with the Honors Program and partnering with our faculty by adapting the content or scope of an existing course, pairing students with faculty to undertake mentored research outside the classroom, supporting student research through conference participation and senior projects.

• Students who complete the 12-hour Honors Core need to select three of the following options, including at least one course contracts.
• Students who do not complete the Honors Core, including transfer students, need to select five options, including at least two course contracts.

Course Contract 

Any 3000 or 4000 level course section can be converted to an Honors section via an Honors Contract. With approval from and in coordination with the course instructor, an Honors curriculum is created by the student. The Honors curriculum should reflect the Honors Program learning outcomes (found on the ABAC Honors Program website). Honors Contract work is not simply extra work. The work can be different, creative, or more in-depth than regular assignments. Ideally, the faculty member and student will create work that targets a student’s intended professional goals.

Honors Contract Policies

Honors Contract Course Approval Form

Conference Presentation

 All Honors students are encouraged to submit to academic conferences. These conferences are platforms upon which students enter the realm of professional communication. The Honors program offers state, regional, and national conferences to which a student may submit proposals for presentation. Other discipline specific conferences are available through your academic mentors. This Honors option requires the student to submit a conference proposal, be accepted, and present at the conference. The Honors Program has scholarships available to students to cover all or part of travel expenses and registration fees associated with presenting at conferences. 

Honors Conference Resources

• Georgia Collegiate Honors Council Conference 
• Southern Regional Honors Council Conference 
• Freddye T. Davy Scholarship 
• John J. Hannigan Scholarship 
• NCHC National Scholarships 

Mentored Research

Participating in academic research mentored by a professor allows Honors students to see their academic field in action.  No longer is Biology just in the textbooks or Wildlife just in the classroom.  With mentored research, students get to do what a Biologist does or what a DNR officer does.  Earning a mentored research slot with a professor takes an excellent academic track record and open dialogue with your professors.  The first step is communicating that you are interested in this type of experience.  Your mentored research may go beyond one semester, so a mentored research form must be submitted before your research begins so that the honors director can evaluate the units to be allotted for your work.  The Honors Program has funding available to cover costs associated with undertaking certain mentored research projects. 

• NCHC National Scholarships 
• STEPS Student Engagement Scholarships 

Honors Capstone or Senior Project

A capstone or senior project can be converted to an Honors one via an Honors Contract following procedures similar to those for modifying a course section. With approval and in coordination with the project mentor, an Honors curriculum is created by the student. The Honors curriculum should reflect the Honors Program learning outcomes (found on the ABAC Honors Program website). Although Honors Capstones or Projects will require extra work, they should not simply require more work. Instead, they might involve more extensive engagement with current research, more complex research questions, experimentation, surveying, or analysis. They might also encourage a greater degree of inter-disciplinary collaboration, interaction with multiple faculty mentors, or application of their ideas to real-world problems. Ideally, the faculty member and student will create work that targets a student’s intended professional goals. 

• Honors Contract Policies
• Honors Project Contract Approval Form