Program Overview
The Kellogg Honors College is designed for high-achieving students to help them prepare for future careers and to provide an outstanding academic experience at Cal Poly Pomona in a close community of students and faculty.
Benefits
- Small class size: honors courses are limited to 20 students.
- Use of the Honors Commons (building 1-201) with student computers lab.
- Organized cultural events.
- Focused international study opportunities.
- Internships.
- Individualized advising and help with graduate school applications.
- Honors designation on transcripts and recognition at graduation.
- Mentoring by faculty.
- Opportunities to attend conferences.
- Possible priority registration for students taking honors courses (determined on a quarter-by-quarter basis).
- Close contact with department chairs and deans.
| “Working with other students in the Honors College has been a joy.…My class was a group effort and the professor really encouraged participation, which I think most classes lack. We all have so much to offer, and it really has made a difference in how I learn and the work I produce.”—Honors College student |
Admission requirements
- Incoming freshmen will be invited to apply to the Honors College if they have scores of 550 or higher on both math and critical reading SAT tests and a GPA of 3.5 or above.
- Incoming transfer students who apply to the Honors College must have a GPA of at least 3.5 at their previous institutions.
- Continuing sophomores who maintained a GPA of 3.5 in their first year at Cal Poly Pomona will also be invited to apply to the Honors College.
- Three places each year may be offered to students who show clear evidence of academic strength, even though they do not currently fulfill all the requirements listed above, to be determined at the discretion of the director.
| “I thoroughly enjoyed the honors experience. The professor was great and it was wonderful to be around like-minded students. The class went at just the right pace and gave me just the right challenge…. I also liked the small classes. In large classes, my mind tends to wander, but because the class was small, it led to more personal interaction and involved my attention.”—Honors College student |
Continuation Requirements
GPA
- Honors students must maintain a GPA of 3.3 in order to stay in the program.
- A student whose GPA falls below this is given a probationary period of two quarters during which to bring the GPA back up to 3.3. If he or she fails to do this, the student is disqualified from the Honors College.
Honors courses required
- In order for students’ participation in the Honors College to be recognized on their transcripts and at graduation, students who enter the program as freshmen are required to take a total of seven honors courses (three lower division, three upper division, and one capstone course)
- Incoming sophomores are required to take a total of five honors courses.
- Incoming juniors are required to take a total of four honors courses (three upper division, generally synthesis courses, and one capstone course).
- Most honors courses are in general education, but certain departments plan to offer courses within their majors for honors college students.
- Students who entered the Honors College at other points in their academic career should speak with the director or associate director about the number of courses they will be required to complete.
Units
- Honors students must complete a total of at least 36 units per year (including the summer, if necessary). Students should be aware that taking fewer than 12 units per quarter might create problems in other programs such as financial aid and that some programs, such as the Four Year Pledge, may require significantly more units.
Community service
- Honors College students will be asked to do 20 hours of community service per year. If desired, these may be fulfilled through a course with a service-learning component. Opportunities for community service will be communicated to the students as they arise.
- Students should provide the honors college with written confirmation of community service hours performed.
| “I enjoyed the class, and felt that I got more out of it than I normally do out of a GE class. The small class size of motivated students made discussions interesting and worthwhile. Overall this class was a challenge that I thoroughly enjoyed.”—Honors College student |
