Spark your imagination. Share your talent. Connect with other motivated students in the honors program.
Students are placed in a challenging yet supportive environment where they can develop their critical and creative thinking skills and find ways to use these skills to make a difference in the larger community.
Benefits of being an Honors Student
Being an Honors Scholar affords you the opportunity to pursue an individualized program of study that is further enriched by diverse events and educational experiences.
- Graduate as a Keystone Scholar
- Gain priority course registration each semester
- Relax or study in the honors student private lounge in The Cottage
- Reap the benefits of small classes with other honor students and mentoring faculty
- Gain membership into the President’s Book Club
- Exchange ideas with other highly motivated students
Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society
Take it a step further and join Alpha Lambda Delta (ALD).
ALD is a nationwide honor society which provides a community of scholars, a platform to develop leadership skills, and financial support through scholarships. In order to qualify to join ALD, you must be pursuing a bachelor degree, be enrolled full-time, and earn a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher during your freshman year. Invitations are sent via email to the students who are qualified to join. This takes place the summer before their sophomore year. To join, students must pay a one-time $35.00 fee to the national chapter and attend meetings each semester. All members are presented with a chord to wear at their Commencement Ceremony when graduating from Keystone College
Honors Program
Ward Roe
Director of the Honors Program
570-945-8464
Email: honors@239877.com
“My education at Keystone has become even more enriched. The honors program challenges me to do my best. I would recommend it to anyone looking to grow as a person, create a positive impact on the community, or push themselves in their academic studies.”
Zoe Stephens, ’21
Honors Program Course Work
You begin the honors program in a cohort of talented, motivated students like yourself, taking Honors FYS and in some cases Honors College Writing courses. By your second or third semester, you embark on completing honors projects which give you flexibility in your learning experience. From advanced art projects to longer research papers to science experiments to whatever diverse ideas for projects you and your professor can think of, these projects will challenge you to new heights of study at Keystone.
Enriched College Writing Course
All incoming Honors students will be enrolled in a special section of English 1110 (College Writing I-Academic Writing). Workshops for peer editing and revision complement teacher/student interaction both in and outside the classroom. The Honors section will contain an enriched curriculum and be taught by a senior faculty member.
Honors-Designated Courses
Students will be required to enroll in 18 Honors-designated credits in addition to the enriched English 1110 course. (Students pursuing an associate degree will be required to enroll in 9 Honors-designated credits). A contract will be signed by the student and faculty for each Honors-designated course, outlining more in-depth, enriched requirements. Most of the College’s courses can be taken for Honors designation.
Non-Eligible Honors Courses
All Keystone courses are eligible to be taken for Honors Designation by students in the Honors Program, with the permission of the instructor, except the following: FYS 1110, COMM 1125, PHED 1110, IT 1115, MATH 1115, MATH 1125, SCI 0050, ACCT 1125, ACCT 1155, ACCT 1160, IT 4710 through 4730, all 1000-level ART studio courses, all Internships, field experiences, student teaching, and experiential learning courses.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. "
~ Nelson MandelaCo-curricular Honors Activities & Field Trips
The Honors Program provides co-curricular activities and field trips adding significant dimensions to the student’s academic program.
- Lectures
- Guest speakers and poets
- Various cultural events
- Northeast Region Honors Council
- Conferences
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Service opportunities
- Museum of Natural History
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Corning Glass Museum
Graduation Highlights for Our Honors Students
Any student in the Honors Program who earns a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.500 and a grade of “B” in the established Honors courses will be designated as an Honors Scholar. The Honors Scholar designation will appear on their diploma and they will wear a distinguished medal at Commencement.
Any undergraduate degree-seeking student who earns a minimum 3.500 cumulative GPA will graduate with honors. The Honors designation will appear on their diploma and they will wear gold honors cords at Commencement.
- Summa Cum Laude: 3.900 – 4.00 GPA
- Magna Cum Laude: 3.700 – 3.899 GPA
- Cum laude: 3.500 – 3.699 GPA
Who May Participate in the Honors Program
Students participate in the Honors Program in one of two ways:
Admissions invitation
- The Director of Admissions may invite students to participate in the Honors Program once a formal acceptance to the College is granted.
- Students who desire to participate must submit a completed application for admissions no later than April 1 of their senior year.
- Students must have a minimum 3.80 cumulative high school GPA OR a 3.50 cumulative high school GPA and 1170 SAT (1100 on SAT prior to March 2016) or 24 composite ACT score, plus evidence of honors level and/or AP coursework in high school.
Faculty nominations
- During the student’s first semester at Keystone College, faculty members are asked to submit the names of those students that meet the criteria for the Honors Program but are not yet involved.
- Upon review, these students may be invited into the honors program, beginning the following semester.
- Students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered for the honors program.
Honors Contract (PDF)
Honors Program students enrolled on a full-time basis may be eligible for scholarships between one-half tuition plus fees up to full tuition.
Contact Us
Honors Program
Ward Roe
Director of the Honors Program
570-945-8464
Email: honors@239877.com
"In the honors program I was challenged and guided to become involved as a leader on campus and become more socially involved through meaningful service projects."
Bryan McIntyre | Class of 2016, Outstanding Graduate
University of Pennsylvania Law StudentServed as Student Government President