Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program
Where curious minds reach higher.
Our Honors Program is not like High School Honors, our classes are all discussion based, no tests or exams. Classes are not harder, it’s not more work, it’s about critical thinking, looking outside the box. Discussing topics that are interesting and enlightening and having that good conversation, along with learning what your peers think and maybe hearing a different take on something that you read.
Science. Humanities. Fine arts. Social sciences. Our curriculum immerses you in these four fields of intellectual inquiry, then connects and expands your thinking through a senior Honors thesis.
From our home base inside the campus’ historic Observatory building, students in the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Program have access to a number of challenging and rewarding experiences. We explore. We create. And we go places (like the Art Institute of Chicago and to Broadway shows around Michigan).
It’s a balance of academics and social support that works.
We’re glad you’re thinking about Albion’s Honors Program. We encourage you to explore our site, and to contact us with any questions.
Year by Year Academic Requirements for Honors Students
To be a student in good standing with the Honors Program you must:
After the First Year
Have a college GPA of at least 3.2 and have completed one of the required three Great Issues seminars. Students whose college GPA is below 3.0 will be dropped from the Program, while those with GPAs between 3.0 and 3.2 will be placed on probation.
After the Second Year
Have a college GPA of at least 3.35 and have completed at least two of the required three Great Issues seminars and the Thesis Development course. Students whose college GPA is below 3.2 will be dropped from the Program, while those with GPAs between 3.2 and 3.35 or who have not completed at least three of the required seminars will be placed on probation.
After the Third Year
Have a college GPA of at least 3.45, have completed all three of the required Great Issues seminars. Completed the Thesis Development course and have submitted a Thesis Registry form (see Appendix B) to the Honors Director. To complete the Thesis Registry form, students must previously have decided the subject and tentative title of their thesis, and have assembled a Thesis Committee consisting of an Albion faculty member to serve as Thesis Director and at least two other faculty members to serve as additional readers. Students whose college GPA is below 3.4 will be dropped from the Program, while those with GPAs between 3.4 and 3.45 or who have not completed all four of the required seminars or have not submitted a Thesis Registry form will be placed on probation.
To Graduate with Albion College Honors
You must have a college GPA of at least 3.5, have completed all three Honors seminars, the Thesis Development course and have completed an acceptable Honors thesis and submitted it to the Honors Committee by the required deadline.
About the Honors Program
Albion College’s Honors Program provides an exciting and unique variety of academic experiences for highly motivated and talented students.