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Honors Contract

Anyone Can Propose an Honors Contract 

Any Cañada College student can propose an Honors Contract without having to apply and join the Honors Transfer Program. Turn any course into an Honors course!

Earn Honors Units in Any Transferable Course

Honors Contracts allow students to earn Honors credit while enrolled in a non-honors transferable course.  Essentially you turn a non-Honors course into an Honors course!  The Honors Contract proposal (developed collaboratively by the professor and student) outlines what you will do to earn Honors credit.  Most students pursue independent research related to course material.  To be valid, the proposal must be submitted by the deadline and approved by the Honors Coordinator. 

A maximum of two Honors Contracts can be used toward the 15 required Honors units for HTP completion. 

Contracts in 695 Independent Study may NOT be used for UCLA TAP certification; however, they do count toward Honors Transfer Program graduation and completion. 

Support for Your Honors Contract

Students pursuing an Honors Contract should plan on taking IDST 150 Honors Research Seminar (Interdisciplinary Studies). This 1-unit course is UC/CSU transferable and a required part of the 15 Honors units needed to complete the Honors Transfer Program. Learn more by watching the  IDST 150 Video  Overview  and downloading the  IDST 150 Course flyer!

Steps to Complete Your Honors Contract

 Step 1: Honors Contract Proposal

The final proposal deadline is the 8th week of the semester, but work with your Honors professor from the beginning of the semester. 

  • Start working with your professor the first few weeks of the semester, or even engage with them prior to ensure they are willing to mentor you.
  • Meet with your Honors professor to discuss your topic, methodology, and sources.
  • Draft a proposal of 250 words or less including a well-developed paragraph explaining: Your topic, the rationale for researching it, your research question, and methodology.
  • Share your draft with your Honors professor to get feedback. Then revise.
  • Include intermediary deadlines in your proposal. See Sample Proposals and Interim Due Dates here.
  • Review this checklist before you submit your proposal to make sure it is complete.


Submit Honors Contract Proposal (Step 1)

 Step 2: Honors Contract Completion Form

Students' Required Actions for Honors Credit:

  • After completing your honors research, make sure your faculty mentor has seen the final version of your project and approves of the work. Give the faculty member enough time to review it.
  • Then submit your Honors Contract Completion Form.
  • In the form, you will be asked to include the email of your faculty mentor. Make sure you enter the email correctly as the faculty mentor will then be notified by email to officially approve your honors work.
  • Stay in touch with the faculty member to let them know the email is forthcoming. Their clicking on the approval button in that email is necessary for you to get Honors credit, so submit it as early as you can.
Submit Honors Contract Completion (Step 2)