An honors student or honor student is a student recognized for achieving high
grades or high marks in their coursework at school.
United States
In the US, honors students may refer to:
# Students recognized for their academic achievement on lists published periodically throughout the school year, known as honors roll, varying from school to school, shows the student going above and beyond and from enlarged different levels of education.
# Students enrolled in designated honors courses or honors programs.
# Students who are members of the
National Honor Society or other
honor society.
Honors students are often recognized for their achievements. A student who has made numerous appearances on the honor roll may be awarded some form of
academic letter, or any other form of notification.
A similar concept to honor rolls exists in colleges and universities in the United States, known as the
Dean's List
A dean's list is an academic award, or distinction, used to recognize the highest level scholarship demonstrated by students in a college or university. This system is most often used in North America, though institutions in Europe, Asia, and Aust ...
.
A growing archive of honor students can be found online. See references below.
Elsewhere in the world
In other countries, the meaning of honors can refer either to a specific type of
academic degree
An academic degree is a qualification awarded to students upon successful completion of a course of study in higher education, usually at a college or university. These institutions commonly offer degrees at various levels, usually including und ...
or to the level of distinction with which an undergraduate degree was earned.
Honours degrees are usually four-year programs (sometimes also three-year programs, e.g., in England). A student who holds a ''de jure'' Honours degree is eligible for direct entry either to a Doctorate (Ph.D.) or to a two- to three years very-high-research Master's degree program.
'Honours' can also mean that students have achieved their degree with a high overall average
GPA
Grading in education is the process of applying standardized measurements for varying levels of achievements in a course. Grades can be assigned as letters (usually A through F), as a range (for example, 1 to 6), as a percentage, or as a numbe ...
and typically have undertaken a small final project, paper or essay (also known in the UK as a dissertation). See
British undergraduate degree classification.
A third meaning is a postgraduate ''with Honors'' or ''cum honored'' degree, which is (part of) an academic degree itself, e.g. the one-year Bachelor with Honors degree in Australia, the one-year Baccalaureatus Cum Honore degree in Canada or the four-year integrated Master with Honors degree in Scotland. Postgraduate Honors degree programs generally involve completion of master's level courses and the submission of a long high-research
thesis
A thesis ( : theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144: ...
.
Criticism
Some researchers have questioned the validity of the honor roll as an effective form of
positive reinforcement. It is argued that the pursuit of extrinsic reward is not an accurate reflection of intrinsic interest in course material.
There are also questions on the effectiveness of separating high-achieving students from their peers, in the form of
magnet schools or honors courses.
Honors courses
An honors course is a class in which the most advanced students are placed. Most students placed in honors courses are highly motivated and dedicated to their educational experience.
Honors classes also cover advanced material, permit more in-depth study than a standard course of study and may require independent research.
Motivation is the main quality that characterizes an honors student. In addition to being committed to academics, they are encouraged and many participate in volunteer work, organizations and clubs, cooperative education, research, study abroad and cultural activities.
have specific entrance requirements and completion criteria in order to graduate with Honors, or
cum laude
Latin honors are a system of Latin phrases used in some colleges and universities to indicate the level of distinction with which an academic degree has been earned. The system is primarily used in the United States. It is also used in some Sou ...
.
See also
*
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is a moral and legal concept expressing the conviction that the freedom of inquiry by faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy as well as the principles of academia, and that scholars should have freedom to teach ...
*
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program in the United States and Canada created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and cours ...
*
International Baccalaureate
*
Standardized test
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a predet ...
References
{{Reflist, refs=
[{{cite web
, url = http://www.getschools.k12.wi.us/highschool/counselors/academicletterwinners
, title = Academic Letterwinners
, publisher = Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District
, year = 2008
, access-date = 2013-04-20
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130724021632/http://www.getschools.k12.wi.us/highschool/counselors/academicletterwinners
, archive-date = 2013-07-24
, url-status = dead
]
[
{{cite journal
, title = Effects of Extrinsic Rewards on Children's Subsequent Intrinsic Interest
, jstor = 1128110
, first1 = David
, last1 = Greene
, first2 = Mark R.
, last2 = Lepper
, journal = Child Development
, volume = 45
, number = 4
, date = Dec 1974
, pages = 1141–1145
, publisher = Wiley
, doi = 10.2307/1128110
]
[
{{cite web
, url = https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=info:bzeZl4Su7h8J:scholar.google.com/&output=viewport
, title = ‑
, access-date = 2019-04-09
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304150827/http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en
, archive-date = 2016-03-04
, url-status = dead
]
[
{{cite web
, url = http://honors.tamu.edu/Honors/StudentServices/HonorsCourses/honorscourses.aspx
, title = Honors Study
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090321071908/http://honors.tamu.edu/Honors/StudentServices/HonorsCourses/honorscourses.aspx
, archive-date = 2009-03-21
, url-status = dead
, publisher = ]Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M Unive ...
Min-Yongi is a honor student for example Junkook is a member of the committee.
[
{{cite web
, url = http://www.honorstudentsarchive.com
, title = Honor Students Archive
, archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190403120049/http://www.honorstudentsarchive.com/
, archive-date = 2019-04-03
, url-status = live
, publisher = William Cribbs
]
[
{{cite web
, url = http://www.honors.ku.edu/mission
, title = Mission of the Honors Program
, publisher = University of Kansas
]
Types of students
Education in the United States