The Honors Program

This is an archived copy of the 2019-2020 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.cincinnatistate.edu.

The Cincinnati State Honors Program supports the College goal of serving all aspects of the community by offering enhanced learning opportunities to academically talented, highly motivated students. The Honors Program curriculum complements existing degree programs; students can take Honors sections of many required courses.

The Honors Program strives to establish an intellectual community among students and faculty by providing challenging coursework, academic enrichment activities, academic honors advising, and opportunities for student involvement. Honors Program graduates receive recognition at commencement and on their diploma and transcripts.

The Honors Program is open to full-time and part-time admitted degree-seeking students, in all divisions of the College, who meet the entry criteria listed below. Students are first admitted to a degree program and then to the Honors Program. 

All Honors Program students must take HNR 100 Orientation to Honors, as a prerequisite to or concurrent with other Honors classes.

Students accepted into the Honors Program who begin at Cincinnati State in the Fall Semester are eligible to apply for an Honors Program scholarship.

In addition to HNR 100 Orientation to Honors courses regularly offered as part of the Honors Program include:

BIO 151Anatomy and Physiology 14
BIO 152Anatomy and Physiology 24
COMM 105Interpersonal Communication3
COMM 110Public Speaking3
ENG 101English Composition 13
ENG 102English Composition 2: Contemporary Issues3
ENG 103English Composition 2: Writing about Literature3
HST 111American History: Early Settlers to 18773
HST 112American History: 1877 to Present3
HNR 198First Year Special Topics in Honors Program1-9
LAW 101Business Law3
LIT 200Introduction to Literature3
LIT 210The Short Story3
LIT 240The Novel3
LIT 285Women Writers3
PHI 105Introduction to Philosophy3
PSY 110Introduction to Psychology3
SOC 105Introduction to Sociology3


The entry criteria for the Honors Program include:

  1. New student, entering Cincinnati State directly from high school:
    • Must have appropriate scores on the College placement/assessment test, and at least one of the following:
    • High school GPA of 3.25 or higher
    • High school rank in top 20%
    • ACT score of 26
  2. New student, entering Cincinnati State five or more years after high school: Must have appropriate scores on the College placement/assessment test
  3. Current student: college GPA of 3.25 after 12 academic credits
  4. Transfer student: college GPA of 3.25 after 12 academic credits

All students applying for the Honors Program must submit two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their academic potential and performance in a teaching/learning environment.

For more information:

Contact Dr. Andrea Trapp, Honors Program Chair, at (513) 569-1646, or visit the Honors Program page on the College website.