Honors College Policies
Academic Overload | Honors College Engagement | Transfer Students Engagement Requirement | Honors College Forgiveness | Semesterly Academic Advising | First Year Admission | Senior Review | Good Standing | Independent Study | Online Degree Programs
Academic Overload Policy
12 credits per semester is considered “full time.” Students need a minimum of 120 credits to graduate. Students who wish to graduate in 4 years (8 semesters) should take 15-16 credits a semester and should schedule an academic advising appointment before registering for the next semester’s courses. Some majors require more than 120 credits to graduate.
Continuing undergraduates who wish to enroll in 19.5 – 22 credit hours must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00. In order to register for 22.5 – 25 credit hours, continuing undergraduates must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50. First year students will not be approved for course overloads. Graduating seniors who do not meet the cumulative grade point average requirement but have at least a 2.00 cumulative grade point average may be approved for an overload if they require such a schedule in order to graduate at the end of the semester in question.
All students seeking an overload must meet with their academic advisor to receive approval. They should be prepared to discuss with their advisor the compelling reason motivating the overload and how they will manage the additional time needed to accommodate the increased course load. Students who meet the overload criteria will receive a Request for Course Overload Form, from their advisor that must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar in order to complete their course registration.
Note: The Honors College advisors will not approve more than 22 credits/semester.
The Honors College students must seek permission from the Honors College Advisors for Fall/Spring overloads up to 22 credit hours, Summer overloads up to 15 credit hours, and Winter overloads up to 4 credit hours. College of Arts and Sciences students seeking overloads above these thresholds require approval of the CCAS Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.
School of Business students seeking overloads above these thresholds require approval of the RSBC Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.
School of Nursing students seeking overloads above these thresholds require approval from their academic advisor.
Honors College Engagement Policy
Students who enter the Honors College as freshmen or rising sophomores are expected to complete their Engagement requirement for every semester in which they are enrolled in Rutgers-Camden courses. Students who fail to complete the requirements and/or who fail to submit their Record of Engagement by the semester deadline, and/or submit a Record of Engagement with inaccurate information must invoke their 1 semester of Engagement Forgiveness. Students who invoke one semester of Forgiveness but then miss as second semester for any of the reasons listed above face dismissal from The Honors College. Students who are dismissed may appeal their dismissal by contacting the director of the Honors College.
Transfer Students Engagement Requirement
Because transfer students typically join the Honors College as juniors, they must complete at least 4 semesters of the Engagement requirement in order to graduate with the Honors College designation on their diploma and transcript. Transfer students may not use the Forgiveness option.
Honors College Forgiveness Policy
Students who fail to complete the Engagement requirements and/or who fail to submit their Record of Engagement by the semester deadline, and/or submit a Record of Engagement with inaccurate information must invoke their one semester of “Forgiveness.” A student may use their “Forgiveness” option only once. Only first year freshmen and rising sophomores may use the “Forgiveness” option. Transfer students may not use the “Forgiveness” option.
Semesterly Academic Advising Policy
Students are encouraged to meet every semester with their Honors College advisors. Advising Appointments keep students on track to complete their requirements for graduation, provide opportunities to select Honors College seminars, and increase the likelihood that students will graduate with the Honors College designation on transcripts and diplomas.
First Year Admission
Students who are admitted to the Honors College as incoming first-year students but reject their admission or fail to respond by posted deadlines will not be admitted in future semesters.
Senior Review Policy
Rising seniors who intend to graduate in May are required to meet with their Honors College advisers in the preceding fall semester. Rising seniors who intend to graduate in January are required to meet with their advisors in the preceding spring semester. Rising seniors who intend to graduate in August are required to meet with their advisers in the preceding spring semester. Failure to meet with advisors may delay graduation and/or decrease the likelihood that students will graduate with the Honors College designation on transcripts and diplomas.
Good Standing Policy
Honors College students are in “good standing” when their cumulative GPAs are at or above a 3.0, and they are fully compliant with Honors College Engagement requirements, and they are working toward completion of the Honors College Experience.
Students who graduate with 100% completion of all Honors College requirements (with no semester of “Forgiveness”) are eligible to graduate with the “Honors College with Distinction” designation on transcripts and diplomas.
Students who are not in “good standing” risk losing opportunities for scholarships, independent study, conference travel, leadership development, and graduating with the Honors College designation on transcripts and diplomas.
Honors College Independent Study
Students who enroll in an Honors College Independent Study course may have a maximum of 21 credits (including the Independent Study credits). Students may enroll in only one Independent Study course each semester.
Online Degree Programs and Honors College Participation
The Honors College is designed for students enrolled in on-campus academic degree programs; students must also be enrolled full-time (12 credits or more) each semester. Honors College seminar courses are high-impact, in-person experiential learning courses and are not offered online. Similarly, the Honors College Engagement requirements are primarily completed in person and on or around the Camden, New Jersey campus. Students who are enrolled in 100% online degree programs are not eligible to join the Honors College.