Madison College Honors Program Logo

Enroll in the Honors Program and work one-on-one with an instructor on a project of your own design. Be more competitive for jobs, scholarships and transfer. Rock the Honors Program Competition and win a trophy, cash prizes and your name on the Honors Recognition Wall.

Madison College Honors Program
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  • Honors Program Overview

    • Enroll in 2 or 3 honors project credits per semester.
    • 1 credit = 51 hours of work. Work includes activities such as meetings, research, reading, writing, designing, drawing, building, recording, practicing and/or developing and giving presentations.
    • Pay tuition for the Honors Program Credits. They count toward your degree as Elective Credits and qualify for financial aid.
    • Your honors project is graded (A-F grading scale) at the end of the semester by your honors faculty member.
    • If qualified, you can take up to seven honors project credits during your time at Madison College.
    • Complete four or more honors project credits with a minimum AB average and be recognized with a medallion.
    • Apply for an Honors Project Materials Scholarship each semester for resources needed to complete your project.
    • You are expected to present your honors project at the end of term Honors Competition.

  • Benefits of an Honors Project

    • Work closely with an honors program faculty member
    • Learn more about a topic
    • Learn new skills
    • Increased competitiveness for scholarships and awards
    • Have your honors project listed on your transcript
    • Special recognition in the written Madison College Graduation Program
    • Receive strong letters of recommendation from your honors faculty members
    • Increased competitiveness in the job market or when transferring to other colleges and universities
    • Honors Program Credits count toward several Madison College Certificate Programs (i.e., Ethnic Studies, Gender and Women Studies, Interdisciplinary Global Studies, Journalism, World Languages, Project Management, and Insurance).
    • Receive benefits from Edgewood College through the Honors Program Articulation Agreement.

  • Honors Project Eligibility

    • Current Madison College students with at least 12 earned college credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
    • High School students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and a letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or guidance counselor. This group includes but is not limited to:
      • Start College Now Students
      • STEM Academy Students
      • Dual Enrolled Students
      • Home Schooled Students
    • International students may enroll in Honors Program. Credits count toward F-1 visa status.
    • You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher to remain eligible for the Honors Program.

  • Select an Honors Project Topic

    The details of each honors project are developed by you and your faculty member when you complete the Honors Program Learning Contract. During the semester, you will produce an academically rigorous body of work, allowing you to explore in-depth a topic in your faculty member’s discipline.

    Developmental and accelerated courses, internships, service learning, study abroad, and experiential learning do not qualify as honors projects. Honors projects are expected to provide challenging learning opportunities for academically outstanding students that will enhance student achievement and success. You and your faculty member are encouraged to be as creative as possible when constructing these intellectually rigorous learning experiences.

    Honors Project Examples

    • Composing new music
    • Conducting research
    • Constructing a website
    • Creating artwork
    • Designing a building
    • Designing sustainable products
    • Developing a business plan
    • Developing a curriculum project
    • Developing a marketing campaign
    • Developing new mobile apps
    • Inventing a new product or process
    • Planning a major fundraising event
    • Writing a book or screenplay
    • Writing and illustrating a graphic novel, comic or children's book
    • Writing a collection of poetry
    • Writing a computer program
    • Writing a literature review

Get Started on Your Honors Project

View the steps to start your honors project!

Honors Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition is charged based on the number of honors project credits indicated on your Honors Program Learning Contract. The tuition cost is the same as for a regular (10- or 20-code) course credit at Madison College. If you have Elective credits in your program left to complete you may count the honors program credits toward your financial aid total.

To determine the tuition amount, multiply the number of honors project credits you plan to take by the 10- or 20-code rate per credit. View the current 10- and 20-code tuition rates.

Veterans and GI Bill

For Federal benefits, the credits must fulfill the same requirements as other credits for financial aid to be covered.

For State benefits, typically the credits are covered. If you are covered by the Federal or State Veteran Benefits.

Contact Madison College Veterans Services at 608.246.6038 or veterans@madisoncollege.edu to determine if Honors Project credits are covered by your benefits.

Earn an Honors Program Medallion

If you successfully complete four or more Honors Project credits (2 or 3 Projects) with a minimum AB average, you will receive a medallion at graduation or transfer. Email the Honors Program Director at the beginning of your last semester indicating that you are graduating or transferring and have earned a medallion. Medallions will be awarded at the Honors Competition. If you walk in the Madison College graduation ceremony, the Honors Medallion should be worn during the ceremony.