Student Awards and Honors
Academic Recognition Programs
Recognition for outstanding academic achievement is given in the following ways:
Dean's List
Outstanding scholastic achievement by San Bernardino Valley College students is recognized through the Dean’s Honors List. The Dean’s List is generated twice in each academic year, once during the Fall semester and once during the Spring semester. This scholastic recognition is based on GPA earned during the prior semester as opposed to a cumulative GPA. To qualify for the Dean’s List, students must complete 12 units of college-level courses during the prior semester. (Units earned through credit-by examination will be counted when determining eligibility.) Courses taken on a “Pass/No Pass” basis and/or courses numbered in the 900s that do not apply toward a degree are not included when evaluating whether a student has met the 12-unit requirement. Qualifying students will be included on the Dean’s List in the following categories:
- Highest honors for students earning GPAs between 3.90 and 4.00.
- Honors for students earning GPAs between 3.70 and 3.89.
- Distinction for students earning GPAs between 3.50 and 3.69.
Graduating with Honors
Students who complete 60 units and who graduate with cumulative GPAs in the above three categories will be honored at graduation with special mention in the graduation program. No more than 15 units of course work graded on a Pass/No Pass basis will be included in this 60-unit requirement.
Students completing their associate degrees with an overall GPA of 3.0 are eligible to wear a gold cord at graduation. Students completing their vocational certificates with an overall GPA of 3.0 or above are eligible to wear a gold cord at graduation. Cords can be picked up in the Bookstore prior to graduation.
Alpha Gamma Sigma
Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher may join Alpha Gamma Sigma, the California Community College Honor Scholarship Society.
For information, please see our website at: www.valleycollege.edu/current-students/clubs/alpha-gamma-sigma
Honors Program
The mission of the Honors Program is to provide students with a rigorous learning experience that encourages independent and creative thought, to enhance students’ critical reading, writing and thinking abilities as tools for achieving further academic success, and to prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions and to remain in the academic honors track.
Students involved in the Honors Program have the opportunity to develop unique links with UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona, Pepperdine University, UC Santa Cruz, and Chapman University including:
- Priority admission consideration,
- Priority scholarship consideration,
- Privileges such as use of the libraries,
- Opportunities to attend academic, cultural, and athletic events, campus tours, and the Honors Transfer Day.
Admission to the Honors Program is open to all students. Students who complete the Honors Program will receive a special seal on their transcripts and diploma, and an Honors Program medallion. To complete the program, a student admitted to the Honors program must:
- Complete a minimum of 15 units of honors classes;
- Maintain and graduate with an overall 3.5 GPA in all college coursework.
The honors courses range from one to five units. Most courses are accepted by the University of California and California State University systems, and most can be used to satisfy general education requirements. Students who qualify for the Honors Program may register for any of the following honors courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ANTHRO 102H | Cultural Anthropology - Honors | 3 |
| ANTHRO 106H | Biological Anthropology - Honors | 3 |
| ANTHRO 111H | The Anthropology of Magic, Witchcraft, and Religion - Honors | 3 |
| ARCH 145H | History of Architecture: Early Design Through Gothic - Honors | 3 |
| ARCH 146H | Architecture History: Renaissance to Modern - Honors | 3 |
| ART 102H | Art History: Renaissance to Present - Honors | 3 |
| CD 105H | Child Growth and Development - Honors | 3 |
| COMMST 100H | Elements of Public Speaking - Honors | 3 |
| COMMST 111H | Interpersonal Communication - Honors | 3 |
| ECON 200H | Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors | 3 |
| ECON 201H | Principles of Microeconomics - Honors | 3 |
| ENGL 101H | Freshman Composition-Honors | 4 |
| ENGL 102H | Intermediate Composition and Critical Thinking - Honors | 4 |
| ENGL 151H | Freshman Composition and Literature - Honors | 3 |
| ENGL 270H | English Literature: Middle Ages to 18th Century - Honors | 3 |
| ENGL 271H | English Literature: 18th Century to Present - Honors | 3 |
| GEOG 111H | Physical Geography Laboratory - Honors | 1 |
| ETHS 107H | Native American Experiences in U.S. History - Honors | 3 |
| ETHS 140H | Chicano Experiences in U.S. History - Honors | 3 |
| ETHS 141H | Race and Ethnic Relations - Honors | 3 |
| HIST 100H | United States History to 1877 - Honors | 3 |
| HIST 101H | United States History: 1865 to Present - Honors | 3 |
| HIST 107H | Native American Experiences in U.S. History - Honors | 3 |
| HIST 140H | Chicano Experiences in U.S. History - Honors | 3 |
| HIST 145H | History of California - Honors | 3 |
| MUS 121H | Music History and Literature - Middle Ages Through Baroque - Honors | 3 |
| MUS 122H | Music History and Literature - Classic Through Contemporary - Honors | 3 |
| PHIL 101H | Introduction to Philosophy - Honors | 3 |
| POLIT 110H | Introduction to Political Theory - Honors | 3 |
| POLIT 138H | Service Learning: Student Leadership - Honors | 3 |
| POLIT 139H | Service Learning: Community Leadership - Honors | 3 |
| POLIT 141H | Introduction to World Politics - Honors | 3 |
| PSYCH 100H | General Psychology - Honors | 3 |
| RELIG 100H | Introduction to Religious Studies - Honors | 3 |
| SOC 100H | Introduction to Sociology - Honors | 3 |
| SOC 110H | Social Problems - Honors | 3 |
| SOC 141H | Race and Ethnic Relations - Honors | 3 |
| SPAN 101H | College Spanish I - Honors | 5 |
| SPAN 102H | College Spanish II - Honors | 5 |
| SPAN 103H | College Spanish III - Honors | 4 |
For a complete course description of any of these courses, refer to the specific department listing in this catalog.
Students who would like to take a single honors course without fully participating in the Honors Program may enroll after satisfactorily demonstrating skill or aptitude in the discipline covered by that honors course. The prerequisite(s) for each course must be met by the individual student. Visit the Honors Program website for additional information.