An Honors Contract allows you to transform a traditional course into an Honors experience by completing additional, more advanced work under the guidance and mentorship your instructor. If you successfully complete the terms of the contract and earn a B or better in the course, you will receive Honors Points equivalent to taking an Honors course (10 points per credit hour). Important: an Honors Contract will be established at an instructor’s discretion and professors are not required to agree to overseeing Honors contracts.
This guide provides comprehensive instructions for initiating, developing, and completing an Honors Contract. Please read through all steps carefully, as contracts must be finalized and submitted by the end of the second week of the semester.
In this Guide:
What is an Honors Contract?
Honors Contract Expectations
Developing and Submitting an Honors Contract Proposal
Completing an Honors Contract and Receiving Honors Points
What is an Honors Contract?
Honors Programs rely on Honors contracts as a way to offer diverse, challenging, and rewarding academic experiences outside of classes explicitly offered by these programs. An Honors contract provides a framework and recognition for Honors-level work completed in connection with a traditional, non-Honors course. A student and professor work closely together as the faculty member provides guidance and mentorship on additional, semester-long work. In addition to the opportunity to work closely with a faculty member and dive deeply into course material, students also receive recognition in the Honors Program for this effort. Successfully completing the contract results in a student earning the same number of points as they would have if the course had been an Honors Program offering (10 points per credit hour).
What are the Expectations for an Honors Contract?
Honors contracts require substantial student-faculty collaboration and involve completion of work that clearly goes beyond the regular course requirements to add academic depth or new dimensions of learning. Effective Honors Contracts:
Require an additional time investment. Appropriate contract-related work will require an additional 1 - 3 hours per week of work.
Represent a semester-long commitment. You should plan to work on your contract-related work across the majority of the academic term. Even if it culminates in a final project, an instructor and student will collaborate throughout the term to plan, develop, and execute this project.
Provide learning experiences that are broader or deeper. Students and faculty may explore topics not traditionally addressed in a course, identify real-world applications for course material, conduct novel research, examine course material in greater depth, or expand the learning experience in other ways. Contracts traditionally do not necessarily involve work that is simply more extensive, more difficult, or more advanced.
Looking for ideas? Check out some example contracts from past semesters.
Developing and Submitting an Honors Contract Proposal
An Honors Contract is a formal agreement among the student, the supervising faculty member, and the SF Honors Program. Before work on the contract can begin, the student and professor must develop and submit a completed Honors Contract Proposal, which outlines:
The nature of the additional work to be completed.
Connections between the work and SF Honors Learning Objectives.
A timeline for the completion of the work.
A schedule for meetings or feedback from the instructor.
Completing this proposal is a process that requires:
Identifying an appropriate course and faculty member.
Meeting with an SF Research Librarian.
Developing the proposal.
Obtaining department approval.
Receiving Honors Program Approval.
All work specified in the contract must be completed by the agreed-upon deadlines for you to earn Honors credit.
Step 1: Identify and Contact a Supervising Faculty Member
Reflect on Your Reasons for Pursuing a Contract: An Honors Contract represents a significant investment of time and effort and a close collaboration with your instructor. The best courses to consider for a contract will be those about which you are passionate and represent a personal interest, preprofessional development, or opportunity to develop your skills and expertise.
Identify an Eligible Instructor: Choose an instructor who is teaching a course you are currently enrolled in and who you think would be interested in overseeing your Honors-level work. Not all faculty members have the time or availability to oversee contracts, so be prepared to explore alternative options if your first choice is unavailable.
Initiate Contact Early: During the first week of the semester, email or speak to your instructor to ask if they are open to discussing an Honors Contract. Be prepared to explain what the contract entails and why you want to pursue this opportunity. You may want to include a link to this guide, to provide additional information. If they agree, schedule a meeting to discuss the terms.
Step 2: Meet with a Research Librarian
Schedule a Meeting: Contact the SF Library to schedule a meeting with a research librarian. SF Librarians are research experts, and they can help you develop research ideas, identify supporting resources, and conduct exploratory research prior to meeting with your professor. You can visit the library in person to meet or schedule a meeting in advance.
Prepare for the Meeting: Bring any initial ideas or topics for your project and a copy of the Honors Contract proposal form. Be ready to discuss how your project relates to the course and Honors Learning Objectives.
Document Completion: Librarians will submit a meeting report through EAB Navigate as documentation and proof of your meeting.
Step 3: Meet with Your Instructor to Develop the Proposal
Collaborate on the Proposal: Work with your instructor to define the details of your Honors-level work. During this meeting, or across multiple meetings, decide on the following:
Project Focus: What is the central question, topic, or problem you will address?
Deliverables: What work will you turn in (e.g., papers, presentations, creative projects)?
Timeline: When will each phase of the project be completed? Specify key milestones.
Meeting Schedule: How often will you meet with your instructor for guidance or feedback?
Department Approval: Determine the appropriate department chair or designee who will review your proposal. Your instructor can help you identify this person
Complete the Proposal Form: Use the Honors Contract proposal form to document all the above details. Ensure all sections are filled out thoroughly and clearly.
Step 4: Submit the Completed Proposal
Use the Qualtrics Form: After meeting with your instructor and finalizing your proposal, submit the finalized Honors Contract proposal via the provided Qualtrics link. Be sure to include accurate contact information for yourself, your instructor, and the department, as this is where forms will be sent for approval.
Receive Departmental Approval and Feedback: Your submission will be reviewed by a representative of the academic department listed in your proposal, who will provide approval and/or revisions for the proposed contract. If changes are requested, you will receive an email with instructions for revising your proposal.
Receive Honors Program Approval and feedback: Following approval from the academic department, the Honors Program office will review the proposal, verify library meeting completion, and approve the proposal or provide feedback.
Verify Library Meeting Completion: The Honors Program office will check Navigate to confirm your meeting with a research librarian.
Complete Revisions (if necessary): If the academic department or Honors Program recommend revisions to the contract, make these changes and submit a revised contract proposal before the updated deadline.
Proposal Submission Deadline
All Honors Contract proposals must be finalized, approved, and submitted by the end of the second week of the semester. Late submissions will not be accepted.
Completing the Contract
To earn Honors credit, you must fulfill all terms outlined in your approved contract. This includes completing all deliverables, meeting all deadlines, and participating in scheduled meetings with your instructor. At the end of the semester, submit the following via Canvas for final review:
A syllabus for the course to be “Honorized” via the Honors Contract.
A copy of the work completed to satisfy the terms of the Honors Contract.
Separately, your instructor will submit an Honors Contract evaluation form sent to them by the Honors Program office. If your final grade in the course is a “B” or better and all work is completed satisfactorily, you will receive the same number of points for this contract that you would have received if the course had been an Honors course (10 points per credit hour).
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions or would like to discuss a potential Honors Contract, contact the Honors Program office as soon as possible by emailing honors@sfcollege.edu.