To earn Honors credits at Penn State Greater Allegheny, students have several options:

  1. Enrollment in a designated honors course: Take courses specifically designated as Honors courses.
  2. Completion of an Honors Option: Complete an Honors Option in a regular course taught by a full-time faculty member. This involves additional work beyond the standard course requirements.
  3. Completion of an Honors Independent Study: Undertake an Honors Independent Study under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. This allows for personalized research or study in a specific area of interest.
  4. Completion of a 400-level course during freshman or sophomore year: With instructor permission, students may take a 400-level course early. This course must be approved to count for Honors credit.

Student guidelines

  • Honors Designated Credits: Complete 6 Honors Designated Credits per academic year to maintain active status in the Honors Program.
  • Honors Option or Independent Study: Students can propose an Honors Option or Independent Study with any full-time faculty member at Greater Allegheny. The Honors Option must be formally added via an add form from the campus Registrar. Students should contact the instructor by the first week of the semester for approval and completion of the form.
  • Presentation Requirement: For Honors Option courses, present the results of your work in the form of a poster at the Student Research and Creativity Conference. Failure to submit and present the poster will result in the removal of the Honors designation from your transcript.
  • Commitment: Filing an Honors Option signifies a commitment from both student and instructor to complete the project. The course cannot revert to Non-Honors status without instructor permission. Any change must be communicated in writing to the Office of Academic Affairs by the end of the sixth week of the semester.

To enroll in a course as an Honors Option, work with the course instructor to complete the Honors Option for Non-Honors Course Form.

Fall 2025 Honors Option Courses

Course 

Course Name 

Instructor 

BA 321Contemporary Skills for Business ProfessionalsBernie C. Cerasaro
BA 420Preparation for Career ManagementBernie C. Cerasaro

BBH 311

Interdisciplinary Integration in Biobehavioral HealthKristal Tucker
BBH/BIOL 469NeurobiologyKristal Tucker
BIOL 110Basic Concepts and BiodiversityKristal Tucker
BIOL 162Human Anatomy and Physiology I - LaboratoryAndrea Stevens

COMM 1

Newspaper PracticumRosemary Martinelli
COMM 2Newspaper Editorial StaffRosemary Martinelli
CRIMJ 210Policing in AmericaSandra Trappen
CRIMJ 413Advanced Criminological TheorySandra Trappen
ENGL 165NWork and LiteratureJames Jaap
HHD 410/BBH 471Clinical Research PracticeAndrea Stevens
INTSP 370Internship PreparationBernie C. Cerasaro
MATH 251Ordinary and Partial Differential EquationsKuei-Nuan Lin
MUSIC 9Introduction to World MusicsMichael Vicaro
PSYCH 100Introductory PsychologyElizabeth Mazur
PSYCH 270Introduction to Abnormal PsychologyJennifer Croyle
PSYCH 412AdolescenceElizabeth Mazur
RPTM 433WProgram Evaluation and Research in Recreation ServicesKudzayi Maumbe
SC 60NArt in the Natural WorldLori Hepner