The Irvine Valley College Honors Program provides a supportive learning community that nurtures academic, professional, and personal growth in highly motivated students from all backgrounds. The program offers eligible students access to the following opportunities:
Students, not parents, should communicate with the Honors Program with any questions about the program or the application process, since we encourage Honors students to be self-motivated and resourceful.
Honors courses at Irvine Valley College are designed to provide students with academic experiences and requirements not normally available in a conventional course. What typically distinguishes an Honors course from a non-honors course is not the quantity of work required but the attainment of a higher level of quality and sophistication that comes about from more intense student involvement in class discussions, a wider exposure to the critical literature, and more sophisticated analyses of a given topic.
Honors counseling is an integral part of being an Honors Program member, and is available to help you set goals and prepare for a smooth transition to a four-year institution. Meeting with an Honors counselor is recommended at least once per semester. Here is just some of what you can expect when seeking Honors counseling:
Come learn about the benefits and admissions requirements of the IVC Honors Program. Featuring Honors Program Director Dr. Emily Liu, Honors Counselor Michelle Minkler, Honors faculty, and a student panel.
Students who have completed at least 12 units of college coursework should apply as a continuing student.
We encourage students to apply to the Honors Program as soon as they are eligible, since Honors students are required to complete at least 9 units of Honors coursework by the end of their final fall semester and 15 units of Honors coursework prior to transferring.
High school students who have completed college coursework should apply as a first-year applicant.
The Honors Program reviews applications on a rolling basis using a holistic review process. Students can submit applications year-round and there is no deadline to apply to the program; however, deadlines do exist for priority registration privileges, which enable Honors students to enroll on the second day of the registration period.
To receive priority registration through the Honors Program, applicants must submit the application with all requirements by the following dates:
The IVC Honors Program is dedicated to helping students (both Honors Program members and non-members) engage in meaningful, faculty-mentored research while at IVC. The Honors Program works to help students learn how to conduct scholarly research and present their work at local and regional undergraduate research conferences.
2021 IVC/Saddleback Student Research Symposium (PDF)
The IVC Honors Program and Saddleback College Honors Program invite IVC and Saddleback students to participate in the 14th Annual Irvine Valley College / Saddleback College Student Research Symposium on November 14, 2025, held on the Irvine Valley College campus.