Special Programs

SUNY Erie offers something for everyone.

Whether you’re fresh out of high school or newly retired, or somewhere in between, we want to assist you in your educational endeavors.

Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP)

The Life Experience Assessment Program (LEAP) is designed to help you reflect upon what you have learned in your life and how that learning may be applied to a College degree.  The purpose of the Program is to identify and document experiential learning and determine its applicability to your degree.

View our LEAP Application packet for additional information on the program.

Honors Program

SUNY Erie offers an Honors Program to students of high academic ability with a commitment to enriching their education. The mission of the Honors Concentration is to challenge academically talented students, providing them with an enriched education to nurture learning, build character and promote leadership, and to ensure an educationally rewarding experience. Students taking an Honors course will achieve the same learning outcomes as the standard course, but with greater expectation from the instructor for critical thinking and in-depth exploration of the subject.
To graduate with Honors recognition, students must complete three Honors Contract Courses and the Honors Capstone. Honors Contract Courses are arranged with the instructor, potentially allowing any SUNY Erie course to be converted into an Honors course.


The Honors Capstone course may be taught as individualized instruction or a seminar section. It will focus on the development of critical thinking skills and is designed to provide an immersive, innovative, and interdisciplinary learning experience. Students will complete an individualized project focusing on a specific theme or area of interest, with the instructor facilitating discussion and in-depth exploration of the subject. The result will be the production of an original research, creative or service- learning project which will be shared through publication or presentation.

There is no penalty for not completing the program.  Any honors coursework you have finished will still appear on your transcript.  You will just not receive the cord and medallion at graduation.


The Honors Concentration requires only one class additional to your academic program, the Honors Capstone, HP 200.  The other classes needed to complete the program are Honors by Contract classes which you will take within your program.


An Honors Contract is when you make a formal agreement with a faculty member to add an honors component to a class which you are taking as part of your program of study.  These contracts are filed with the Honors Coordinator by the fourth week of classes.  The honors component is either an additional assignment or an extended assignment which adds depth, critical thinking and/or an interdisciplinary perspective to the course material.  At the end of the semester, the Honors Coordinator will confirm with your instructor that you have completed the contract.  Upon successful completion, the registrar will change your transcript so that the course includes the honors designation.

You will not get honors credit for the course if you do not complete the contract.  You will still receive credit/a grade for the course if you have passed the standard course material.  You may substitute another honors contract in a following semester to complete the Honors Concentration.


HP 200 is a stand-alone class.  If you do not intend to complete the course, you must withdraw or fail. However, like a standard course, extenuating circumstances may allow for a grade of incomplete.


The Honors Concentration is an academic program which requires you to take certain classes.  Honor Societies, such as PTK, XAE and ABG, are social organizations which recognize academic merit.  Students are encouraged to participate in both Honor Societies and the Honors Concentration.

  • The Honors Concentration is open to both full-and part-time students in any degree program.
  • For incoming high school students, admission to the Honors Concentration is primarily based on a student’s final high school average of 88 percent or higher. Current SUNY Erie students and transfer students must have a GPA of 3.25 in order to be eligible.
  • Although GPA is strongly considered in admitting students to the program, it is not the only consideration. Those students with ability and a keen interest in education are also encouraged to apply.
  • All students are required to apply personally to the Honors Coordinator. Once accepted into the Honors Concentration, all students must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA.

Students may apply directly to the Honors Coordinator at the time of application to the college or in subsequent semesters. If applying from high school, please include a copy of the high school transcript. If applying while at SUNY Erie, include your student id number with all correspondence. There is no deadline for application, however you must be able to complete the four required courses in your remaining time at SUNY Erie.


Honors Coordinator
Sabrina Caine
City Campus, Post 405
(716) 851-1720, caine@ecc.edu