The National Collegiate Honors Council defines honors education in the following manner:
"Honors education is characterized by in-class and extracurricular activities that are measurably broader, deeper, or more complex than comparable learning experiences typically found at institutions of higher education. Honors experiences include a distinctive learner-directed environment and philosophy, provide opportunities that are appropriately tailored to fit the institution's culture and mission, and frequently occur within a close community of students and faculty."
At their core, honors courses provide enhanced and enriched learning opportunities for motivated students. Honors classes are student-centered and often engage students in unconventional modes of learning.