http://engineering.illinois.edu/academics/undergraduate/honors.html
ECE requires a 3.5 GPA
From the link - “Your benefits include priority registration, the opportunity to take certain honors-only classes, and receiving James Scholar distinction upon graduation.”
FWIW from another anonymous UIUC message board -
http://www.rt.com/r/UIUC/comments/ndozw/james_scholar_question/
http://www.rt.com/r/UIUC/comments/2lwi4l/james_scholar_importance/