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Honors home l Faculty
l Field trips
Regardless of their chosen fields of study, all
students who attend SJC are required to complete a series of introductory-level
courses across a variety of disciplines. This is known as our “Core
Curriculum.” The Honors Program places higher-achieving students
together on the same track throughout the portion of their “Inner
Core” courses. These courses comprise 24 credits and consist of
Western Civilization I and II (freshman year), Introduction to the Judeo-Christian
Tradition (sophomore year), Philosophy and Ethics (sophomore year), Ecology
and the Environmental Challenge (junior year), and the Capstone Seminar
(senior year).
Honors courses allow faculty to present their information
in more depth and breadth than is typically possible in the regular sections
of their courses. Furthermore, the smaller class sizes enhance discussion,
promote individualized instruction, and facilitate more mobility for field
research and class trips.
That's a popular stereotype, but our experience demonstrates otherwise.
One recent class, for instance, consists of members who earned their high
school varsity letters in baseball, basketball, cross-country, field hockey,
football, golf, lacrosse, skiing, softball, soccer, swimming, tennis,
track, and volleyball. They have been actively involved in theatre, music,
student government, service groups, and international clubs. Several of
them are members of their church youth groups or parish councils. One
is a black-belt in karate, one an Eagle Scout, one a member of the Jr.
Rescue First Response squad, and one a newspaper correspondent. One served
as a translator in Nicaragua for a medical missionary team, and another
has hiked over 60 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Although the students
in this class collectively achieved a high school GPA of 3.8, and an average
SAT score of 1200, they are simply too well-rounded to be thought of as
“eggheads!”
The Honors Program offers participants a variety of unique opportunities
both in and out of the classroom. In addition to the academic benefits
noted above, the Honors Program offers access to a variety of cultural
events, including concerts, plays, and special museum exhibits in the
Greater Portland area. Honors students also have the opportunity to venture
a little further from campus to participate in overnight trips to places
like Harvard University and Quebec City.
The Honors Program even sponsors social and recreational activities,
which offer participants fun, well-deserved, and memorable breaks from
their collegiate responsibilities. In the end, of course, Honors students
are duly recognized for their efforts. Honors graduates are awarded distinctive
emblems which signify their accomplishments at graduation. Additionally,
the Honors distinction will appear on their transcripts and their diplomas.
Yes. In addition to invitation, it is also possible to be admitted into
the Honors Program by special appeal. Appeals should be addressed (in
writing) to the Director of the Honors Program, and are typically made
after a student has completed at least one semester of course work at
SJC. The Honors committee will consider each appeal on an individual basis,
placing particular emphasis on the student's college-level performance
and faculty recommendations.
The Honors Program is compatible with every major, with the exception
of some of the pre-professional programs. Concentrations such as pre-pharmacy,
pre-optometry, and pre-engineering involve contractual arrangements with
other colleges, so that students who begin their studies at Saint Joseph’s
finish elsewhere. Because these requirements preclude students from finishing
their four year sequence of Honors courses at Saint Joe’s, students
who enroll in these programs will not be considered for the Honors Program.
Simply put, no. We recognize that, in addition to their strong academic
credentials, most Honors students also tend to be heavily involved in
a wide variety of extracurricular activities. It is not the intention
of the Honors Program to additionally burden (and therefore penalize)
our students simply because of their academic strengths. Therefore, Honors
courses are differentiated from regular courses primarily by the type
—rather than the quantity —of work required.
Honors students will be expected to maintain certain minimum standards
to remain in the Honors Program. However, because the various disciplines
vary somewhat with regard to curricular demands, external assessments,
and departmental expectations, GPAs can fluctuate according to one’s
chosen field of study. To be fair, expectations for Honors students apply
only to their performance in their Honors courses. All Honors students
are expected to earn a final grade of at least a B- in their Honors courses.
If a student earns less than a B- in any of their Honors courses, they
will be placed “on probation” (and officially notified of
their status). If a student commits a second infraction of this standard,
they will automatically forfeit their place in the Honors Program. Their
subsequent readmission would then require a special appeal to the Director.
In the past, certain merit-based scholarships were contingent upon participation
in the Honors Program. However, this is no longer the case. While many
of our Honors students do receive merit-based scholarships, these scholarships
are not directly associated with the Honors Program. Therefore, students
may be added to, or removed from, the Honors Program regardless of their
financial aid packages.
If there's at least a good possibility that a student will enroll at Saint
Joseph's, that student is encouraged to reserve their place in the Honors
Program as soon as possible, since fewer spaces remain available as the
admissions process progresses. Consenting to the program does not necessarily
“lock” a student into attending Saint Joseph's. However, it
may occupy a position that could otherwise be offered to someone else.
Incoming freshmen can direct their questions to Vincent Kloskowski in
the Office of Admissions (207-893-7748 or vkloskow@sjcme.edu).
Additional inquiries can be addressed to Dr. Michelle Laughran, Director
of the Honors Program
(207-893-7923 or mlaughra@sjcme.edu).
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