Honors Program
OVERVIEW
The Honors Program allows high-achieving students to receive an enhanced version of the educational experience that Saint Joseph’s College offers to its students. Honors students take special versions of the inner core courses in history, theology, philosophy, and ecology. That means that they satisfy the requirements of the Honors Program and many of the college-wide Core Curriculum requirements at the same time. It also means that students can participate in the Honors Program regardless of whatever major they choose.
In addition, Honors students take a senior capstone course which allows them to tie together their previous coursework and pursue a project that relates to their interests and/or major.
The program strives to be a rich a community within the college. The exclusive honors courses make up one very important place where the honors community grows, but the program also provides extra-curricular opportunities for students to spend time together and to engage the broader college and local communities. These opportunities vary each semester, as they entail initiative and planning by the honors students themselves, and have included dinners together on and off campus, a Fall festival hosted for local school children, and other community-based service projects. Other extra-curricular signature experiences—such as domestic and international trips—are also being considered by a special honors council of faculty members and students. Stay tuned for more details.
Students in the Honors Program are selected based on academic ability, record, and potential for success, and the courses in the program are offered only to Honors students. This allows them to explore topics in greater depth, work more closely with faculty, and develop friendships with students who have a similar academic profile and interests.
If you are interested in joining the program, contact either the director, Jeffery Morgan, at jmorgan@sjcme.edu or your admissions counselor.
FAQS
What are the benefits of the Honors Program?
In addition to the benefits mentioned in the overview above, Honors Students receive distinctive emblems which signify their accomplishments at Graduation. Additionally, the Honors distinction will appear on their transcripts and their diplomas.
What kinds of students are in the Honors Program?
The common denominator among Honors students is a record of past academic success. For example, a recent incoming cohort had collectively achieved a high school GPA of 3.8. Beyond this, however, students in the Honors Program are diverse in their interests, hobbies, and areas of study. For example, the program includes members who earned their high school varsity letters.
- They have been actively involved in theatre, music, student government, service groups, and international clubs.
- Several of them have been members of their church youth groups or parish councils.
- One was 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.
Does the program require me to take additional classes?
The Capstone course is the only additional course required and is taken during senior year.
Can I play a sport and still be in the program?
Absolutely! We want the program to supplement, rather than dominate, your total experience at Saint Joseph’s. That means that Honors students are welcome and encouraged to take part in many extracurricular activities, including athletics.
Is the Honors Program compatible with my intended field of study?
The Honors Program is compatible with every major, with the exception of some of the pre-professional programs. Concentrations such as pre-pharmacy and pre-optometry 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 Joseph's, students who enroll in these programs will not be considered for the Honors Program.
How does one get into the Honors Program?
In consultation with the Director of the Honors Program, the Admissions Office will consider all students applying to Saint Joseph's College for admission into the Honors Program. In order to ensure the smaller class sizes necessary for the type of instruction we offer, space is limited. Applicants with a GPA of 3.8 or better will be considered.
If I don't get invited into the Honors Program initially, is it possible to get into the program later?
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.
Is there a minimum GPA required to remain in the Honors Program?
All Honors students are expected to earn a final grade of at least a B- in their Honors courses.
What if my GPA drops below the minimum standard?
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 Directors.
How does my status in the Honors Program affect my financial aid?
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.
What if I am invited to join, but am not sure I'll be attending Saint Joseph's this fall?
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.
What if I have further questions or want more information?
Incoming freshmen can direct their questions to the Admissions Office at 207-893-7746 or admissions@sjcme.edu. Additional inquiries can be addressed to Jeffery Morgan (jmorgan@sjcme.edu), Director of the Honors Program.
STUDENT STORIES
