Honors Program
Scholarship—Leadership—Fellowship
What is an “Honors” education? It’s a different style of learning.
• It’s the difference between being lectured to and participating in a discussion in which you and your classmates are heard.
• It’s the difference between viewing a photograph of an iguana and walking among them on the Galapagos Islands.
• It’s the difference between reading Shakespeare’s Hamlet and sitting in the audience for a live performance at the Globe Theatre in London, England.
• It’s the difference between reading Freakonomics and sitting in a luncheon seminar with its author, Stephen Leavitt.
• It’s the difference between studying theoretical concepts of leadership and actually leading a group of your peers toward a common goal.
• It’s the difference between a multiple-choice test and faculty-directed projects or community-based learning experiences.
A Different Style of Learning
Students who have participated in high school AP courses, IB programs, Honors courses, Early College & Dual Enrollment programs are usually eligible for admission to the Honors Program. It is important to note, however, that the honors concept at the college level is much different than at the high school level. High school programs such as those mentioned above are characteristically accelerated programs, whereas an honors education at the college level is more about enriching and enhancing your undergraduate experience. Many students, for better or worse, assume that college honors programs are just like their high school programs. This could not be further from the truth: Honors courses are not meant to have more work for the sake of more work or harder work for the sake of harder work.
The Honors Program at San Jacinto College creates an environment in which students not only succeed, but thrive—a safe environment where we can feel free to engage new ideas—a place where we can allow ideas to challenge us while we challenge them—and exceed expectations. Honors students at San Jacinto College’s three campuses participate in enriched coursework, travel, and projects that enhance their undergraduate experience in the areas of Scholarship, Leadership, and Fellowship. Participating in the Honors Program, students will develop:
• critical & creative thinking skills
• communication skills
• an understanding of diversity & global issues
• leadership & teamwork skills
• a community service, social responsibility, & civic engagement
The Honors Program emphasizes skill sets that are desired by prospective employers and four-year institutions. The Honors Program at San Jacinto College provides students with an edge in these competitive pursuits.
We strive to put learning outcomes into practice through real-world opportunities, also known as experiential learning, in the form of internships, travel, faculty-directed projects. Remember, an honors education is not extra work or more difficult material…it’s a different style of learning, enriched, enhanced, and transformational.
The Benefits:
• Scholarships for tuition, books, and travel
• Smaller, seminar-style engaging courses
• Outstanding professors
• Closer interaction with instructors through mentoring and directing projects
• Priority registration
• Access to the Honors computer lab/community room
• Opportunities to travel and present at state, regional, and national conferences
• Lectures by distinguished guest speakers
• Cultural events in and around Houston
• A sense of community with other high-achieving students
• Gaining the edge for next step beyond graduation
To find out more about the Honors Program at San Jacinto College, please contact us at:
The Honors Program
San Jacinto College
13735 Beamer Road
Houston TX 77089
Phone: 281-929-4614
Fax: 281-929-4615
http://www.sjcd.edu/courses_programs_honors.html
