John Jay College Honors Program
The organizing theme of the John Jay College Honors Program is "the common good." This theme reflects the college mission statement and provides an intellectual framework for the honors curriculum. The program is designed to promote academic excellence and is inclusive of students in all majors at the college. The curriculum encourages students to explore research in their chosen disciplines that addresses contemporary community problems. Honors program students take between 17 and 29 credits in Honors courses, depending on their point of entry into the program. Students write a senior thesis and present their honors research at a national conference.
The year-long Honors Colloquium (HON 191 & HON 192) introduces new students to the 'common good' framework and its relevance to academic and civic life. Peer mentors lead groups of new students through a year-long community service project which culminates with a presentation at the College’s Research and Creativity Week.
The final senior seminar (HON 401) brings the entire graduating class back together to present and discuss their various senior capstone projects and the relevance of these projects to the theme of the program. The seminar provides an opportunity for students to reflect on how the ongoing exploration of the common good has prepared them for their roles as scholars, practitioners, and citizens of a global community.
Learning Outcomes. Students will:
- demonstrate a critical understanding of the concept of the common good, and its relation to issues of social justice.
- integrate and communicate perspectives of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences in written and oral work, and in research endeavors.
- apply leadership skills to their research projects, community work and other professional endeavors.
- write and speak with competence in appropriate academic language.
- develop their own perspectives on ethical issues regarding community, society and the common good.
Credits Required. 17-29 (Freshmen entry requires 29 credits, Sophomore entry 23 credits, and Junior entry 17 credits)
Interim Director. Nathan H. Lents, PhD, Professor of Molecular Biology (646.557.4504,nlents@jjay.cuny.edu)
Administrative Director/Advisor. Litna McNickle (212.237.8553, lmcnickle@jjay.cuny.edu )
Required Courses for Freshman Entry
Freshman Year
ENG 101 Composition I (Honors Section)
ENG 201 Composition II (Honors Section)
HON 191 Honors Colloquium I
HON 192 Honors Colloquium II
OR
FYS First Year Seminar (Honors Section)
LIT 237 Literature as Witness (Honors Section)
HON 191 Honors Colloquium I
HON 192 Honors colloquium II
Sophomore Year
HON 201 Intellectual Foundations I: What is the Common Good?
HON 202 Intellectual Foundations II: Leadership and the Common Good.
200-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics
Junior Year
HON 301 The Idea of the Common Good Across Disciplines
300-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics -or- a graduate course in the major)
300-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics -or- a graduate course in the major)
Senior Year
HON 401 Honors Capstone Seminar: Research and the Theme of the Common Good
Required Courses for Sophomore Entry
Sophomore Year
HON 191 Honors Colloquium I
HON 192 Honors colloquium II
HON 201 Intellectual Foundations I: What is the Common Good?
200-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics
Junior Year
HON 301 The Idea of the Common Good Across Disciplines
300-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics -or- a graduate course in the major
300-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics -or- a graduate course in the major
Senior Year
HON 401 Honors Capstone Seminar: Research and the Theme of the Common Good
Required Courses for Junior Entry
Junior Year
HON 191 Honors Colloquium I
HON 192 Honors colloquium II
HON 201 Intellectual Foundations I: What is the Common Good?
HON 301 The Idea of the Common Good Across Disciplines
300-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics -or- a graduate course in the major
300-level Honors section course in the major -or- HON 380 Special Topics -or- a graduate course in the major
Senior Year
HON 401 Honors Capstone Seminar: Research and the Theme of the Common Good
Admission
Application required
There are three entry points into the Honors Program:
Entering Freshmen: admission is based upon the student’s high school average and combined Quantitative and Verbal SAT score
Sophomores: 30-45 credits completed with a cumulative 3.3 GPA
Juniors: 60-75 credits completed with a cumulative 3.3 GPA
Transfer students must meet the above-mentioned criteria and submit official transcripts from previous institutions with the application. Eligible students will be invited to apply to the program. For an application, please call 212.237.8553.