Freshman Students
Admissions Process for Fall 2013 Freshman Cohort
Students entering Berkeley College as freshmen in the Fall 2013 Quarter will be invited to apply online through Admissions for consideration into the Honors Program during the 2012-2013 admissions process. Each campus cohort will be delimited to 20 students. Cohorts will form at the New York City, Woodland Park, and Online locations and then expand to the other locations if there is high enrollment. Prior to the Fall 2013 Quarter, incoming freshmen students seeking Bachelor’s degrees with a minimum high school GPA of 3.0 will be identified as potential candidates by the Admissions Department. This minimum GPA requirement will be waived for adult students. Candidates will be asked to complete an e-portfolio consisting of the following, but not limited to:
(1) One written sample - topics for the written sample will be provided.
(2) Evidence of relevant past academic achievements, e.g., involvement in Honors Societies, completion of advanced placement courses, completion of other high school and/or college courses, standardized college entrance exam and/or Regents scores, etc.
(3) Resume, if candidate has graduated from high school at least three years prior to the application submission.
(4) Students that are identified as needing developmental math, reading, and/or writing courses at Berkeley College will be ineligible for consideration.
The e-portfolios will be sent to the Honors Admissions Committee for consideration. No portfolios will be accepted after July 1 (prior to starting in the Fall Quarter). The Honors Admissions Committee consists of the Honors Program Director and one faculty member each from the Larry L. Luing School of Business, the School of Professional Studies, and the School of Liberal Arts, as well as a representative from the library. Upon review of the applicant’s electronic portfolio, a personal interview may be requested by the Honors Admissions Committee. The admissions process will run from Fall 2012 to June 2013. Students not admitted into the freshmen cohort Honors Program starting in Fall 2013 will be placed on a waiting list and considered for the subsequent Fall 2014 continuing student cohort.
Honors Curriculum
4 credits
Freshman honors students will be grouped into a cohort and placed into specifically designated sections of Honors Expository Writing – a course required of all Berkeley College students.
4 credits
Freshman honors students will be grouped into a cohort and placed into specifically designated sections of Honors Writing Through Literature – a course required of all Berkeley College students.
4 credits
Introduces freshmen students to the Honors Program. Provides instruction in library research and the mechanics of writing a thesis paper. Satisfies a GEC100-level requirement.
4 credits
Introduces the Honors Program unifying theme, used to structure the work of the HON300 and HON400 seminars, and demonstrates how the theme may be studied from different view points.
4 credits
Advanced interdisciplinary work on the special topic chosen for the program. Students work in small groups within the seminar dealing with issues from various points of view.
4 credits
Building on the work of the previous seminars, students will strive to construct theoretical paradigms to account for the issues studied. They will relate theoretical concerns to the work of their major field.
4 credits
The final seminar in interdisciplinary honors is devoted to the development of the capstone research project. Special lectures, screenings, and trips enhance the work of the seminar. The program culminates in the presentation of the students’ research in written and oral form.
Honors Course Offerings
Students in the Honors Program must sign an Honors Contract with the understanding that they must maintain a cumulative 3.5 Berkeley College GPA to remain in the program and a 3.0 or better average in all Honors courses with one quarter probation for missing the average. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain proper sequencing of the courses in order to ensure timely completion of the program. Students must complete each course consecutively with their cohort.
Recognition and Community Service
In addition to participating in field trips and special events, Honors students will have opportunities to engage in community service projects including the Berkeley College Community Service Day. Selected students can participate in the Student Advisory Council with the Director. Finally, the academic and personal accomplishments of the Honors students will be displayed each quarter in the Honors e-Newsletter.
Upon Completion of the Program
Students successfully completing the program will earn (1) an “Honors Scholar” designation on their diploma; (2) a blue, white, and gold Honors cord; (3) a pre-graduation ceremony honoring their achievement; (4) honors designation on Berkeley College transcripts; and (5) identification as an “Honors Scholar” at Commencement.
Students in the Honors Program must sign an Honors Contract with the understanding that they must maintain a cumulative 3.5 Berkeley College GPA to remain in the program and a 3.0 or better average in all Honors courses with one quarter probation for missing the average. It is the responsibility of the student to maintain proper sequencing of the courses in order to ensure timely completion of the program. Students must complete each course consecutively with their cohort.