Honors Program

The JJC Honors Program, founded in 1987, was designed to assist students in all majors who wish to achieve academic success through challenging and stimulating coursework and extracurricular activities. By encouraging participation in forums, colloquia, and in-course honors projects, we advance the intellectual development of students and create a community of scholars that represents not only its individual members, but the college as a whole.

Purpose

The Honors Program was designed to assist students in all majors who wish to achieve academic success through challenging and stimulating coursework and extracurricular activities. Most honors courses are general education transfer courses in the humanities, communications, mathematics, sciences, and social sciences. By encouraging participation in forums, colloquia, and in-course honors projects, we advance the intellectual development of students and create a community of scholars that represents not only its individual members, but the college as a whole.

Goals

The main goals of the Honors Program are to provide the following benefits to outstanding students:

  • Challenging and intense courses of study
  • Opportunities to become acquainted with other outstanding students
  • Forums for meeting and exchanging ideas with faculty members and visiting scholars
  • Colloquia designed by and for honors students to provide unique experiences beyond the classroom

Eligibility

At least one of the following requirements must be met in order to be considered for admission to the Honors Program:

Entering Freshmen

  • ACT composite score of 25
  • High school GPA of 3.5 - 4.0
  • Class rank in top 15%

Current JJC Students

  • Same requirements as entering freshmen
  • GPA of 3.5 or better for 15 or more credit hours

Privileges

  • Pre-registration
  • Enrollment in honors courses
  • Participation in special Honors Program activities
  • Participation in the Honors Colloquia—a series of lectures and seminars presented by guest scholars
  • Eligibility for Honors designation at graduation and on transcripts
  • Assignment to the Honors Program Advisor who provides each student with assistance in planning his or her academic program
  • Use of the Honors Program Conference Room, Resource Room, and computers. 

Interested in Honors Classes at JJC?

Steps to Getting Started in the JJC Honors Program:

  1. Fill out an application (requires JJC ID). Please be sure to include your contact information, including email.
  2. Talk to the Program Coordinator. Arrange an appointment to determine your eligibility for the program and discuss registration for classes. This will be a one-on-one advising session to compose an academic plan best suited to your individual goals.
  3. Get involved. Participate by attending forums and colloquia, communing with fellow students, receiving informational emails from the coordinator and becoming an important part of the student-based decisions that provide the foundation of the program.
Apply to the Honors Program

  • FAQs

    How much work will be expected of me?

    Honors classes are not structured to simply give more work. Rather, the philosophy of teaching we use encourages more interaction and discussion in the classroom, along with more engaging assignments.

    What are interdisciplinary courses?

    Interdisciplinary courses are unique pairings of TWO classes in which instructors design special curriculum that overlaps between both sections. These sections are often team taught, with each instructor participating and contributing to each other's sections.

    Can I choose which teacher I want for my honors classes?

    No. Honors classes are assigned faculty members who are chosen to teach for the Program. However, students can choose instructors with whom they may want to complete in-course Honors projects.

    I was home-schooled. Can I still meet eligibility requirements for Honors?

    YES! Part of the entry process for joining the Honors Program requires an entry interview with the Program Director. Special circumstances such as this can be discussed and alternatives for determining eligibility explored.

    What if my school was on a 5-point scale?

    On the application, simply note the scale on which your GPA was based. The HP office can make further determinations about eligibility using an altered prerequisite grade point average.

    I'm an older student returning to school after many years. My test scores are old and I have no transcripts. Can I still get in?

    Yes. Provisional entry into the program can be granted after the entry interview. Otherwise, a grade point average from JJC can be used to determine eligibility.

    I'm just a part-time student. Am I still eligible?

    YES! The Honors Program makes no stipulation about full or part-time student status.

    Are honors classes denoted on transcripts?

    YES. Honors courses are noted with an "H" for their sections, or a similar abbreviation on the transcripts (H, Hon, Honors)

    I have a family and/or a job and can't always make the activities. Can I still participate?

    YES! Active participation in the Program requires continuous enrollment in Honors classes and some participation in forums and colloquia. Two activities / meetings a semester constitute involvement in the co-curricular portions of the Program

    How long can I use the student computer for?

    The student computer work station is provided for our students' convenience. While no real time limit is set for using the computer, we do ask that students be respectful of others right to use this privilege.

    How does being an honor student affect my transfer to a 4 year school?

    Because the Program is designed to enrich your experiences at JJC, students should find that a distinguished curriculum which includes Honors classes makes students more competitive. In many cases, students can take advantage of honors-to-honors articulation opportunities while transferring. All of our courses offered are transferable.

    I was in honors classes in high school. Do I get credit for them?

    Students can earn college credit for successful completion of Advanced Placement (AP) tests in specific courses or through CLEP tests. While these won't count towards HONORS credits, these can still count toward degree requirements.

    What are the other honors students like?

    The JJC Honors Program is quite diverse in its population. From traditional high school graduates to home-schooled students, returning adult students to international students, the Program is made up of a mix of individuals who have just as many diverse majors.

    Is there a limit to how long I can be in the program?

    No. Students may continue in the Program as long as they are enrolled in classes at JJC.

    Why is the Honors Director my advisor?

    As a student at JJC, you should take advantage of all the advisors you can. Counselors and Academic Advisors in specific major areas are essential to students' success and degree completion.

    However, as members of the Honors Program, students can pre-register for classes. That is, students will be able to register for courses before registration opens up to the general student population. The Honors Director is the only one with the ability to pre-register for courses. Additionally, registration in Honors sections is limited to those students who have met the requirements of the Program, or who have made special arrangements with the Director to enroll in these special classes.

    Do I have to take the option of graduating with Institutional Honors?

    No. Many students enjoy Honors coursework and do not intend to graduate from JJC. Graduation from the Program is not a requirement to be a member of the Program.

    What is priority registration?

    Priority registration is given to students who are advanced in their studies, having accumulated at least 45 credit hours of coursework. PRE-registration is granted to Honors Program members to ensure opportunities to take not only Honors classes, but also other classes limited in offerings.

    Does it matter what my major is?

    No. The Honors Program is designed to meet the needs of most majors and of most students planning on transferring to a four-year school.

    What are in-course honors projects?

    In-course Honors opportunities allow students to create special projects to earn HONORS designation in a class not otherwise offered by the program. That is, students can complete in-course honors work and earn "honors" designation on their transcripts for that class, provided the in-course application procedure and project are properly completed.

    What happens if I fail a class?

    Challenges, especially in academics, occur. It is not unusual for students to find certain courses extremely and unexpectedly difficult. However, failure of one class does not mean that a student is automatically dismissed from the Program, especially because cumulative grade point averages are used in determining active status and successful completion of the Program.

    In order to graduate from the Honors Program, students must earn an OVERALL cumulative GPA of 3.5.

    If I take a semester/year off, can I still be in Honors when I return?

    YES. The application process and entry interview may need to be completed again, but this does not prohibit students from returning to the Program after some time away from school.

  • Course Offerings

  • Alpha Lambda Phi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa

    The four Hallmarks of Phi Theta Kappa

    • Scholarship
    • Leadership
    • Fellowship
    • Service

    Updates about chapter activities and events can be found on the chapter's iCampus site; contact the chapter office at jjcptk@jjc.edu for instructions about joining the site, or any other questions you may have about Phi Theta Kappa here at Joliet Junior College.

    Visit the Phi Theta Kappa international site at http://www.ptk.org.

    Let Your Journey Begin!

    Membership is always extended at the beginning of the Spring and Fall semesters, January and September.

    You must:

    • Be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours at JJC during Fall or Spring Semesters.
    • Have a GPA of 3.5 or better.
    • Have completed 12 hours or more of 100 level (or above) courses.