SJMC Honors Program Overview
The SJMC Honors Program is designed for high-achieving students interested in smaller class sizes, increased interaction with faculty and the opportunity to work with other high achieving students. Additionally, SJMC Honors students are offered special opportunities to participate in extracurricular events and activities related to journalism and mass communication scholarship and media careers.
SJMC Honors students are assigned an adviser in the CLA Honors division along with the SJMC major adviser. This means you have an intimate community of advisers and fellow students with which to interact as you move through your degree program. New freshmen who are admitted to the CLA Honors Program will begin to work with a SJMC faculty adviser from day one, because they will be admitted directly to the journalism major. All other students must submit a formal application for admission to the journalism major.
Most Honors courses in the SJMC and the College of Liberal Arts are accelerated or cover material in greater depth. Students say Honors courses require less "busy work" and more independent research, with the total workload being about the same. Moreover, Honors advisers help you work to your capacity without overloading.
Most students take two Honors courses each year out of an average of eight to ten semester courses. No specific Honors courses are required until you declare your SJMC major. The number required then is no more than two per year. Previous enrollment in lower division Honors is not a prerequisite to upper division Honors so if you are entering your junior year when you apply to the Honors program, you are able to take full advantage of the offerings.
You should not expect your grades in Honors courses to be lower than your grades in non-Honors courses. Faculty teaching Honors courses are aware of the ability and motivation of Honors students and grade accordingly. Moreover, many students find that, since they are more motivated in Honors courses, they get better grades in Honors courses.
Graduate and professional school admissions officers and prospective employers view your Honors courses as evidence that you are highly motivated and willing to work harder to get the most from your undergraduate education.
Tuition and fees are the same whether you are in Honors or not. There are no extra costs. In fact, participation in Honors as a new freshman or as a continuing student may help you win additional merit aid because Honors students win most of CLA's academic merit scholarships. Also, Honors students enjoy graduate borrowing privileges at University Libraries.
If you have a 3.5 GPA in all college level coursework (including transfer credits) you are eligible for the Honors Program.