Academic Engagement

The Honors Program

The FSCJ Honors Program offers A.A. degree-seeking students the opportunity to participate in a vibrant learning community that is designed to foster academic excellence. Students enroll in intellectually engaging honors courses taught by exceptional faculty and share the experience with other academically motivated and talented students. Students must apply to the Honors Program and may choose between two graduation distinctions: the Honors Diploma and the Honors Certificate.

Honors Diploma

The Honors Diploma is awarded to students who complete the following requirements:

  • Completion of at least 18 credit hours of honors coursework including IDH 2931

  • A cumulative GPA of at least 3.2

  • Completion of 50 service-learning hours

  • Completion of the Honors e-Portfolio

Honors Certificate

The Honors Certificate is awarded to students who complete the following requirements:

  • Completion of at least 12 credit hours of honors coursework including IDH 2931

  • A cumulative GPA of at least 3.2

  • Completion of 20 service-learning hours

  • Completion of the Honors e-Portfolio

FSCJ Honors Program graduates will receive special regalia for graduation, a note on the Commencement program, and distinctions on their transcripts.

For more information, please contact the FSCJ Honors program at Honors@fscj.edu.

International Education Program

Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Center for International Education entails four program areas: 1) Study Abroad/Study U.S.A., 2) The Global Scholars Distinction, 3) Virtual Exchanges and 4) Co-Curricular International Learning Opportunities. The Center for International Education is located at our Downtown Campus in Building A, Room 1114.

When it is safe to do so, Florida State College at Jacksonville intends to offer opportunities for students to travel overseas through our study abroad programming. FSCJ’s study abroad programs are transformative academic experiences with an international perspective. While abroad, students gain knowledge about other societies and cultures as well as themselves. These programs provide the participants with a unique opportunity to encounter art, architecture, cuisine, history, language, religion and philosophy from different peoples and cultures. Our study U.S.A. programming, which provides students the opportunity to broaden their experiences without leaving the United States, offers many benefits similar to those in our study abroad program. FSCJ’s faculty-led, short-term study abroad and study U.S.A. programs are committed to providing safe, affordable learning opportunities for students.

In addition to study abroad and study U.S.A. programs, the Center for International Education supports the Global Scholars Distinction program. This program is dedicated to offering students a global education, which includes internationally focused coursework as well as cultural learning activities and experiences to help them compete in a global economy. It provides students with a way to participate in classes, programs and experiences that promote international awareness, appreciation for cultural diversity, language/communication awareness and cultural engagement. Students who complete the Global Scholars Distinction requirements will earn a printed certificate, earn a designation on their FSCJ transcript and receive special recognition at graduation, which includes a Global Scholars medallion.

The Global Scholars Distinction program requirements include the following:

  • 15 hours of Globally Focused Coursework

  • At least 8 Global Activities on campus

  • At least 30 hours of Global Experiences either on or off campus

  • A Capstone learning experience in which students reflect on their global activities and their place in the interconnected world.

The Center for International Education also supports faculty-led virtual exchange programs. Facilitated in an online learning platform such as Padlet or WebEx, virtual exchange programs enable FSCJ students to interact with other students attending colleges and universities across the globe. During virtual exchanges, students address topics and themes related to the course in which they are enrolled. From the safety of their computers, virtual exchange participants learn about different people, cultures, and languages.

Additionally, the Center for International Education plans, facilitates and supports international co-curricular learning activities and events both on and off campus. These events are posted in the International and Cultural Education section of the College’s events calendar.

For additional information about these programs, please contact the Center for International Education at global@fscj.edu.

Academic Service-Learning and Civic Engagement

Academic service-learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with academic learning goals and critical reflection to enrich the student learning experience and teach civic responsibility. Service-learning is considered a high-impact educational practice by the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Service-learning engages students in the course materials, contributes to their personal and career development, promotes civic participation, and strengthens FSCJ’s relationship with our local community. Students who participate in service-learning gain skills in critical thinking, communication and teamwork.

Located in FSCJ’s Administrative Offices, the FSCJ Center for Civic Engagement (“Center”) advances the College’s strategic priorities regarding service, success, and community. Civic engagement is a broader category that includes service-learning and refers to individual and collective actions that address issues of public concern. The Center supports events and initiatives that provide opportunities for the FSCJ community to be involved in improving the broader community.

Faculty who choose to integrate service-learning into their instruction will describe their expectations and requirements in the course. For example, students are expected to sign an Ethics and Commitments Agreement Form, engage in service to a community organization or event for a specified amount of time, acquire a supervisor’s signature on the Service-Learning Time Log and/or FSCJ SERVES to verify their hours, complete or participate in a reflection activity about their service-learning and submit the completed forms to faculty.

The FSCJ Center for Civic Engagement can assist students who are assigned service-learning in their courses by connecting them to service opportunities in the community. The Center also assists faculty and students with the supporting documentation [Ethics and Commitments Agreement Form, FSCJ SERVES (serve.fscj.edu) and Service-Learning Time Log]. Additionally, the Center conducts class presentations on service-learning and assists faculty and students with questions about this educational practice.

For additional information, visit the Center for Civic Engagement website or email servicelearning@fscj.edu.