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 can apply to the Honors Program, which offers two tracks:
Presidential Honors Scholars
The Presidential Honors Scholars track is best suited for students who can commit to up to four semesters of intense academic work and who also want to participate in meaningful service-learning experiences while honing their leadership skills. Students must complete the IDH Honors Seminar series as part of their academic and service-learning requirements. Presidential Honors Scholars must devote considerable time outside the classroom to achieve their honors goals.
To be considered for the Presidential Honors Scholars track, students must meet the required high school grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 or higher. They must meet other criteria and submit all supporting documentation with their Honors Program application.
To graduate from the Honors Program, Presidential Honors Scholars must complete at least 15 hours of honors courses, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, and earn at least a “B” in all honors course sections.
Merit Honors Scholars
The Merit Honors Scholars track is best suited for students who want an elevated academic experience but need more flexibility than the Presidential Honors Scholars track can offer. Students will enroll in up to two honors courses per semester and need to complete the IDH Colloquia series as part of their academic requirements.
To be considered for the Merit Honors Scholars track, students must meet the required 3.2 GPA (either high school or college). They must meet other criteria and submit all supporting documentation with their Honors Program application.
To graduate from the Honors Program, Merit Honors Scholars must complete at least 9 hours of honors courses, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher, and earn at least a “B” in all honors course sections.
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 three program areas: 1) Study Abroad/Study U.S.A., 2) The Global Scholars Distinction, and 3) 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 in 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 our study abroad program. FSCJ’s faculty-led, short-term study abroad and study U.S.A. model is 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.
In addition, 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 at fscj.edu/news-events/calendar.
For additional information about these programs, please contact the Center for International Education at global@fscj.edu.
Service-Learning and Civic Engagement
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.
The FSCJ Center for Civic Engagement advances the College’s strategic initiatives on service-learning and civic engagement. 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 for Civic Engagement supports events and initiatives that provide opportunities for the FSCJ community to be involved in improving the broader community. The Center for Civic Engagement is located at FSCJ’s Administrative Offices, 501 W. State Street (Room AO-204C).
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 (serve.fscj.edu) 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 FSCJ Center for Civic Engagement 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 FSCJ Center for Civic Engagement conducts class presentations on service-learning and assists faculty and students with questions about this educational practice.
For additional information, including Virtual Service-Learning LibGuides, visit the Center for Civic Engagement website at fscj.edu/academics/center-for-civic-engagement or email servicelearning@fscj.edu.
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