The JMU Honors Program

What is the Honors Program? The JMU honors program provides an enhanced academic experience for superior students

Myths About Honors Myth: Being in the honors program will mean that I will need more classes to graduate. Fact: You will not need additional credits to graduate with the Honors distinction. You will typically take one honors class a semester and it will normally also count toward meeting your General Education, Major, or Elective requirements.

Myths About Honors Myth: Honors will take too much of my time and I will not be able to have a normal college experience as a result Myth: Honors will take too much of my time and I will not be able to have a normal college experience as a result Fact: There is no part of the “normal” college experience that you will need to give up in order to be part of the Honors Program at JMU. Honors students participate and are leaders in the full range of JMU curricular and extracurricular activities

Myths About Honors Myth: Honors classes are “harder” than other classes and my grades will suffer as a result. Fact: Students describe honors classes as being “different,” “more challenging,” “more interesting,” and “more fun” than their non-honors classes rather than “more work” and grades in honors classes are not lower than in non-honors classes.

Benefits of Honors  Enhanced Academic Experiences; JMU is a National Leader in Honors Education  Enhanced Engagement with JMU’s Faculty  Enhanced Preparation for Graduate School, Professional School, Business Career,…  Mentoring (Peer and Alumni)

Honors vs. Best of the Rest

Who Are Honors Students  All Colleges and Majors are Represented  National Prestigious Scholarship Winners  Editors of The Breeze  Leaders in Student Government  Varsity Athletes  Orchestra, Choir, Band, and Theater  Service, Social, Athletic Clubs

The Academic Experience The Honors Program offers a premier and distinct educational experience that will foster both inside and outside of the classroom: Active Learning Active Learning Enhanced Engagement with JMU Faculty Enhanced Engagement with JMU Faculty Leadership Development Leadership Development

The Academic Experience The Academic Core of the Honors Program includes 27 credits of “honors classes”  Small discussion based classes: honors sections of existing classes and honors seminars  Make any class an honors class through the “honors option”  Honors senior project

Additional Opportunities for Honors Students Include:  Honors residence hall  On-campus apartment living for upperclassmen (New for Fall 2015)  Honors advising  Priority registration  Honors abroad seminars  Honors Alternative Spring Break

Additional Opportunities for Honors Students Include:  Hillcrest Scholarships  Areas of emphasis in research, service, leadership, global studies  Hillcrest House study areas and computer lab  Early move-in

Admission into Honors - Admission into the Honors Program is highly competitive with entering class size limited to 200 students. - A separate application and transcript are required. The Honors Program’s Regular Decision deadline is 2/28. Notification date for Regular Decision and deferred Early Action applicants: first week of April. - Other entry points into the program: Tracks II and III

Costs of Being in Honors