FCC Academic Catalog 2016-2017

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2016/2017 fcc catalog
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Transfer Note:
FCC has articulation agreements with the following institutions for students
who have completed their Associate degree and who are looking for transfer
opportunities. For more information, contact the Counseling & Advising Office
at 301.846.2471.
• University of Maryland University College – B.A. History
• University of Maryland University College – B.A. Humanities
Civil War Studies
Certificate (Transfer)
Designed for students who want depth and breadth in studying the Civil War
era. This certificate would especially benefit either history majors or those
who have a keen interest in a more comprehensive treatment of the Civil War
than one course can offer. Included in the certificate are courses addressing
a detailed examination of the causes of the war, the war itself, the legacies of
the war, and an in-depth research project relating to the war.
Course Credits
Departmental Requirements
EN 101 English Composition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
HI 201 History of the United States to 1865 . . . . . . . . . . . 3
HI 212 Civil War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
HI 299 History Independent Study (Civil War History) or
IS 911H History Honors and
IS 912H Honors Forum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
HI 217 African-American History or
HI 213 History of the South or
HI 215 Constitutional History of the United States . . . . . . . . 3
16
Honors College
Honors is an enrichment program that can be incorporated into most transfer
degree programs at FCC. Students who graduate from the Honors College,
complete an honors independent study project, present at a conference,
or earn service or leadership certificates gain a competitive advantage
when applying for admission to selective four-year colleges and transfer
scholarships.
Eligibility
Membership in the Honors College is by invitation. Students automatically
qualify with the following test scores: SAT = 1650 overall with at least 550
on verbal, or ACT = Reading 21+, or FCC placement exams = Honors level
reading (103) and proficient college-level writing.
A writing sample may be requested. However, applicants with strong
academic records (3.500 GPA) or faculty recommendations are encouraged
to apply. We also offer an Open Campus membership for high school or
home school students with a 3.500 GPA and a completed Honors College
recommendation form. To apply, complete the Honors College Application
and Honors Goal Survey, which are available in the Honors Office (H-245) and
at , and submit as directed on the forms.
Expectations
Students are expected to pursue academic excellence and be engaged in the
honors program, FCC, or the community. Any student whose GPA drops below
3.000 or violates FCC policy will no longer be in good standing with the Honors
program. Students who started college poorly but whose recent work is honors
caliber can apply to the honors coordinator for an exception.
Academic Opportunities
Your academic opportunities begin with Honors courses, which are
designated with an “H” in the schedule. Because honors courses have the
same core learning outcomes and content requirements as regular courses
they are easily transferable. Honors courses are smaller (limit 15) and often
operate as seminars with heavy class discussion. Some courses are linked so
the same cohort of students is together in two classes that share blocks of
time. All honors courses stress excellence in reading, writing, and research.
With permission of the instructor and the honors coordinator, Honors
Contracts can be arranged for courses not in the schedule (e.g., MA 210
Calculus I). Contact the honors coordinator to request an Honors Contract
application.
Students can conduct scholarly research or produce creative works through
Honors Independent Study projects under the supervision of a faculty mentor.
Students share their work with the campus community at the Honors Forum
and are encouraged to present at student conferences. Each year one student
may be nominated to compete for the Portz Award for Outstanding Honors
Student at Two-Year Colleges, which is sponsored by the Maryland Collegiate
Honors Council.
Engagement
We encourage students to engage in learning both inside and outside the
classroom. To promote learning outside the classroom, all honors courses
require students to attend co-curricular events. The Honors College also
sponsors a variety of student organized activities each year, and the Center
for Student Engagement at FCC offers even more engagement opportunities.
With 25 service hours in two projects and a reflection paper, students can
earn a service certificate. Leadership opportunities are available through the
Honors Student Association, Phi Theta Kappa, and Honors College internships.
Student leaders can also complete workshops and earn a leadership
certificate.
Benefits
Besides honing your academic skills through active learning, some other
benefits of participating in the Honors College are:
• use of the Honors Lounge (H-247);
• eligibility for honors internships and scholarships; and
• opportunities to earn student recognitions for excellence (Anne Slater Award
for Honors Excellence; MCHC Portz Award for Outstanding Honors Student, All-
USA Academic Team).
Transfer and scholarship benefits include:
• enhanced resume when applying for selective admission program at four-year
colleges as well as scholarships;
• articulation agreement with the honors program at McDaniel College, which
includes admission and tuition benefits; and
• articulation agreement with the honors program at Hood College, which
includes admission and tuition benefits; and
• articulation agreement with the honors program at Towson University, which
includes admission and tuition benefits.
Graduation
Students who complete 12 honors credits (3 honors credits must be at
the 200-level with an honors research project or completion of an honors
independent study project) with an overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.250
or higher are eligible to graduate from the Honors College. Graduates receive
a notation on their transcripts recognizing this achievement. Further, at the
graduation ceremony they wear an Honors College medallion and stand to be
recognized. The transcript notation and color of the medallion are based on
the student’s grade point average at the time of graduation: