General Catalog 2007-2009
Special Learning Opportunities
The York College Honors Program seeks to provide challenging and engaging experiences for academically motivated and accomplished students. The program offers coursework, advising, and extracurricular enrichment activities to a small group of eligible and interested undergraduate students.
Students benefit from the attention the program gives to their academic strengths. The students will find that the community of scholars created by the Honors Program stimulates and supports their intellectual growth and interests. In addition, the program provides recognition for their extra efforts.
The Honors Courses supplement the student’s regular academic program of study, and is not a major itself. The courses are unique in that they typically move at a faster pace; help students to develop original research or projects; and explore breadth and depth of subject matter, draw upon many fundamental skills, integrate theory and application, and challenge assumptions at above-average levels. Honors classes and faculty encourage independent learning, generate energy and enthusiasm, and empower students to make decisions about their own learning experiences.
The program requirements are designed to be flexible and to work with any students’ major. Because most of the requirements count as a part of the general education coursework, participation in the Honors Program will not typically add to the credits required for graduation.
In addition to the specially-designed courses, students will have extracurricular enrichment opportunities such as field trips to cultural events or historical sites, book discussion groups, or informal discusssions with distinguished guest lecturers. An additional fee equivalent to a one-credit course is charged to offset expenses for special Honors Program courses and activities.
Finally, our honors program seeks to promote a well-rounded college experience. As described, students will have honors experiences within the classroom and through the extracurricular activities, but the program also encourages students to be integrated within the regular College community. For example, students are encouraged to participate in other College activities such as the sports programs, music programs, or leadership organizations; may be housed with non-honors students if living in campus dormitories or apartments; and may compete for scholarships with all York College applicants.
Honors Program Participation Options
To be eligible for participation, students must apply to and be accepted at York College. The criteria for acceptance into the Honors Program are not rigidly based upon previous academic scores. All interested students are encouraged to apply and will be evaluated individually on the basis of their preparedness and motivation for honors study. Preference will be given to students who have achieved a combined SAT score of 1200 or higher and who rank in the top one-fifth of their high school graduating class. Students who are not entering freshmen may apply for eligibility at any time in consultation with the Honors Program Coordinators.
There are two ways a student may participate in
honors. Note that participation in any form requires that a student
complete an Honors Program application and be qualified as “Honors
Program Eligible.”
1. Students may participate on a course-by-course basis. These students will not become members of the Honors Program Association or participate in the enrichment activities. Students may choose to enroll in any number of honors courses to suit their own academic pursuits. Each honors course is designated as such on the student’s transcript. Students who elect this option should seek advising from the Honors Program Coordinator(s).
2. Students who wish to engage in the full Honors Program experience will participate in the Honors Program Association and extracurricular enrichment activities, as well as coursework. Honors Program students who meet the following requirements will become “Honors Program Graduates.” These graduates will receive special recognition at the Commencement Ceremony. The following are the minimum requirements. Students are encouraged to take more honors courses as appropriate.
To graduate as an “Honors Program Graduate,” students must
1. Complete at least 20 honors course credits:
a. Honors Core courses
b. Area Distribution Requirement (ADR) courses:
1) Course offerings will vary, but will usually satisfy one of the five college-wide general education areas (e.g., Honors Psychology would satisfy Area II: Social and Behavioral Sciences).
2) Typically, students will take four of these courses; one course each semester of the sophomore and junior years.
c. For students whose academic major requirements make it difficult to acquire 12 Area Distribution credits in Honors Courses, 3 credits from Honors-by-Contract courses may satisfy the 20 required credits. See the description of Honors-by-Contract courses below.
2. Complete an Honors Project, which is typically in the student’s major area. Some examples are research studies, performances or recitals, design projects, or works of fine art or poetry. The project will usually be completed in the senior year and will typically be a course such as independent study or attached to a course, such as a senior seminar. This project is in addition to the 20 credit requirement.
3. Participate fully in the Honors Program, including:
a. Honors Discussion: a required weekly seminar
b. Service Learning
c. Extracurricular Enrichment Activities
d. Outcomes Assessment
4. Attain an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher.
Course Offerings
Three types of Honors courses are offered:
1. Honors versions of regular courses (e.g., Honors Core courses, Honors ADR courses).
2. Honors Special Topics Courses are created specifically for the Honors Program. They may be interdisciplinary or particularly timely (e.g., Philosophy of Technology, Parcival: Western Civilization and the Search for the Holy Grail).
3. Honors-by-Contract Courses allow a student to add an honors component to most regular courses by developing a contract with the instructor and Honors Program Coordinator(s). This option may be particularly useful for courses in a student’s major, because the major course would not normally have a great enough enrollment to be offered as an Honors course. Students may take as many courses in this manner as their academic programs permit, but a maximum of 3 credits may count towards the 20 credits required for graduation as an “Honors Program Graduate” (see requirements listed above). To elect this option, students must see the Honors Program Coordinator(s) and complete the Honors-by-Contract Form, which describes the criteria for approval of the contract. Students must pay an additional fee for this option equivalent to tuition for the number of credits added to the regular course.
An Independent Study is a well-defined individual research project supervised by a faculty member and undertaken without formal instruction or meeting times. Such a study affords students an opportunity to conduct in-depth research on a special topic without regular class meetings or formal instruction. While an Independent Study project involves a reduction in formal teaching, effective Independent Study is characterized by an increase in student responsibility and initiative in both research and the learning process.
A student who wishes to apply for an Independent Study project must have completed a minimum of 60 credits with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher prior to application. An application form, available in the academic department, Advising, and Registrar’s Offices, and the Adult Learner Center, should be completed by the student. The application must include a comprehensive summary describing the nature, objectives, and evaluation format of the study along with approval from the faculty supervisor and department chairperson. Completed forms should be submitted to the Registrar’s Office to be entered on the student’s schedule. The deadline for submitting such applications is the end of the Drop/Add period.
An internship is an elective educational experience that offers students the opportunity to earn academic credit for experiential learning outside the classroom. Internships are designed to enhance a student’s professional preparation and career opportunities and are available to eligible York College students. To earn academic credit, the internship must be completed at an approved site where the on-site supervisor has agreed to provide the intern with structured learning experiences that will assist them in achieving specific learning objectives. In addition, the student must complete an Internship Application, including detailed learning objectives for the course, and receive the approval of the Department sponsoring the internship and from the College Internship Coordinator prior to beginning the on-site experience.
Internship Study is available to matriculated students who have earned 60 or more credits and a 2.50 or higher cumulative grade point average at the time of application. A minimum of 120 hours on site is required to earn 3 internship credits; students are limited to participation in two different internships for a maximum of 6 credit hours of Internship Study in a baccalaureate program. Internship application forms, available in the Career Services Center or department chairs’ offices, must be completed by the end of the Drop/Add period for the semester.
York College is committed to providing service learning opportunities which will allow students to contribute to the community while obtaining valuable experience and enhanced employment credentials. Volunteer programs at York reflect that students can obtain valuable life experience through service learning and that employers frequently seek graduates who have been constructively involved in their community. Service Learning opportunities are available in a variety of organizations and can be selected based on a student’s major or area of academic interest. Students interested in participating in Service Learning should contact the Office of Career Services or Student Activities.
Matriculated students at York College are encouraged to explore the opportunities for academic study in another country as part of their degree program. The college has established special affiliation agreements with the following institutions: York St. John University in York, England; Huron University in London, England; Honam University in Kwangju, Korea; Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan; Ponificia Universidad Catolica in Quito, Ecuador; Cemanahuac Educational Community in Cuernavaca, Mexico. These affiliations allow students to plan a study abroad with the assurance that courses taken at these institutions will be accepted at York College for degree completion. Additional Study Abroad opportunities are sponsored by other institutions with credits transferred to York College. Informational packets on these programs are also available in Career Services. All students studying abroad must pay a $100 Study Abroad fee for the semester and complete an Off Campus Study Approval form. This form must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office prior to the Study Abroad semester.
For the benefit of adult learners, York College offers a full spectrum of credit courses in the evenings and throughout the summer. In addition, limited offerings are available on Saturdays during the fall and spring semesters. Courses are available to adult students who wish to work toward a degree, including Associate, Baccalaureate, and Masters, or who wish to continue their education for cultural or vocational reasons. With approval from the Associate Registrar, a matriculated student may attend evening courses on a full-time basis.
All courses offered are selected from the College Catalog and are taught by members of the full-time and adjunct faculty. The schedule of offerings is designed to address the educational needs of adult learners who live and work in the surrounding communities. Individuals who are involved in business, education, and industry, and those wishing to broaden their interests in life through college instruction, benefit from the variety of classes and programs available through York College evening and summer courses.
Students are encouraged to earn college credit for these courses, which may be applied toward degree requirements or used to enhance employment opportunities. An individual may enroll in courses as a matriculated or a non-matriculated student, according to York College admission requirements.
Registration Policy for Part-Time Non-Matriculated Students: Any individual who wishes to enroll in courses as a part-time non-matriculated student and who attended high school two years or more preceding the initial proposed date of attendance at York College must have graduated from an approved secondary school or have earned a state equivalency diploma prior to enrollment at York College. Documentation for GED students must be attached to the course registration form. Individuals who have graduated from high school within two years preceding the initial proposed date of attendance at York College may enroll in courses only if they have been accepted into a degree program at York College or are in good standing at another accredited college or university. The Registrar reserves the right to contact the indicated institution to verify enrollment or acceptance.
All college services are available for evening students including parking, admission to all home athletic contests, concerts, financial aid, career services and the use of the Student Union.
The following majors can be completed through evening and Saturday courses:
| Baccalaureate | Associate | Master’s |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Business Administration | MBA |
| Business Administration | Criminal Justice | M.S. Nursing (except CRNA) |
| Information Systems/Development | General Studies | M. Ed. |
| Information Systems/End User Support | ||
| Informatics | ||
| Management | ||
| Marketing | ||
| Nursing (RN Completion) |
Adult students are encouraged to visit the Adult Learner Center, located in the Campbell Hall lobby, Room 200. The Center is an adult student’s primary resource for information and assistance at York College and is open when classes are in session, Monday through Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings during the Fall and Spring semesters, and Monday through Thursday evenings during Summer I and Summer II. Telephone: 717-815-1208.
The Adult Learner Center provides the following services and resources to adult students:
Academic advising
Registration for courses and drop/add
Payment of tuition and fees
CLEP information and registration
Parking stickers
Many other helpful resources
Evening courses are offered to serve adults who wish to earn degrees or increase their vocational skills. Courses meet one night per week from 6:30-9:15 P.M. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evenings and on Saturday mornings from 9:00-11:45 A.M. A three-credit, non-lab class meets for 2 hours and 45 minutes one time a week as listed above.
Twilight Courses offer late afternoon and early evening classes so that working adults may attend courses immediately after work. In scheduling these courses, the College has attempted to provide classes for those individuals who finish their workday before 5:00 p.m. This program also facilitates the academic programs of individuals already enrolled in the evening program. Students are able to attend a 5:00-6:15 P.M. twilight class and remain for their evening class.
Undergraduate and graduate classes are offered during thirteen weeks throughout the summer, divided into four semesters. These classes are held during the day and in the evening. The summer classes are given for the following reasons:
1. To accommodate students in good standing at other colleges who desire to obtain credits for transfer to their own institutions.
2. To assist continuing students who desire to accelerate their program toward early graduation without the pressure of a full-day schedule.
3. To provide an opportunity for students to make up work in courses for which their performance fell below acceptable standards.
4. To provide an opportunity for high school graduates who wish to enroll in college courses before beginning their first semester in September.
5. To facilitate the program of part-time matriculated students who wish to further their program through summer study.
6. To enable those high school students who have completed their junior year and who are recommended by their high school principal or high school guidance counselor to begin college studies.
All college services are available to summer students including parking, library services, scheduled summer activities using the gymnasium and swimming pool, residence facilities, advising and counseling services and the use of the Iosue Student Union.
Summer courses are of the same quality and number of class hours as those in the academic year and most are taught by full-time faculty members. Students may enroll in up to four credits during the Mini-mester and up to a maximum of seven credits during Summer I or Summer II.
Brochures are provided for both the Evening and Summer Semesters. They may be obtained by either writing or calling:
Registrar’s Office
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA 17405-7199
Phone: (717) 815-1229
Office of Community and Professional Development
York College offers a variety of non-credit, technical, healthcare, professional and personal development programs focused on company or professional-specific needs. These courses and selected credit courses are available on-site or on campus.
Through the Glatfelter Telecommunications Center, the Office of Community and Professional Development has the capability to send and receive programs around the world. Included is the ability to produce, edit and complete a video program.
Funded programs focused on education, training and employment are developed and operated through the services of the Office of Community and Professional Development. These programs are generally formed in partnership with business and industry.
Information regarding the Office of Community and Professional Development and how it can help your business may be obtained by phone, fax, e-mail or in writing:
Office of Community and Professional Development
York College of Pennsylvania
York, PA 17405-7199
Telephone: (717) 815-1451
Fax: (717) 849-1628
e-mail: OCAPD@ycp.edu
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