2000-2001 Catalog
The FCCJ Honors Program is designed to enhance, encourage and challenge students to go beyond traditional lines of thinking. Highly motivated, intellectually gifted students need and deserve a progressive course of study that provides new challenges to their exceptional ability. FCCJ has always attracted students serious about the pursuit of academic excellence, and the educators at the College are dedicated to presenting these students with the most stimulating educational experiences possible.
The philosophy of the program for academic excellence at FCCJ is threefold:
- to encourage students to become independent learners, capable of critical
thinking and self-expression,
- to enable students to see connections in learning that allow them
to integrate their classroom learning into a common whole, and
- to allow students to explore facets of learning and materials that
are usually left out in regular classroom situations.
Honors courses are special sections of the regular college curriculum. They offer unique learning opportunities. Coursework is more individually structured and presentations have an innovative approach.
Scholarships
There are three different scholarships open to honors students. One is for entering freshmen, based on high school performance. The others are open to FCCJ students who have achieved academic excellence in college. These scholarships cover the cost of tuition, books and other incidental expenses.
The Academic Achievement Scholarship is for entering college students who achieved a 3.5 grade point average in high school in an academic curriculum and who are recommended by their high school principal or counselor. The scholarship may be renewed for a second year based on academic performance at FCCJ.
The Scholars Award is for students who have completed 12 hours of coursework at FCCJ and have maintained at least a 3.5 grade point average.
The Part-Time Scholars Award is for students who have completed 36 college credit hours and have maintained a 3.5 grade point average.
Students who are qualified should contact the Enrollment Services Office at any FCCJ campus location.
Distance Learning Programs
Family responsibilities and work obligations often prevent students from attending college. Telecourses and online courses provide an opportunity for such students to continue their education, often saving time and money as well.
Successful telecourse and online course students are self-motivated, self-directed and independent learners who are committed to self-education and self-development. Telecourses are as demanding as on-campus classes. However, they are more convenient and offer educational experience at a place of the student’s choosing.
Telecourses
Florida Community College at Jacksonville delivers college credit courses to homes, jobs, campuses and other convenient sites through telecourses. Telecourse airing schedule is specified in each course syllabus. Telecourse students go to campus for an initial meeting and to take exams. Telecourse students have the option of taking tests on campus with their professor or at alternate test sites. Telecourse content and college credit hours are equivalent to on-campus courses. Each course is a combination of televised lessons, study guide and textbook readings, written assignments, faculty interaction and testing.
For information contact the Distance Learning Office at 633-8281, 633-8480, or 633-8416 (voice or TDD).
Online Courses
For students with many demands on their time, FCCJ offers another alternative to on-campus college credit courses. Students can access the Internet for a variety of courses, such as English composition, sociology, psychology and others. Students follow the professor’s online syllabus and lectures, read assigned text material, may participate in online discussions with their instructor and fellow students, complete and deliver research papers, and take tests. Students may contact professors and staff via e-mail twenty-four hours a day.
All online courses require a computer with personal access to the Internet, web-browser software, an e-mail account, Windows 95, ability to attach files to e-mail and virus-checking software. Additionally, to support online courses, your browser software level must be at least 4.01 for Internet Explorer and/or 3.01 Gold for Netscape Gold. No other browsers are supported. Students should also be familiar with using the Internet.
Weekend College
To serve the needs of working students and others who require scheduling flexibility, Florida Community College at Jacksonville offers a variety of college credit classes and adult studies on weekends. Students may choose from classes which meet on Saturday mornings, Saturday afternoons or Sunday afternoons for the full term, or Fast-Track classes which meet all day Saturday for six Saturdays. Fast-Track courses are offered during two short sessions each term, allowing students the option of beginning courses at mid-term.
Students may earn an associate in arts (A.A.) degree by completing classes exclusively on weekends or combine weekend studies with weekday and evening classes, Telecourses or online classes. The course content and college credit hours for weekend classes are the same as for weekday classes. The same qualifications for student aid, scholarships or veterans benefits to cover costs also apply to weekend students.
Weekend College classes are held at Kent Campus, South Campus, North Campus, Downtown Campus and Deerwood Center. For more information about these weekend opportunities, call the campus you plan to attend.
Military Programs
Navy ROTC
FCCJ students interested in a commission as an officer in the United States Navy or the United States Marine Corps may enroll in the basic NROTC College program and take naval science courses at Jacksonville University. Students who successfully complete the basic course are eligible to enter the advanced program at any university that offers NROTC. Students in the basic course may also be eligible for selection to the NROTC scholarship program. For information contact the Navy ROTC office at Jacksonville University at 744-3950, ext. 7480.
Military Education Institute
The Military Education Institute exists for the purpose of increasing availability of educational opportunities for military service personnel, their family members and federal government employees and local community residents at Jacksonville area military installations. To accomplish this mission the College provides:
- college credit courses with an emphasis on the General Education Requirements
offered at each base during FCCJ’s regular terms and additional
six-week terms,
- classes offered on base in a sequential program, enabling enrollment
throughout the year in the associate in arts and selected associate
in science programs,
- a full range of advising, registration and orientation services, including
entry placement testing,
- a liaison with the military educational service officers to assist
students in the use of the military service financial aid programs,
and
- non-college credit courses for students desiring to upgrade career
and occupational skills or seeking personal enrichment. For information
call 633-8134.
Florida Community College at Jacksonville sponsors a variety of study/travel abroad courses offering college credit. These courses are focused on certain aspects of selected foreign countries and include field experiences, and on-site lectures and discussions. Studying at a university in the foreign country is also a part of some study/travel abroad courses.
Orientation meetings and structured classes designed to strengthen educational experiences are held during the length of students’ enrollment in the activity.
Class attendance and participation in the scheduled events of the tours are mandatory. Regular admission policies of the College must be followed to enroll in the courses. Students are expected to pay their own transportation and other charges.
Global studies/travel abroad courses are offered based on student interest and enrollment.
Examples of the countries of focus for previous study/travel abroad include England, Greece, Italy, France and the Orient.
English As A Second Language (ESL)
Florida Community College at Jacksonville has programs which are specifically designed for non-native students whose first language is not English. The academic ESL program is designed for students who are preparing themselves for academic study and who must develop native proficiency in the English language to succeed in their coursework. In addition, non-native community residents who have a high school diploma and want to increase proficiency in English language skills through rigorous study are eligible to enroll. Some exemptions apply to applicants who do not yet have a high school diploma.
Prior to registration, students take a placement test to determine which level of instruction is most appropriate. Based upon the results of these placement test scores, students are assigned to college preparatory studies (Level I) which is designated by courses with the ESL prefix, Intermediate (Level II) or Advanced Intermediate (Level III) courses, both of which are designated with the ENS (English for non-native speakers) prefix. Each level consists of courses in:
- reading/vocabulary,
- writing/composition,
- speaking/listening,
- structure/grammar and
- combined skills (designed for special program needs).
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Non-Credit
The adult education non-credit ESOL program offers classes for community residents whose native language is not English and who desire to learn and improve their English language skills in preparation for job placement. Instruction is offered at six different levels, covering listening, speaking, reading and writing skills from beginning to advanced. Instruction including speaking, reading and writing skills are taught at all levels. Before registration, students must be tested to determine placement levels. Classes are held at the Downtown Campus during the day and at Kent Campus and various high schools in the evening. For testing and registration information contact the ESOL office, Downtown Campus, at 633-8484.
College Preparatory Courses
College preparatory studies provides special courses and support services for those students who are in need of further preparation in writing, reading and mathematics.
Through the course placement testing program or additional assessment, students who are identified as in need of further preparation will meet with a counselor to identify academic goals and the best curriculum to follow in order to achieve these goals.
All college preparatory studies courses are considered to be pre-college level. They are not intended for transfer, counted for graduation or calculated in total hours or grade point average. However, these courses will count as hours enrolled for financial aid/veteran purposes, Social Security or other enrollment verifications. These courses are identified as college preparatory studies courses in the course description section.
The following college preparatory studies courses are designed to bring students’ skills to the minimum college entry level.
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ENC 0001 Introduction to Composition A
ENC 0021 Introduction to Composition B
ESL 0101 ESL Speech — Level I
ESL 0121 ESL Reading — Level I
ESL 0141 ESL Writing — Level I
ESL 0161 ESL Structure — Level I
ESL 0181 ESL Combined Skills — Level I
MAT 0002 Basic Mathematics
MAT 0024 Elementary Algebra
REA 0008 Reading Skills
REA 0010 Introduction to Reading Techniques
Research has shown that students at FCCJ who are successful in college preparatory studies miss less than four hours of class. The College has instituted an attendance policy for all college preparatory classes. College preparatory students should check the attendance policy in the course syllabus of each college preparatory course taken.
Full-time students who test into ENC 0001 and REA 0008 must take these two courses in their first term of enrollment. Full-time students who test into ENC 0001, REA 0008 and MAT 0002 must take all three of these courses in their first term of enrollment. Part-time students are required to take these college preparatory studies courses in the following order: reading, English and mathematics.
Full-time students who test into either ENC 0021, REA 0010 and MAT 0002 or MAT 0024 must enroll in at least one of these college preparatory studies courses each term until they have completed all such required courses.
Part-time students who test into either ENC 0001, REA 0008 or MAT 0002 must enroll in at least one of these courses each term until they have completed these courses. Part-time students who test into either ENC 0021, REA 0010 or MAT 0024, must enroll in these courses by the time they have accumulated 12 hours of college credit coursework and must maintain continuous enrollment in college preparatory coursework each semester until the requirements are completed.
Limits to Enrollment in Each College Prep Course
Students who officially withdraw from college preparatory studies courses shall be considered enrolled that semester for purposes of the two-term limitation rule. Students may only have two attempts at a college preparatory studies course and pay the in-state tuition rate. After two attempts, students must pay the out-of-state tuition rate or may enroll in adult education courses that provide an alternative to traditional college preparatory instruction. Exceptions to this rule are subject to the student appeals process. Previous attempts made prior to Fall Term 1997 do not count toward the two-term limitation. Students testing into remedial instruction may access alternative private sources for this instruction.