Definitions

Honors Classes

Honors classes are classes in which the curriculum has increased challenge. Honors classes are noted in the Quarterly Schedule.

Honors Contracts

Honors Contracts are individual projects negotiated between a student and an instructor that add an honors component to a regular class. Generally, these contracts should be established no-later than the tenth day of instruction and be completed by the end of the quarter. Successful completion is noted on your transcript. See the Honors Contract page for criteria and the application form.

Undergraduate Research

We define Undergraduate Research as “an inquiry or investigation by an undergraduate in collaboration with a faculty member that stimulates original thinking, fosters creative approaches to problems, and furthers understanding of research and creative inquiry as a process.” Such inquiries may be on questions original to the field of study or they may be questions new to the students for which the supervising faculty knows the answer. The point is to capture the students by engaging and supporting their curiosity with meaningful hands-on projects and, along the way, equipping them with research skills. As, Dr. Thomas Murphy, the chair of our Anthropology Department puts it, “Instead of teaching what Anthropologists do, teach the students to be Anthropologists.” To learn by doing with the goal of developing a research mindset before transfer. You can learn more at the Undergraduate Research Page.

Service Learning

Service Learning connects service in the community (civic engagement) with academic preparation and opportunities for reflection. Many classes at EdCC make use of service projects as the basis for undergraduate research. Details on ongoing Service Learning opportunities can be found at the EdCC Center for Service Learning.