What is Honors in Action?
This is a one-credit "free" course that meets every semester based around our partnership with Phi Theta Kappa and its Honors in Action program. Honors in Action is a research-based, collaborative service project that centeres around a selected theme. Students who are part of the class every spring work to explore, research, select the theme, and select a common book to read that kickstarts the class inquiry that takes place during the Fall semester. As a group, in the Fall, we begin reading the book while we investigate the theme before narrowing research question and project goals. We then engage in both secondary (library) and primary (first-hand, human) research to learn more about the topic and how we might get involved. Finally, as a group, informed by the research, we determine a specific action plan to make a difference on our campus and in our community.
Again, there is no tuition charged. The course will appear on your transcript. Credit will be earned primarily through active engagment in reading, reserach, and action planning and implementation and participation. We need all skill-sets to make a successful project, and the more we can connect to campus, our community, and the world, the more successful we will be. Enrolling in the HIA course is now equivalent to taking an Honors section of a general education course in terms of meeting Academic Inquiry requirements to be recognized by our Honors Program. You earn 1 point for taking a semester of HIA just as you would by taking Honors Introduction to Psychology or a similar course.
Being involved in undergraduate research that leads to action will not only be a rewarding learning experience, but this will also be something that you can emphasize on transfer or scholarship applications. Plus, you'll get the opportunity to connect with peers in ways that will make your experience in Honors and at ECC truly special. It will be a collaborative, curious, creative, cool class.