Long Island Honors Program

Long Island Honors Program

Exceptionally gifted students at SJNY can fulfill their potential as part of a three-semester honors program.

SJNY’s Honors Program, which runs for three consecutive semesters throughout students’ first and second years, provides an enriched and rewarding academic experience. Honors students are provided with the right balance of challenge, community and flexibility needed to explore new areas and meet new people.

In addition to their common-core classes, students will enroll in courses geared to their specific abilities and intellectual interests. Building upon the experience is the opportunity to travel abroad, broadening students’ understanding of the world, both academically and culturally.

Maddy Frascogna ’25

Mathematics and Computer Science Major with a Concentration in Adolescence Education

“Joining the honors program was one of the best decisions I have made during my time at St. Joe’s. When applying to the honors program, I was unsure of what was to follow. However, it has provided me with a close group of friends, a network of great professors and memories that would not have been made if I did not apply to the program.”

Hear more from Honors Program students

The Long Island Honors Program Experience

Learning Community of Scholars

Our students develop camaraderie by taking honors classes together during their first and second years. The curriculum contributes toward the fulfillment of the University’s general education requirements for all majors, while avoiding duplication of advanced placement credits.

An Enriched Academic and Social Experience

Honors classes maximize opportunities for short trips to local venues, such as museums, theaters and historical sites. Guest lecturers are also invited to enrich the classroom experience.

Admissions Requirements

To be considered for the program, a student must have:

  • Offered admission to SJNY.*
  • SJNY is test-optional for admission to the Honors Program, but we do recommend you submit test scores if you have them.
  • Earned a 95 unweighted high school grade point average or higher, or achieve a minimum of 1270 SAT score (math and verbal sections) or 26 ACT score and high school GPA of 90 or above.
  • Demonstrated above-average verbal and written communication skills.

*Admission to this program is determined by committee review and in no way affects general admission status or financial aid.

Three-Semester Course Sequence

First-year students join as a community of learners for a three-semester sequence of courses designed especially for the honors program for a total of 16 credits.

Once admitted to the program, students will receive a notification from the University and are invited to contact Honors Program Director Wendy Turgeon, Ph.D. with questions and for further information.

Sample courses include:

  • First-Year Experience (required of all first-year students)

  • Invitation to Philosophy or Ethics (Philosophy)

  • Introduction to Sociology

  • Speech Communications (Communication Studies)

  • Art in American Life (Art)

  • The Ancient World or other interdisciplinary courses

  • Capstone Seminar built around the anticipated travel destination

Please note that courses may vary.

Travel Venues

In the spring of their sophomore year, participants will travel with their honors cohorts and some faculty as they broaden their understanding of the world from academics to cultural adventuring.   

In recent years, the Honors Program students have visited:

  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Paris, France
  • Prague, Czech Republic and Krakow, Poland
  • Rome and Florence
  • Greece

Faculty and Honors Program Advisers

Wendy Turgeon, Ph.D.
Honors Program Director
Department of Philosophy

James Blakeley, Ph.D.
Department of History

Kirk Lawrence, Ph.D.
Department of Social Sciences

Kimberly Poppiti, Ph.D.
Department of Communication Studies