Carroll Community College

The Hill Scholars Program is a selective admission, honors cohort program for entering first-year college students.  The cohort includes a group of about 20 students who take two or more honors courses together each semester.  Hill Scholars take a core grouping of challenging honors courses designed specifically for the program, but will take courses for their individual majors separately.

The core curriculum comprises seven General Education courses that apply to all learning programs. Core courses will include English, Literature, History, Philosophy, Interdisciplinary Fine Arts, Anthropology, and Psychology. Hill Scholars will take two of the designated honors courses and a one-credit honors seminar each semester for four consecutive semesters.   Throughout the program, Hill Scholars will participate in co-curricular activities that support the common elements of the program outside of the college and in the community.   In addition to the Hill Scholars core curriculum, each student takes other courses required by his or her specific learning program. For example, all learning programs require math and science core courses; however, the specific math or science course chosen is based on the requirements of the specific learning program or major.

English Composition and Literature

• ENGL 103H Advanced College Writing
• ENGL 240H British Literature
  

Humanities

• HIST 106H History of the United States From 1876
• PHIL 101H Introduction to Philosophy

Social and Behavioral Sciences

• ANTH 101H Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
• PSYC 101H General Psychology

Fine and Performing Arts

• FPA 101H Introduction to the Arts

During each semester in the program, the cohort group will take two honors courses as well as the Honors Seminar course.  Students will also take courses specific to their major outside of the honors program.  The courses that the students will take during the program are listed below. 

ANTH 101H - Introduction to Cultural Anthropology  is the study of the nature and development of culture, through an examination of cultures throughout the world and across time. Topics include language, ecological adaptation, religion, family, economic and political patterns, and cultural change. Three hours lecture each week. Three credits.

ENGL 103H - Advanced College Writing satisfies the General Education requirement for the first course in English Composition and Literature. Students will focus on critically reading and interpreting literary works of creative non-fiction, fiction, drama, and poetry. Emphasis will be placed on the research process, culminating in a comprehensive research paper that will, in part, comprise part one of the Carroll Community College portfolio. The portfolio replaces the final examination for the course. In addition to class, one hour per week is a workshop in research and documentation, consisting of mandatory library instruction, student-teacher conferences, and/or electronic classroom activities. Three hours lecture each week. Three credits.

ENGL 240H - British Literature  studies the great literary works of Western civilization from Classical Antiquity through the Renaissance, such as those of Homer, Virgil, Dante, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton. The readings are chosen to acquaint students with the characteristics of each period and to illustrate the timelessness of themes fundamental to the human experience. Students in this course will contribute additional writing and reflection to their Carroll Community College writing portfolios. ENGL-240 satisfies the general education requirement for Humanities or the second course in English Composition and Literature.  Three hours lecture each week. Three credits.

FPA 101H - Introduction to the Arts introduces students to the areas of visual arts, dance, music, and theater through an exploration of representative works. This experience will enhance self- expression and a better understanding of the human experience. This course meets the integrated arts requirement of the Maryland State approved Associate of Arts in Teaching degree. Three hours lecture each week. Three credits.

HIST 106H - History of the United States From 1876 is a survey of the major forces in American life from the Reconstruction Period to modern times. Particular emphasis is placed upon the development of contemporary economic and social institutions Three hours lecture each week. Three credits.

PHIL 101H - Introduction to Philosophy is a survey course which emphasizes the use of critical analysis to examine philosophical issues. Among these issues are the meaning of human existence, the matter of justifying ethical choices, the nature, sources, and limits of human knowledge, the question of whether God exists and how one justifies an answer to this question, and different theories about the nature of reality. The course actively encourages the student to recognize the relevance of philosophy to everyday situations, and to use critical analysis to attempt to understand and integrate human experiences.  Three hours lecture each week. Three credits.

PSYC 101H - General Psychology introduces the principles and methods of psychology and examines the dynamic factors which influence behavior, including biological determinants, personality, intelligence, perceptual processes, and learning. Adjustment and interpersonal relationships are covered. Three hours lecture each week. Three credits.

Seminar Series - Hill Scholars will enroll in a series of one credit seminars (HONORS 101, HONORS 102, HONORS 201, HONORS 202) during each of their four semesters in the Hill Scholars Program.  Seminars include themes focused on areas of service learning, teamwork and professional/civic leadership, personal/career development and transfer preparation and opportunities for study abroad.