Overview
The Honours Science Program brings together a group of highly accomplished science students into one class. Honours students take all of their Science core courses together and benefit from a common weekly meeting time for extra discussion, field trips, visiting speakers and social events. Because of the strength of the group, teachers may expand upon certain subjects and go into more depth in some areas than in regular science classes, providing a more stimulating experience for this cohort.
What distinguishes the program offered at JAC from others like it?
In the Honours Science Program, students take the same courses that regular Science students take. However, unlike the regular Science students, the Honours Science students take all their first year science and mathematics courses together as a group, as well as their first biology course in the second year. Beyond that, they are free to select their own courses, based on their specific interests or requirements for particular university programs.Being together in their first year science and mathematics courses enables them to build a stronger foundation in these subjects and to form friendships and study groups among other highly motivated and bright students.
First year Honours Science students attend a weekly meeting during which they listen to lectures on areas of research by scientists from industry and university or go on field trips to research facilities to see how science is conducted. In addition, former Honours Science students return to talk about their own research projects and career paths. Some meetings are set aside for socializing and for recreational events.
This is for you if?
You are hard working, curious and enjoy the challenges of learning new ways of doing things. This program will appeal to students who are highly motivated and wish to study in a group of other highly motivated students. Students are encouraged to work together on their course projects and to form study groups, developing their ability to interact socially with their classmates and teachers. We look for students who are intending to go on for further studies in some field of science or engineering, but we also would like them to be well-rounded persons. Our Honours Science students are usually very busy people with a variety of interests outside of the academic. We support this, and we encourage them to establish a good balance between their social, sports and academic lives. The ability to manage their time efficiently is essential.
Where Honours Science can take you!
University studies and potential careers for Honours Science graduates are identical to those for the graduates of the regular Science Program. Former Honours students can be found in programs as broad ranging as Mechanical Engineering, Food Science, Medicine, Law, Microbiology, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Dentistry, Veterinary school and Education.
FAQs
Does being in the Honours Science class affect the CRC of Honours Science students?
No. Calculating a student’s CRC involves normalizing the student’s grades against the class average for each course, and then averaging these. However, for the Honours Science class this would penalize the students for being in a class with a high average, so the normalizing is done against the whole first year science student cohort. Thus the CRC of Honours students are not adversely affected by being in a strong class.
Are the Honours Science courses harder than those in the regular Science Program?
Because the students selected for the Honours Science Program learn the material at a faster rate, they can cover the essential course material in less time. Since the class has less need for remedial work and drill, the Honours Science teachers can enrich the basic course with additional topics, a more rigorous approach, or somewhat more difficult material. This enrichment is driven, essentially, by student interest and ability. The students fulfill the same course requirements and write the same final examinations as the regular Science students. Since they learn the material in greater depth, Honours Science students do extremely well on their final examinations and this is reflected in higher course marks.
In all their first year courses, the accelerated pace of the course leaves time for interesting diversions. In their Physics course, for example, students have built and launched model rockets, assembled and flown hot air balloons and constructed and tested catapults. In their Chemistry course, students have designed their own Chemistry Experiment for high school students, and subsequently hosted a group of high school students to perform the experiment that they had designed.
All CEGEP students find that they must work far more than was ever necessary in high school in order to earn the marks they want and Honours Science students are no exception to this. A part-time job of more than 10 hours a week is discouraged for all Science Program students because it interferes with their free time and can make them too tired to study effectively.
Admission Requirements
CEGEP Requirements
A Secondary School Diploma which includes:
- Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
- Secondary 5 Second Language
- Secondary 4 Mathematics
- Secondary 4 Science and Technology
OR Secondary 4 Applied Science and Technology - Secondary 4 History and Citizenship Education
Program Prerequisites
This program has specific prerequisites.
≥ 80% in each:
Sec. V Chemistry
Sec. V Physics
Sec. V Mathematics Technical & Scientific Option
OR Sec. V Mathematics Science Option
OR a Secondary School Vocational Diploma which includes:
- Secondary 5 Language of Instruction
- Secondary 5 Second Language
- Secondary 4 Mathematics
Please Note
Applicants who have not studied in Québec must have education deemed equivalent by the College.
What is the application process?
Students must apply both to SRAM and to the Honours Science coordinator. The latter is done by filling in a brief online application form found below, which includes submitting a letter indicating why they would like to be in the Honours Science Program. They also need a letter of recommendation from one of their science or mathematics teachers. Applicants must have at least an 85% average overall with no mark below 80% in their science and mathematics courses.
How To Apply
John Abbott College is affiliated with the Service régional d’admission du Montréal métropolitain (SRAM) and uses its online application service.
The application deadline is March 1.
Warning: The documents and payment must be submitted by the deadline.
Program start: Fall
To apply:
- Complete the online SRAM application
- Select John Abbott and the program of your choice along with the corresponding SRAM program number: 200.B0
- Upload any necessary documents directly to your online SRAM application
AND
- Complete the online JAC application form below
HONOURS SCIENCE APPLICATION FORM
Please read the whole form before filling it out. It is not possible to save an incomplete form to be completed at a later date, so have all of your information ready before you begin, including your Letter of Intent.
Admission Criteria for the Honours Science Program
Applicants must have an overall High School average of 85% or above with a minimum of 80% in each of the Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics prerequisites.
These are the minimum requirements. Depending on the strength of the group in any given year, they may or may not be sufficient to gain admission to the program.
Please note that all Honours Science applicants must also apply through SRAM for admission into the Science Program at John Abbott College.
This online application is a separate application for admission into the Honours Science Program at John Abbott College.
Please complete the following form
Honours Science Application Form - Formulaire de demande d’admission au programme spécialisé de Sciences de la nature
Please arrange for a letter of reference to be sent from a High School science or math teacher. This letter of reference should be sent by email by March 1 from the teacher to honours.science@johnabbott.qc.ca.
The letter should provide a candid and confidential assessment of you with respect to the following:
- Your academic ability and desire to learn
- Your work habits and leadership ability
- Your maturity and dependability
Admissions Office
514-457-6610 x5358, 5355 & 5361
admissions@johnabbott.qc.ca
Honours Science Program Coordinator
514 457-6610 x5897
honours.science@johnabbott.qc.ca
Student for a Day Program
You are interested in John Abbott College and would like spend a few hours on campus?
Please follow this link to fill out the form Student for a day, and someone will contact you to set up a time for you to come to JAC and discover our campus.
During the tour, you will visit our newly renovated library, our sports facilities, the campus store, the cafeteria, etc. You will also be shown all the services offered on “Main Street”. If you have questions about application and programs, you can speak to someone in Admissions.
