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IV. Special Student Programs

All-College Honors Program

Honors Education Majors

COPE

ULLC

Science Programs

Military Science (ROTC)

Special Programs

All-College Honors Program

The All-College Honors Program offers qualified students an opportunity to enhance their education in a challenging and rewarding atmosphere of small, enriched classes and close faculty supervision. Honors students are chosen from the top ten percent of entering freshmen. Selection is based on S.A.T. and A.C.T. scores, high school average and rank in class, and the strength and diversity of the student's curriculum and extracurricular activities. Approximately one hundred freshmen from all majors are invited each year into the Honors Program. Those completing all four years of the Honors curriculum graduate with special distinction.

The Honors curriculum parallels the courses in the college's Core Curriculum, which are required of all Canisius students. Like the Core Curriculum, the Honors Program seeks to provide breadth and coherence to the student's education. However, the Honors Program offers many special advantages which are difficult to find in a conventional educational setting. Class sizes are small, ranging from no more than twenty students during the freshman year to approximately fifteen during the senior year. The Honors Program fosters interdisciplinary study, encouraging students to make connections between the disciplines and stimulating faculty to present innovative, team-taught courses.

For curriculum information and further information regarding the All-College Honors Program please refer to the All-College Honors website.



COPE

The Office of Canisius' Opportunity Programs for Education (COPE) is responsible for administering two very different and distinct programs: Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and Martin Luther King Scholarship/Grant (MLK). The two programs are designed to offer educational opportunities as well as to provide academic and financial support.

Martin Luther King Scholarship/Grant
The Martin Luther King Scholarship/Grant is an institutional program for ALANA (African American, Latina/Latino, Native American, and Asian American) students who demonstrate strong high school academic performance. MLK awardees must meet the regular admissions requirements of the college. The Scholarship/Grant provides some financial aid to defer the cost of tuition and books. Awards range upward to full tuition.

MLK Eligibility:
Martin Luther King (MLK) Scholarship/Grant
Students from all income levels are eligible for MLK. Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their past academic performance. Scholarships/Grants are full or partial and renewable each year for qualified students.

Semester Expectations:
Each semester the COPE office requires MLK students to fulfill the following expectations:

  • Meet with COPE counselor three times per semester (freshmen and sophomores)
  • Meet with COPE counselor two times per semester (juniors and seniors)
  • Freshmen must attend three workshops per semester.
  • Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors must attend two workshops per semester.  Please contact the COPE counselor for specific information. 
  • ALL MLK students are expected to maintain a minimum 2.7 cumulative grade point average. 
Higher Educational Opportunity Programs

The Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) is a comprehensive academic program created in 1970 by the New York State Legislature to assist in providing access for all New Yorkers to the State's private colleges and universities. The program is designed for students who, based on high school academic performance , have the potential for and interest in pursuing college level study, but do not meet the regular admission requirements of the college. HEOP is sponsored jointly by the State Education Department and Canisius College. The program offers financial assistance based on need, and a variety of support services. The ultimate goal of HEOP at Canisius is to make higher education a reality for New York State residents who are academically under-prepared and economically disadvantaged.

HEOP Pre-Freshman Summer Program
All incoming HEOP pre-freshmen take part in an intensive six-week summer program which orients students to college life at Canisius and helps prepare them for future academic work. The purpose of this program is to assist students in making the academic, social and personal adjustments which are essential for educational success. The pre-freshman program offers a variety of courses and workshops. Courses consist of study skills, mathematics, and writing. Workshop topics include college life, financial aid, choosing a major, personal concerns, career planning and job techniques/skills.
 
Semester Expectations:
Each semester the COPE office requires HEOP students to fulfill the following expectations:
  • Meet with COPE counselor three times per semester (freshmen and sophomores)
  • Meet with COPE counselor two times per semester (juniors and seniors)
  • Freshmen must attend three workshops per semester.
  • Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors must attend two workshops per semester.  Please contact the COPE counselor for specific information. 
  • ALL HEOP students must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average. 
  • All HEOP students are expected to write lobby letters each semester to their local New York State Senator, local New York State Assemblymen and the New York State Governor.  
Urban Leadership Learning Community (ULLC)

Through the Urban Leadership Learning Community, Canisius College seeks to create the next generation of leaders by attracting students from populations that historically have been denied access to positions of influence and power in the community.  Qualified ULLC students will have an interest in promoting diversity and inclusiveness in learning, mentorship, leadership training and involvement in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.  For further information contact Kenneth Sroka or E. Roger Stephenson.

Benefits of the ULLC
  • Unique collaborative learning academic program to enable students to learn from their peers as well as from Canisius faculty.
  • Competitive, four-year renewable scholarships to help finance the students’ education.
  • Focused internships, study groups and leadership training to expand the students’ academic experiences.
  • Career networking to enhance career exploration and job opportunities.
  • Cultural programming to provide a well-rounded college experience.
Eligibility
  • High school average of 85 or higher.
  • SAT combined score of 1000 or higher (critical reading and math only) or ACT composite score of 22 or higher.
  • Resident of the city of Buffalo.
  • Member of population that historically has been denied access to positions of influence (e.g. first-generation college students).
  • Demonstrated leadership potential.
  • Willingness to promote diversity and inclusiveness inside and outside of the classroom
  • Demonstrated high financial need (must file for state and federal financial aid).
  • On-campus residency.

Science Programs

STEPS to Success in the Sciences Program (STEPS)
STEPS is a voluntary program for those interested in majoring in Biology and Environmental Science whose high school records indicate they may struggle in a science major.  The program includes block scheduling and an integrated mentoring/tutoring component for introductory math and science courses.  Peer-mentors/tutors are placed in the classrooms of the math and science courses for which they are providing tutoring assistance.  STEPS students benefit from a reduced course load in the first year and are required to take ENG 100, BIO 101 and lab, MAT 109 and one Field course in the first semester, for a total of 15 credit hours.  The college will allow STEPS students to take 1 course each summer session between their first and second year at no cost to make up the CHM 111/L & 112/L that was left out of their freshman year schedule.  The academic skills Placement form will indicate if a student is STEPS eligible.

STEPS selection criteria:
  • 3 years of high school math
  • Placement in MAT 109
  • Placement in ENG 100

*Contact Dr. Elizabeth Hogan, Biology, if you have any specific questions about either of these special science programs. 


Military Science Program (ROTC)

The Military Science Program is designed to augment the college learning experience; identifying and developing future leaders is the cornerstone of the program. Its primary goals are to identify, assess and develop the potential of young men and women for commissioning as officers in the United States Army, Army Reserve or Army National Guard. Intermediate goals include providing students with leadership and managerial skills that will prepare them to lead in public service, business, military and community organizations. This program is open to students of all majors.

The traditional Military Science program is four years: a two-year Basic Course (from two to six credit hours/year), for which no military obligation is incurred, and a two-year Advanced Course (six credit hours/year) for which there is a military service obligation.

The Basic Course refers to the first and second year courses and leadership labs: MLS 101 & 102, MLS 201 and 202, MLS 111/112L and 211/212L labs. These courses are designed for beginning students who want to qualify for entry into the Advanced Course and for those students who desire to explore opportunities within military science without an obligation. A number of popular and challenging extra-curricular activities are available to students who take these courses. Students may take up to twelve Basic Course credits without obligation. A student may also qualify for acceptance into the Advanced Course by completing the Leader Training Course (MLS 210) at Ft. Knox, KY or receive placement credit on the basis of prior military service.

The following sequences of Military Science 100 and 200 level courses can each be counted as a 3.0 credit free elective:

MLS 101 (1 credit) and MLS 111L (2 credits)
MLS 102 (1 credit) and MLS 112L (2 credits)
MLS 201 (1 credit) and MLS 211L (2 credits)
MLS 202 (1 credit) and MLS 212L (2 credits)

Courses must be taken in these sequences during the same semester.  Students may count up to two such sequences of 3 credits each for a total of two free electives (6.0) in their college career.

Military Science 300 and 400 level courses continue to bear free elective credit, no matter if 100 and 200 level courses are also counted as free elective credit.

Military Science History Credit
ROTC students may receive MLS History credit for taking a course in military history, even though it may not be on the list of courses.  This helps students who are required to take a military history course in order to complete the ROTC program.

Military Science Summer Credit
During the summer, students may receive 3.0 credits for completing MLS 210 (Leader Training Course at Ft. Knox, KY).  This is a 5-week program which is taken by only a few students to allow them to meet the prerequisites (100-200 level courses) in order to begin the junior year in the program.  For example, a second semester sophomore who has not taken MLS 100-200 level course can go to Ft. Knox over the summer and then take 300-400 level courses during his/her junior and senior years and be commissioned upon graduation.

All juniors receive credit for MLS 310 (Leader Development and Assessment Course at Ft. Lewis, WA) during the summer.  This is a demanding 32 day course designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability and is required for all ROTC cadets.

Further details are available through the Canisius College Department of Military Science.