High school students across New York City are getting an authentic higher education experience through the College Experience Program (CEP) offered at SJC Brooklyn.
Bridge Program Coordinator Benedick G. Turner, Ph.D.
CEP gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to become immersed in campus life at St. Joseph’s College’s historic Clinton Hill campus to — just as if they were a Bear. The courses offered to the high schooler — just like the curriculum offered to St. Joe’s College students — are always being reviewed and updated.
This fall, high school students enjoyed a new course, Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation. Throughout the semester, students have delved into the philosophies, procedure and clinical practices that recreational therapists use every day. While the class featured a room of high schoolers the curriculum — and the professor — is the same as the Introduction to Therapeutic Recreation class offered to students enrolled at St. Joseph’s College.
“We’re offering a tremendous deal here,” said Benedict G. Turner, Ph.D., SJC’s Bridge Program coordinator.
Another new class will be offered to the high school students this spring, Turner said. He is working on the new programming with Mik Larson, the College’s dean for new initiatives.
A Competitive Program
The program’s popularity has skyrocketed since its inauguration in 2012. Courses in the CEP often fill up fast. Class sizes are capped at 20 students, with workshop classes totaling up to 15 students.
The competitive application process calls for students to have at least an 83 GPA and submit letters of recommendation.
“We want students who apply here to come here and do well,” — Benedick G. Turner, Ph.D.
The CEP offers a number of courses popular among St. Joe’s students, including creative writing, child studies, biology, criminal justice administration and computer programming. Tuition is $300 per courses.
Larson said the CEP is a great way to prepare high schoolers for their college journey.
“The SJC College Experience Program uniquely puts New York City high school students in SJC classrooms with SJC professors, where the participants can experience, first-hand, everything that is great about St. Joseph’s College,” Larson said. “For many students, getting this head start on college courses and credits can also alleviate some of the transitional stress of their freshman year when they arrive at SJC as college students — not only do they already know the campus and some of the personalities, they might take four courses per term, rather than five, allowing them to focus and excel even further, and get off to a strong start.”
