Annenberg Honors Program (AHP)

Message From The Director

Welcome to the Annenberg Honors Program (AHP) in the School of Communications at Howard University. This program has a remarkable history since its inception from an Annenberg endowment, which enables admission of academically strong students to participate in various rigorous and satisfying activities. Foremost among these activities is academically challenging research that culminates in the completion of a thesis on a communication subject. 

Over the years, thesis research by AHP students have been presented to external audiences. One of thesis research led to a book and others have helped students’ direct admission to a doctoral program. These outcomes demonstrate the quality of research completed by AHP students. The Annenberg Honors Program is not solely about academic research. It is also about exemplary participation in the community, which includes the university as well as surrounding local communities. Students from the program have represented the School of Communications and the university in various activities. In the community, each student is required to participate in several hours of outreach.

Ultimately, the program has a proud history of academic and service activities. We invite you to learn more about our program and activities. 

- Associate Professor Jennifer Thomas, Director, Annenberg Honors Program (AHP)

Senior Research Thesis / Project

Scholars must complete a research project and 6-credits of AHP research courses  

All honors students, intending to graduate with the Annenberg Honors designation on their transcript, are required to write a Senior Research Thesis or conduct a Senior Research Project under the supervision of a faculty mentor/advisor. The thesis provides an opportunity to thoroughly investigate a subject of the scholar’s choice. The research can be quantitative (surveys, experiments, content analyses) or qualitative (interviews, focus groups, textual analyses) research. This research is completed over the span of the scholar’s time in the AHP and is honed during their time in various AHP research courses.

The thesis/research project is comprised of five chapters. Sophomores learn the basics of communications research and general research. They cover the thesis manual and research proposal, then complete the introduction or chapter one. Juniors complete chapters two and three focusing on the literature review, theoretical framework, and methodology/sampling. During the senior year, students are prepared to conduct research and analyze the collected data. 

Community Service

Scholars must take part in 20 hours of off-campus service per semester

AHP Scholars are required to complete 20 community service hours per semester served with a group or individually. An altruistic activity intended to promote goodness or improve human quality of life, through helping, assisting, and serving others, with no payment for services. Volunteer service with a department or organization associated with Howard University is prohibited. There should be positive benefits for the volunteer as well as positive improvement for the person or community served.

AHP graduates have moved on to major achievements:

Dr. Rochelle Ford, was the former 8th President of Dillard University. 

Dr. John L. Jackson, Jr. Former Dean of Walter H. Annenberg School of Communication and a University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Some of our previous students have been admitted directly into graduate and doctoral degree programs at UPenn.

Depelsha McGruder, Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Treasurer of the Ford Foundation

Victoria Kirby York, Director of Public Policy and Programs, former Deputy Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition, completed her Annenberg Honors thesis that was later published as The Lavender Report by Harvard University. It viewed as a historical documentation of the LGBTQ+ community on Howard's campus.