University Honors Program

Leadership

Robert Pampel, Ph.D.
     Director

Overview

The University Honors Program (UHP) is designed for academically talented and intellectually curious students from all majors. The UHP encourages learning both in and out of the classroom through experiences such as seminar-style classes, independent studies, internships, research projects, and study abroad. Students work closely with an Honors advisor to create rigorous courses of study that advance their academic and career interests. The UHP brings students and faculty together in a community of scholars to explore topics of mutual interest in an interdisciplinary way. In addition, the UHP provides an experience through which students gain cultural competency skills and develop personal responsibility while growing in their faith.

Program Highlights

The Honors Program at Saint Louis University engages intellectually curious and academically successful students in a community oriented towards the Jesuit ideals of holistic learning, academic rigor, and community engagement. Through a combination of individually tailored curricula, experiential learning opportunities, and developmental guidance and mentorship, the Honors Program prepares students to become citizens who engage in the process of inquiry and apply their knowledge in service to society.

Students go on to professional schools, graduate programs or to receive prestigious scholarships and fellowships. Others are hired by world-class businesses, engineering firms and non-profit organizations. Still others join organizations like the Peace Corps or the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Above all, honors students become citizens who engage in the process of inquiry and apply their knowledge in service to society.

Honors Academic Advising

Each Honors student is assigned an Honors Academic Advisor. The Honors Advisor provides specialized secondary advising for UHP students throughout their undergraduate careers. The Honors Advisor works with primary advisors in all schools and colleges as well as faculty and staff from specialty programs to provide support for Honors students. The Honors Advisor helps each student construct a rigorous curriculum plan directed at achieving her or his academic and career goals. The Honors Advisor is also available to discuss course selection, undergraduate research and capstone options, post-graduation plans, and distinguished scholarship opportunities. Students will meet with the Honors Advisor at least once each academic year to keep track of their progress in the UHP.

Curriculum Overview

The Honors Program offers honors-only courses and smaller, seminar-style classes. Students are also encouraged to participate in internships, independent research projects and study abroad semesters.

Students must complete twenty-four credits of Honors academic credit. Eighteen of the credits must be from traditional course-based experiences, and six credits must be from experiences outside the classroom.  Three of these credits come in the form of a capstone project, a culminating research project in a student's major or minor field of studies.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the UHP is determined by a holistic review of prior academic performance, achievement on college entrance examinations, and evidence of interest in and fit for the Program. Interested candidates must apply online.

Eligibility and Deadlines

First-time college students must have an outstanding high school academic record in a rigorous curriculum (represented by only As and Bs in all classes and a minimum 3.8GPA) and a composite ACT score of at least 30 or an SAT score of at least 1390. The GPA and ACT/SAT scores are the minimum for admission consideration; the committee also reviews a personal statement and letters of recommendation and ranks all applicants using a common, multi-dimensional rubric. Complete applications are due no later than December 1 for enrollment in the UHP in fall of the freshman year.

Current students must have completed at least one semester at Saint Louis University, earned at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, and have earned fewer than 45 credits at the time of application. Complete applications are due no later than October 15 for spring enrollment and February 15 for fall enrollment.

Transfer students must have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA at their previous institution(s) and have earned fewer than 45 credits at the time of application. Transfer students may be awarded Honors credit (not to exceed 12 units) for previous Honors coursework at the discretion of the Director of the University Honors Program. Decisions about Honors transfer credit will be made at the time of admission. Complete applications are due no later than October 15 for spring enrollment and August 1 for fall enrollment.

Presidential Scholars are given an extended deadline of May 1, prior to their first semester at the University, to apply to the UHP . All admissions standards for Presidential Scholar applicants are consistent with first time college students.

International students with an outstanding academic record in a rigorous high school curriculum are encouraged to apply. An equivalent grade point average of at least 3.8 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum English proficiency score of 90 on the TOEFL (IBT) or 7.0 on the IELTS is required, in addition to the personal statement and letters of recommendation. International students are also encouraged to include a standardized test score (ACT or SAT) along with their application, when possible, but this is not required.

Academic Policies

Priority Registration

All active Honors students are permitted to register one business day before other students at their grade level. For this purpose, students are categorized on the basis of completed semester credits.

Withdrawing from an Honors Course

Students are expected to complete all attempted Honors credit options (both in-class and out-of-class). Withdrawing from an Honors course may be arranged only in special circumstances with permission in advance from the Director of the University Honors Program. Permission will be granted only in accordance with University deadlines for withdrawing from a course. Withdrawing from an Honors course may adversely affect the student’s standing in the University Honors Program.

Petition for Course Extension

Students may submit a petition for course extension in an Honors course with permission from the course instructor. The student must complete the course work within one year or the grade for the course becomes an F (in accordance with the University policy for incomplete grades).

Taking Honors Courses Abroad

Students studying abroad may take Honors courses that will count towards the twenty-four required Honors credits, but only with permission in advance from the Director of the University Honors Program. Students may develop a contract for an Honors course while studying at the Saint Louis University Madrid Campus; again, the student must have permission in advance from the Director of the University Honors Program.

Dismissal from the Honors Program

Students must remain in good standing with the Honors Program by

1. maintaining at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA,
2. earning Honors credit every semester, and
3. earning a B or better in required Honors courses (i.e., HR 1900 Crossroads: Intro to Honors (3 cr), HR 4930 Honors Senior Seminar (0-3 cr), or HR 4960 Honors Senior Capstone (0-3 cr))

The UHP reviews each student’s progress in all three of these areas at the end of each semester. Students who have a cumulative GPA below a 3.5, and/or who have not earned Honors credit one or both terms of that year, and/or who earn a B- or below in a required Honors course are at risk of being dismissed from the UHP. Students who are dismissed from the UHP are not permitted to re-enroll.

Graduation Requirements

Students who successfully complete all requirements and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 will graduate through the University Honors Program (listed on their official transcript). Latin Honors (e.g., cum laude) are awarded on the basis of grade point average and are not associated with the UHP.

1. Graduates will be able to communicate thoughtfully and effectively in multiple disciplines and contexts.
2. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge to social, cultural and professional contexts.
3. Graduates will be able to identify and apply multiple methods of inquiry to address complex questions.
4. Graduates will be able to conduct extensive, quality research or scholarship in a chosen academic field.
5. Graduates will be able to describe the evolution of their quest for personal and professional purpose, as it is situated in social, cultural and historical contexts.
6. Graduates will be able to demonstrate awareness of the complex identities of themselves and others.
7. Graduates will be able to discern how their engagement with diverse communities and cultures affects themselves and others.

Honors-Only Courses

Numerous academic departments offer courses with enrollment limited to Honors students. These courses are taught by some of Saint Louis University's most distinguished faculty, and the class size is typically limited to 20 students. Many required Arts & Sciences core classes are offered as Honors-only courses, such as

Options vary by semester.

Dual-listed Courses

The majority of Honors courses are dual-listed courses, which means that both Honors students and non-Honors students can enroll in the course. Dual-listed courses involve supplemental or enriched assignments for students to earn Honors credit. Honors students must register specifically for the Honors section of the course (designated by an H in the section number) and must complete the supplemental or enriched Honors work. Students may not opt out of the Honors section or the Honors work after the University add/drop deadline.

Course Contracts

Students may elect to earn Honors credit through a non-Honors course by contracting the class with the professor. The course must be at the 3000- or 4000- level in the student's major or minor area. Students must submit an Honors Contract Agreement with the professor’s support that describes supplemental or enriched assignments the student will complete for Honors credit. Contracts must be submitted to the UHP for approval by the first Friday of the semester. Students may not opt out of the Honors work, which is graded pass/no pass. For the course to count towards the student’s Honors requirements, the student must pass the Honors work and earn a B or better in the course.

Graduate Courses

Graduate courses will count towards the twenty-four required Honors credits, up to a maximum of 6 credits.

Continuation Standards

To remain active in the program, students must earn academic credit in an Honors course or experience each semester.

Students must earn a B or better in Honors courses. Honors courses for which a student earns less than a B will not count toward meeting UHP requirements. Students also must maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average to remain in good standing with the UHP. Student progress is reviewed at the end of each semester; students below a 3.5 cumulative grade point average will be notified they may not continue in the Program.

Students who successfully complete all requirements and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 will graduate through the University Honors Program (listed on their official transcript). Latin Honors (e.g., cum laude) are awarded on the basis of grade point average and are not associated with the UHP.