• Freshman year – Fall semester: HNRS 1391 – The Tribe and the City
• The ideals of Parent, Prophet, King, Lawgiver, Hero/Heroine, Poet, Philosopher and Statesman are examined in this course.
• [See class web page and reading list] 
• Freshman year – Spring semester: HNRS 1392 – From Empire to Christendom
  • This course looks at the ideals of Founder, Patrician, Soldier, Martyr, Bishop, Monk, Knight, Lady, Friar and Scholar.
  • [See class web page and reading list]
• Sophomore year – Fall semester: HNRS 2391 – Church and Nation
  • Students explore the ideals of Monarch, Scientist, Reformer, Missionary, Explorer, Artist, and Mystic in this course.
  • [See class web page and reading list]
• Sophomore year – Spring semester: HNRS 2392 – Revolution & the New Empires
  • This course examines the ideals of Revolutionary, Philosopher, Diplomat, Bluestocking, Pioneer/ Entrepreneur, Gentleman, Social Scientist, Existential Hero and Worker.
  • [See class web page and reading list]

In the last two years, students will combine seminar classes with more independent research and community service projects. These courses will require students to collaborate with other students and faculty members in the university as well as members of the community at large. Also, in the Fall semester of junior year, 6 Honors students are chosen, based on GPA, to attend the National Collegiate of Honors Council Conference. 

• Junior year – Fall semester: HNRS 3391 – Community Service Project
  • This course in “Christian work” combines reading and seminar discussion with real world experience through a volunteer project. Along with class meetings, students must complete 100 hours in a community service project of their choosing. They are also asked to keep a journal to record the experiences of the project, to reflect on their meaning, and to interpret them in light of their liberal arts education, with particular reference to the class reading list.
  • [See class web page and reading list]
• Junior year – Spring semester: "free" semester
  • There is no Honors Program course scheduled for this semester.
  • In the past, students have chosen to use this semester to participate in study-abroad programs, to prepare for MCAT, LSAT, PSAT or just to catch up on other classes required by the core curriculum or their majors.
• Senior year – Fall semester: HNRS 4394 – Independent Research Project
  • Working with faculty direction, each student designs and pursues a research project in keeping with the goals and methods of his or her chosen major discipline. The results of this research project are presented by the student in a university forum (typically the UST Research Symposium) or scholarly conference.
  • [See class web page and reading list]
• Senior year – Spring semester: HNRS 4395 – Contemporary Problems Seminar
  • This is an interdisciplinary seminar which treats a significant topic of interest to the students. Students who take the class are expected to choose a contemporary problem they would like to address and collaborate with each other in researching the issue and preparing a presentation to be given by the whole class at the UST Research Symposium. They are also asked to select a faculty member to lead them in the research and preparations. A syllabus is developed on the basis of the approved topic.
  • [See class web page and reading list]

[See a list of Honors Courses and their reading lists.]

How the Honors Program Applies to the Core Curriculum and Major -- (See Program Credits)

Apply Now – Admission Process

Honors House
4111 Yupon, Houston, TX 77006
713.525.3148
honors@stthom.edu