As an intellectually motivated learner with great ambitions, you will find yourself embraced within Seattle University’s proud Honors tradition. Working toward a just future for all requires a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary understanding of how the world we share came to be the way it is.
While Honors programs at other institutions simply provide special sections of regular classes, our dynamic Honors Program was crafted to offer a sequence of rigorous seminars designed to pique your interest and augment your academic majors and pursuits. Dive into your intellectual passions. And discover new ones with other students as curious as you.
For more than 50 years, the Seattle University Honors Program has provided learners like you with the opportunity to join a community of engaged student citizens and professors, dedicated to the study of great works, ideas and histories that have shaped the development of our world.
Our Honors Program operates on a cohort model that provides you with an invested community of fellow students who will go through the curriculum with you, as you all grow together in your knowledge and leadership skills. Through our distinctive seminar-style classroom philosophy, paper conferences, and oral exams, you will develop poise and confidence in public speaking, conducting research and exchanging knowledge and ideas. We consider our program the perfect pairing of knowledge and skills necessary for you to succeed as a leader in our world today.
This two-year track creates an intensive focus on the humanities disciplines of philosophy, history and literature, the social sciences, and the history and philosophy of science to firmly ground you in the major intellectual traditions that have informed the development of the modern world during the past 2,500 years. It provides a strong foundation for a variety of majors.
This two-year track is similar to Intellectual Traditions in the first year and places a strong emphasis on political economy and the social sciences in your second year. If you are interested in public policy-oriented careers that complement the social justice focus of the university mission, this could be a great fit for you.
This three-year track focuses on the idea of innovation as it has informed various areas of human endeavor from ancient times to the present. Though this track lasts longer than the other two, you take fewer Honors seminars at a time. It is a great option if your intended major includes a large number of required classes offered at specific times.
No. University Honor is an alternative to the Core. No matter which track you choose within Honors, completing the track will complete all your Core requirements.
Yes. Every student in the program receives a scholarship for the full four years of their undergraduate education. These scholarships are awarded in addition to other elements of a student’s financial aid package.
Yes! The majority of Honors students double-major in a variety of subject areas. Some recent combinations include Political Science/Philosophy, International Studies/History, English Lit/Econ, Biology/History, Physics/Creative Writing, etc.
At Seattle University, a student needs a minimum of 180 credits to graduate. If your desired major is 110 credits or more, it can be a worthwhile challenge to double-major in four years.
However, even in such cases, picking up minors in various subjects is still possible. Several disciplines (Creative Writing, Economics, English, History, and Philosophy) count relevant Honors seminars as fulfilling specific requirements in the major, thereby reducing the overall number of major courses a student needs to take. Honors students typically find these “discounts” especially useful for double-majoring.
Each track has distinctive characteristics and, while none of the tracks are designed for students in specific majors, you will want to consider what you are planning to major in when selecting a track.
If you are interested in in a humanities or a social studies discipline, Intellectual Traditions or Society, Policy & Citizenship are ideal choices. Many majors in these disciplines (from History, Philosophy, or English to Economics, International Studies, or Environmental Studies) offer discounts to Honors students that allow them to complete their major with fewer credits. These discounts allow students not only to get a head start in their major, but also to double major or easily add a minor to complement their major.
If you wish to pursue a BS in one of the sciences, the Innovations track is, with just a few exceptions, the only one that will work with your major. This track is designed to accommodate students who pursue credit-intensive majors, spreading the courses over three years, so that students take fewer courses per quarter and can therefore make their scheduling work.
Nursing: This major is compatible only with Innovations.
Biology: Students who choose a BA in Biology can take any of the three tracks. Students who choose a BS in Biology must take the Innovations Track.
The Pre-Health Pathway: Pre-Health students who choose a Bachelor of Arts major in Biology can taken any of the three tracks. All other Pre-Health students must take the Innovations track.
Engineering: At this time, Engineering students cannot be admitted to the University Honors Program because of the large number of engineering requirements.
Matteo Ricci: Students are ineligible for the University Honors Program because their program of study already satisfies all university non-major requirements.
Admission to the Honors Program is for incoming freshman and has an additional application process.
University Honors applicants must also apply separately for admission to Seattle University.
Want to know more about the Seattle University Honors Program Experience? Just ask. We’re here to answer all your questions.
Director
University Honors
Advisor
Society, Policy & Citizenship
Email
206.296.5306
Office: Casey 230-02
Program Coordinator
University Honors Program
Email
206.296.5306
Office: Casey 230-90B
Associate Director
University Honors
Intellectual Traditions
Email
206.296.5417
Office: Casey 410-01
Associate Director
University Honors
Innovations
Email
Office: Casey 230-04
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