Honors Program

Honors seminars are the most popular classes we offer. These are unique, interdisciplinary courses designed just for Honors students and taught by faculty from across campus. Recent topics have included things like "Evil Lurks among Us: The Moral Dimension of Horror," "The Causes and Consequences of Epidemics and Pandemics" and "How We Came to Know What We Know: The History and Philosophy of Science."

An Honors thesis is the capstone project for all students who plan to graduate from the Honors Program at USD. The thesis can take many forms – from a scientific experiment or literary analysis to a business plan or an original novel, play, or musical composition – and allows students to explore a topic they are passionate about. Honors students have a thesis advisor, a faculty member who works closely with them throughout their thesis process, and a thesis committee made up of a small number of faculty members and others who do work related to the thesis topic. This support network helps guide students through their thesis process to a successful defense and completion of the project.

Students who write a thesis related to their academic and career goals regularly get into top graduate and professional programs, win fellowships and find themselves especially prepared for graduate work. Employers are also actively seeking students with the skills demonstrated by conceiving, planning and completing a thesis project. And some students use the thesis as an opportunity to fulfill life-long creative dreams of recording an album, writing a novel or composing a music score. Whatever you choose, you will be prepared to make all the important decisions with plenty of support from faculty and the Honors Program director.

You'll also complete Enriched Honors Experiences (EHEs), which embody the idea that important learning takes place outside the classroom and that this learning enhances what students learn in their coursework. There are a variety of EHEs to choose from, ranging from serving as a leader in a student organization to participating in undergraduate research.