Explore the Honors Program at St. Edward's University
The Honors Experience
In the Honors Program you'll live within a small community of your peers and take classes specifically designed to inspire our most creative, intellectually-minded students. Honors is not designed to separate you from fellow students outside the program—you will remain part of the vibrant St. Edward’s student body, and take classes both within and outside of Honors.
Discover the opportunities the Honors Program, St. Edward’s University, and Austin can open up for you.
- Engaging small-group seminar discussions
- Team-taught courses bringing together professors across disciplines
- Independent, original research through the Honors Senior Thesis
- Opportunities for travel, experiential learning and internships
The Honors Program at St. Edward’s University empowers high-achieving and curious students to create a community of learning, explore enduring questions, and engage in research and creative scholarship.
Honors Paths
There are two paths to joining the Honors Program at St. Edward's — by invitation or by application.
Invitation:
You may qualify for automatic Honors admission based on the qualitative academic strength of your application. Typical Honors students at St. Edward’s demonstrate deep intellectual curiosity in addition to a strong academic record. Our admission counselors take a holistic approach to the Honors admission process.
If you are invited to Honors, you will be informed in your official acceptance letter to St. Edward’s and by email.
Apply for admission by January 15th for priority consideration.
How do I join Honors at SEU after I'm selected?
1. Submit your Enrollment Deposit
2. Submit the Honors Program Survey. We will email you the survey after you submit the enrollment deposit.
3. Register for your room in the Honors Cohort in Dujarie Hall. Note: you will be sent instructions on how to select your room.
4. Select your Honors courses during orientation with your success coach.
Application:
Follow these application instructions if you have been accepted as a student to St. Edward's and would like to be considered for the Honors Program.
Students who have begun their studies at St. Edward's may apply during their freshman year. Please contact the director for further information.
Living in the Honors LLC
Freshman students will live in the Honors Living Learning Community, in Dujarie Hall. Once you decide to participate in the program, you may select your room and roommate in the LLC.
Space in the Honors LLC is limited, and your invitation is not a guarantee of your participation. Program spaces are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to students who accept their invitation and register for housing.
If you are invited to Honors, but are unable to live in the Honors LLC due to conflicting requirements or other housing needs, please contact the Office of Residence Life.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions and answers will provide you with additional information about the Honors Program.
Is the Honors Program challenging?
Absolutely. All the classes at St. Edward’s University are challenging, and that certainly includes the Honors Program. That said, the program’s goal is not simply to make classes harder, but to provide the opportunity for students to go deeper into the material. We challenge and inspire students through our courses.
Can students of any major join the Honors Program?
Yes! That means the Honors program is diverse and provides opportunities for students to learn from other disciplines.
How will the Honors Program fit into the rest of my academic plan?
The Honors' seminars and courses you’ll take satisfy requirements in the Liberal Arts core curriculum required of all students, as well as satisfying requirements in your major.
Does the Honors Program require me to take additional credits hours to graduate?
The Honors Program is structured and designed in such a way that students do not need to spend extra time at the university. Almost all Honors courses satisfy a degree credit that every student is required to take for their major. Honors students do take an addition three credit hours, but they are split up into three separate one-hour seminars. We believe these one-hour seminars are greatly beneficial, and Honors students say they enjoy the experience. Take a look at your future four year plan.
Why was I selected for admission to the program?
Students selected for the Honors program are chosen for their high achievement before coming to St. Edward’s University and/or the curiosity shown throughout their career as students. Ideal students are actively engaged in learning and seek to thrive in an academically rigorous environment. Potential Honors students are identified by their admission counselor during the application process and invited to join.
How many freshmen are accepted?
Fewer than 10% of each freshman class is accepted to the program. The Honors Program is looking for students who possess a spirit of curiosity and a profound commitment to their studies.
If you are interested in the program, please share your interest with your admissions counselor.
What if I am not accepted to the Honors Program in my freshman year?
The Honors Program admits a limited number of incoming freshmen. If you were not accepted to the program before the fall of your freshman year, you can still apply as a freshman before the spring semester. We encourage you to email Dr. Emma Woelk, the program’s director, to inquire about available opportunities.
If I am transferring to St. Edward’s University from an Honors Program at a two-year school, can I join the St. Edward’s program?
We strongly encourage transfer students who have completed honors coursework at their previous institution to apply to the Honors Program at St. Edwards University. Please contact program director, Dr. Emma Woelk, to apply.
What if I want to study abroad?
The Honors Program strongly encourages students to study abroad. There are opportunities within the Honors program itself, but there is also flexibility in the curriculum to go abroad through other programs at St. Edward's University.
Can I take part in a Living Learning Community (LLC) as an Honors student?
Of course! All freshman Honors students live together in the Honors Living Learning Community, specific to Honors Program members. Honors students live in Dujarié Hall, one of the most popular and sought-after residence halls on campus. If you plan to be a commuter, you will still be included in Honors Living Learning Community coursework and co-curricular events. Through this community, you’ll make lifelong friends and create passionate discourse that will carry over from the classroom into the residence hall.
About Jacques Dujarié Hall
As a first-year Honors student, you’ll live with your program peers in one of our most sought-after residence halls, Dujarié Hall. You'll build relationships with your classmates as well as engage closely with faculty through co-curricular events on and off campus.
Contact us
If you would like more information or have questions, please email Emma Woelk, Ph.D.
Program Director