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About the School
Purposeful
Honors Education
The Honors Program at the University of St. Thomas provides a framework within which outstanding men and women can pursue excellence, leadership, and what the ancients called magnanimitas or “greatness of soul.” The program’s unique design centers around a community of students and professors committed to the intellectual life. Placed in small classes that emphasize dialogue and conversation, Honors students enjoy the special interdisciplinary benefit of team-lead seminars that focus on original, classical texts. More than the accumulation of information, learning in the Honors Program is the development of intellectual habits or virtues through intensive study and practice.
Our Curriculum
Program Structure
Team Taught Seminars
- All Honors classes are team taught by two professors from different disciplines. Rather than lectures, these seminars are conducted as Socratic discussions where students and professors explore the assigned books through conversation.
Books not Screens
- In the Honors Program at UST, students read the books that have influenced the “great conversation” which has spanned millennia. The exchange of ideas occurs between students and professors face to face rather than through the medium of online discussion boards.
Studying Alongside Scholars
Honors Program Leadership
Dr. Michael Boler
Under the leadership of Dr. Michael Boler, the Honors Program approaches education as both rigorous scholarship and intellectual formation. His leadership emphasizes careful reading, meaningful dialogue, and the pursuit of truth within the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Student Experience
Learning Through Inquiry and Dialogue
Honors students learn within a close-knit academic community that values curiosity, discussion, and intellectual challenge. Coursework is shaped by seminar-style classes, faculty mentorship, and opportunities for deeper engagement across disciplines.
- Seminar-based courses emphasizing discussion and close reading
- Faculty mentorship supporting intellectual growth and academic exploration
- Interdisciplinary study integrated alongside a student’s chosen major
Crescamus in Christo
Considering the Honors Program at UST?
Find answers to common questions about curriculum, expectations, and academic life within the Honors Program.
Who should consider the Honors Program?
The Honors Program is designed for students who enjoy reading, discussion, and intellectual challenge. It is well suited for students seeking a deeper engagement with ideas alongside their major field of study.
Does the Honors Program replace my major?
No. The Honors Program complements a student’s major and general education requirements. Students complete Honors coursework alongside their chosen degree program.
What is the classroom experience like?
Honors courses are typically seminar-based, emphasizing discussion, close reading, and sustained engagement with texts and ideas. Class sizes are smaller to support dialogue and faculty interaction.
Is the Honors Program grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition?
Yes. The program encourages thoughtful engagement with enduring questions about truth, meaning, and human experience within the context of the Catholic intellectual tradition, while welcoming students from diverse backgrounds.
How are Honors students supported?
Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, academic advising, and a supportive learning community that encourages intellectual curiosity and disciplined study.
Join Our Community
Preparing Thinkers for the World
The Honors Program leads students to dialogue with charity and exploration as ideas are cultivated and exchanged for a greater understanding of the human person in the world.