Newly Admitted Students:
Apply to the Honors Program
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 and what the ancients called magnanimitas or “greatness of the soul.” The program’s unique design centers around a community of students and professors committed to the intellectual life.
Our small classes 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, the Honors Program encourages students to develop intellectual habits or virtues through intensive study and practice.
See our academic courses linked below.
Honors Scholarships
Full-tuition scholarships available
Each year, select academically exceptional students in the Honors Program receive full-tuition scholarships. For more information, contact honors@stthom.edu.
Beginning with students entering the Fall 2027 cohort, Honors students will receive a $1,000 scholarship. This scholarship may be combined with other awards and is renewable annually.
Hear from our students
Student Experience
UST senior John Paul (JP) Le, a philosophy major, shares his experience after joining the Honors Program. Through seminar-style classes, great books, and a close-knit cohort, JP discovered a love for beauty, knowledge, and authentic community.
What We Study
Program structure
Team Taught Seminars
- All Honors classes are team taught by two professors from different disciplines. 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 Western Civilization through the “great conversation” that has spanned millennia. Students and professors exchange ideas face to face rather than through the medium of online discussion boards.
Annual Retreat
Students retreat to engage
The annual Honors retreat provides the opportunity for professors and students from all cohorts to meet. This three-day offsite gathering revolves around informal readings, discussions, and shared meals.
Student Experience
Learning through inquiry and dialogue
The close-knit academic community of the Honors program values curiosity, challenges, and food-faith discussions. Here students develop intellectual friendships through a “college within a college” experience.
- 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.
Additionally, Honors students are given priority consideration for several competitive internships, research opportunities, and fellowships at prestigious institutions like the Houston Opera and the Heritage Foundation.
What additional Honors opportunities exist?
The Honors Program will have a summer program available for Summer 2027. More information will be released soon.
Studying Alongside Scholars
Honors Program Leadership
Michael Boler, Ph.D.
Under the leadership of Michael Boler, Ph.D., the Honors Program gives a deep grounding in the great books of the Western tradition. It emphasizes careful reading, meaningful dialogue, and the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty within the Catholic intellectual tradition.
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.