The Aquinas Scholars Honors Program
A Community of Scholars Dedicated to Academic Excellence and Achievement.
The Aquinas Scholars Honors Program is the undergraduate honors program of the University of St. Thomas. The program's mission is to enrich the educational experience of academically motivated students by creating a community of scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the ideals of a liberal arts education.
Students in the Program Enjoy the Following Benefits:
Aquinas Scholars honors students enjoy priority registration within their class standing (sophomore, junior, etc.)
Honors classes provide students an intimate learning environment and personal access to some of the top professors at the University.
- Honors courses are often referred to as honors “sections” because they are specifically designated honors sections of broader university courses (e.g., an honors section of THEO 100).
- Honors courses fulfill the same degree requirements as non-honors classes.
- Courses are offered in a variety of disciplines, catering to a broad range of majors.
- Honors classes are limited in size to foster discussion and allow for more interaction between faculty and students.
- Assignments allow for in-depth analysis of topics.
Honors seminars are 2-credit courses usually team-taught by instructors from different disciplines and offered to honors students at no additional tuition cost.
- Seminars bring students and faculty from different disciplines together for stimulating conversation and discovery.
- These interdisciplinary courses help students build a broad academic background.
- Classes are limited in size to foster discussion and allow for more interaction between faculty and students.
- There is no additional tuition cost for honors seminars, but seminar credits still count toward the overall number of credits required for graduation.
- Certain honors seminars may also fulfill the university's Integrations in the Humanities core requirement, the Writing to Learn (Writing Across the Curriculum) core requirement, or both.
Honors Scholars can participate in unparalleled first-year opportunities for incoming students.
Course Cohorts
- Incoming Honors Scholars are enrolled in one honors course each semester of their first year.
- Students get a head-start on honors course requirements and the Core Curriculum.
- From the very first day of classes, students get to know and interact with other Honors Scholars and Faculty.
Honors Living Learning Community
- Incoming Honors Scholars get to live with a community of scholars in the residence halls.
- Special social, academic, and service programming allows them to build relationships in a supportive environment.
- Participation in the Honors LLC fulfills the learning community requirement of the First-Year Experience core requirement.
An incredible Community of Scholars dedicated to excellence. The organization includes nearly 300 students who learn, work, serve, and play together. Students in the Honors program do many things together, including shared classes, community service, sporting events, and more.
A private Honors Lounge for meeting, studying, and relaxing.
- Aquinas Scholars are privileged to use the Lounge located in MHC 200.
- Computers and a printer are available, and reasonable printing is free of charge.
- Honors students enjoy complementary refreshments, including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, and water.
Honors Scholars receive unique Access to the University, with seminars from top professors, meetings with the president and other top administrators, and exclusive activities in and around campus.
One can combine a major in any academic discipline (both liberal arts and professional) with an honors education. Anyone interested in the honors program should consult the "About the Program" page or e-mail the Faculty Director of the honors program.