1. University Honors Program
  2. Academics in the Honors Program
  3. Seminar

Seminar

Honors Seminar gives students the platform to share their best ideas

HONR 300: Honors Seminar is a one credit hour course that meets once a week in various locations across campus. Because all Honors students are required to take Seminar, we offer multiple sections to accommodate various schedules.

Honors Seminar is the oldest tradition in the Honors Program. Before the Program was officially formed, proto-Honors students started gathering to discuss current events and share interesting things they were learning in other courses. 

These impromptu gatherings cemented into Honors Seminar, and we still carry on the tradition today. Creating opportunities for students to share their ideas and allow themselves to be influenced by the passions of their peers is the most fundamental pillar of what we do!

A historical photo of the very first Honors Seminar in 1973
Students gather for Honors Seminar in 1973

Most students are required to take six credits of Honors Seminar over the course of their degree. 

Check How Many Credits of Seminar You Need »

For Honors Students, by Honors Students

Students volunteer topics they would like to present to the class at the beginning of the semester. Then, the class votes for the topics they'd most like participate in a discussion about. The instructor makes a schedule of student-lead discussions and these form the majority of Seminars for the semester. 

  • Students are never required to lead discussion at seminar. However, they are required to attend, be respectful, and engage with their classmates' ideas.
  • We give awards for the best Seminar from each section every semester!

A Shared Experience

Honors Seminar is a fantastic way to meet other Honors students! It brings students from all majors and at different points in their academic career together to share the things they are most excited about. 

Diverse Perspectives

  • We believe disagreement is an integral part of academic discourse! Students leading seminar are encouraged to center active discussion and welcome perspectives from various backgrounds in response to their chosen topic. 

Esteemed Honors Faculty

  • A Seminar Fellow is assigned to each section of Honors Seminar. Seminar Fellows are selected based on their excellent teaching record, commitment to mentoring undergraduate students, and active community engagement. 
  • Seminar Fellows participate in Honors Seminar alongside the students, using their expertise to engage in discussion rather than lead the class. 
  • Read More about Seminar Fellows

Sage Advice

Students are ultimately in charge, but we also have two special editions of Seminar each semester: 

Alumni Week

  • Honors Alumni return to share what they've been up to since graduating, offer academic and career advice, and answer questions. 

Wisdom Week

  • The Seminar Fellow and Seminar Instructor each give a presentation of their choice to their section of seminar. Students have the opportunity to learn more about different academic disciplines, careers, or ideas they might not otherwise be exposed to through participating in Wisdom Weeks!