Program Overview

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Interdisciplinary Honors Program

The Interdisciplinary Honors Program at Loyola University Chicago offers a dynamic general education that enables students to bring many perspectives to real-world problem-solving, in the Jesuit tradition. Faculty craft intensive courses that refine analytical and communication skills. The formal curriculum is supplemented with many cultural excursions and service opportunities.

Overview

Interdisciplinary in design and international in scope, the program provides an enriched educational experience for the university's most talented students. Only a small percentage of freshmen are invited into the program each year. Honors students are academically and professionally aspirational and ethical leaders in their communities.

Requirements

• The program requires 27 credit hours (9 classes) of honors courses.
• All honors courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
• Students must have an overall GPA of 3.33 or better to graduate with honors.

Course List

Course List Code	Title	Hours
HONR 101 & HONR D101	Western Traditions - Antiquity to the Middle Ages and Developments Western Thought I Discussion	6
HONR 102 & HONR D102	Western Traditions-Renaissance to Modernity and Developments in Historical Western Thought II Discussion	6
HONR 203	The United States Experience	3
HONR 204	Science and Society	3
HONR 208	Encountering Latin America and the Caribbean	3
HONR 209	Encountering Asia	3
HONR 210	Encountering Africa	3
HONR 212	Encountering the Middle East	3
HONR 216	Encountering Contemporary Europe	3
HONR 301	Honors Capstone: Moral Responsibility	3

Program Description

Since 1936, the Honors Program has provided an enriched educational experience for the university's most talented students. The program offers a dynamic general education that enables students to bring many perspectives to real-world problem-solving, in the Jesuit tradition.

The Curriculum

The curriculum is interdisciplinary in design and international in scope. Faculty craft intensive courses that refine analytical and communication skills. The formal curriculum is supplemented with many cultural excursions and service opportunities.

The Benefits

As an Honors student, you will come into contact with Loyola's most effective teachers, our most exciting researchers, and, of course, our most talented students. You'll benefit from priority registration each semester; individualized advising; small class sizes; and faculty mentorship. As the highest academic distinction awarded by the university, the Honors Degree commands special acknowledgement.

The Freshman Year Experience

Honors Freshmen are housed at Francis Hall and Regis Hall, modern facilities located on the southern end of campus, close to the lake and the city. In residence, you'll have many opportunities to connect intellectually and socially with students majoring in fields from across the university and joining us from across the US and the globe.

Course Descriptions

HONR 101: Western Traditions - Antiquity to the Middle Ages

This course opens perspectives on works that have shaped the self-understanding of the Western intellectual tradition. An interdisciplinary team of professors examines these works from a variety of disciplinary paradigms.

HONR 102: Western Traditions-Renaissance to Modernity

This course opens perspectives on works that have shaped the self-understanding of the West. An interdisciplinary team of professors examines these works from a variety of disciplinary paradigms.

HONR 203: The United States Experience

This course examines the formation and development of the United States. Focusing on selected topics, students learn how much is at stake in competing versions of the past.

HONR 204: Science and Society

Students will examine the ways natural science and social science address a particular issue as well as the effects of science on society.

HONR 208: Encountering Latin America and the Caribbean

This course introduces students to the history and culture of selected nations of Latin America and the Caribbean.

HONR 209: Encountering Asia

This course will introduce students to various regions in Asia and some of the fundamental components of Asian civilizations as they have evolved historically and persist in the modern world.

HONR 210: Encountering Africa

This course introduces students to various regions in Africa and some of the fundamental components of African civilizations as they have evolved historically and persist in the modern world.

HONR 212: Encountering the Middle East

This course introduces students to various regions in the Middle East and some of the components of selected civilizations in this region as they have evolved historically and persist in the modern world.

HONR 216: Encountering Contemporary Europe

This course introduces students to selected areas of Europe as they have evolved since World War II.

HONR 301: Honors Capstone: Moral Responsibility

This course is the capstone of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program and may be taught from the disciplinary perspectives of philosophy or theology. Students will be able to analyze ethical theories and to apply principles of ethical reasoning and individual moral responsibility to contemporary social issues and questions that arise in everyday life.