One of the biggest academic advantages of being in the Honors Program is your access to Honors coursework. These classes are intentionally small and taught by full-time faculty who enjoy working with motivated, curious students. Many Honors courses are specially designed versions of Bellarmine’s core curriculum. Every student on campus takes core courses, but the Honors versions offer something different: more discussion, more hands-on and experiential learning, and an emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and interdisciplinary connections. In short, they’re designed to be transformative.
Priority Registration
One of the most practical benefits of the Honors Program is priority registration. As long as they remain in good standing, Honors students register early each semester, giving them first access to Honors seminars and greater flexibility when building their schedules.
This early registration helps students avoid course conflicts, stay on track with degree requirements, and plan ahead for opportunities such as double majors, minors, internships, study abroad, or undergraduate research. Priority registration is one of the ways the Honors Program supports students in creating an academic experience that is both rigorous and manageable.
Honors Seminar Requirement
To complete the Honors Program, students must take at least five Honors seminars. Many students choose to take more, especially if they enjoy the small-class environment and want additional opportunities for interdisciplinary learning. A simple way to stay on track is to plan on taking one Honors course most semesters until you’ve completed your general education requirements.
When to Take Honors Courses
Most students begin taking Honors courses in the first year. If your first-semester schedule didn’t include an Honors course, that’s completely fine. The most important thing is to begin early and take Honors courses steadily across your first two years so you can meet the five-seminar requirement without stress later.
Honors First-Year Seminar
Honors First-Year Seminars are an optional but highly recommended way for first-year students to begin their Honors coursework. These seminars are offered each spring and are designed to introduce students to the distinctive features of Honors learning in a small, discussion-driven setting.
Honors First-Year Seminars are organized around interdisciplinary themes and big questions rather than a single discipline. Courses draw on multiple fields—such as science, literature, philosophy, history, and the arts—to help students explore how ideas connect across areas of study. Class sessions emphasize discussion, collaboration, and reflective inquiry, making these seminars an excellent foundation for future Honors coursework.
Topics and instructors for Honors First-Year Seminars vary from year to year, reflecting both faculty expertise and the goals of the Honors Program. While not required, these courses are often a strong fit for students who want to engage deeply with ideas, build connections within the Honors community, and make early progress toward the Honors seminar requirement.
Other Honors Options Across the Core Curriculum
Honors courses are offered across the core curriculum, allowing students to complete general education requirements while benefiting from the small class sizes and intellectually engaged environment that distinguish Honors coursework.
Across disciplines, Honors core courses tend to emphasize discussion, writing, collaborative learning, and connections between fields. Many are especially well suited for first-year and sophomore students who want to make steady progress on core requirements while engaging more deeply with course material.
Honors offerings may fulfill requirements in areas such as literature, history, philosophy, mathematics, fine arts, and the social sciences. While specific courses vary from semester to semester, all Honors courses share a commitment to interdisciplinary thinking, active engagement, and close interaction with faculty.
Finding Current Offerings
Before registration each term, the Honors Program provides students with a list of available Honors courses and descriptions. This ensures that students always have access to the most current offerings when planning their schedules.
If you have questions about which Honors courses fit your requirements or how to plan your sequence of Honors seminars, the Honors Program is available to help with advising.