Honors Program

Program of Study

Honors students fulfill their core curriculum through an alternative path that corresponds to the regular University core. The Honors core curriculum is comprised of the following courses:

The Human Drama

(HN 201-204): A four-course, interdisciplinary exploration of history, literature, philosophy, and theology, extending from the ancient to the modern world, which Honors students take as first years and sophomores. The sequence is constructed so as to provide students with an historical sense, to cultivate the ability to think analytically in interdisciplinary ways, and to relate important texts and ideas of any age to contemporary issues. The sequence embodies the Jesuit educational ideal of grounding every student's education in the traditions of the liberal arts in order to help students integrate knowledge and engage with the world as men and women for others. Each section of the Human Drama adopts as one of its central learning aims that of understanding how the Christian Tradition (intellectual, moral, spiritual) has contributed to the larger intellectual climate of the historical period covered by the course and to the pursuit of human flourishing. The Human Drama sequence replaces the first core courses in English, History, Philosophy, and Theology for Honors students.

Upper-Level Humanities Core:

Honors students normally can begin fulfilling the second core requirements listed below after one semester in the program.

English/History:

One EN 300-level or EN 400-level course, or one HS 300-level course or HS 410 or above.

Philosophy/Theology:

Either one course above PL 320 (excluding logic and ethics) in Philosophy or one course above TH 320 (excluding logic and ethics) in Theology. (See the Ethics requirement for special restrictions.)

Composition:

Eloquentia Perfecta (HN 210 ), taken the first semester of first year.

Ethics:

The Examined Life (HN 499 ), taken in fall of the senior year. If the student takes the upper-level Philosophy/Theology requirement in Philosophy, the student should take the Ethics requirement with a Theology professor. If the student takes the upper-level Philosophy/Theology requirement through Theology, the student should take the Ethics requirement with a Philosophy professor.

Fine Arts:

One Honors fine arts course from HN 318 , HN 320 , HN 321 , HN 322 , or HN 323 .

Language:

One course at the 200-level or above in a modern world language taught at Loyola, or its equivalent in Greek or Latin. Honors students entering Loyola with 201-level AP credit in a language have fulfilled their Honors Core language requirement.

Mathematics:

Calculus I (MA 251 ) or Introduction to Statistics (ST 210 ) or Biostatistics (ST 265 )

Natural Sciences:

Honors students who are majoring or minoring in one of the science disciplines (biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, forensic studies, physics, and mathematics and statistics) fulfill the natural science core through their major or minor requirements.

Honors Elementary Education and Psychology majors also fulfill their science requirements through their major requirements.

Honors students who are nonscience majors ordinarily take HN 215 , HN 216 , HN 217 , or HN 220 and one other math/science course. This third math/science course must be either an Honors science course (HN 215 , HN 216 , HN 217 , or HN 220 ) or a math/science course at the majors level, CS 151 or EC 220 .

Social Sciences:

A combination of two survey courses from economics, political science, psychology, or sociology. At least one of these must be an Honors version of a core social science course.

Studying Abroad in Glasgow, Scotland

All honors students who complete the functional anatomy course while studying abroad in Glasgow, Scotland may not take the following courses at Loyola: