Saint Louis University Honors Program
A fit for any major, the Saint Louis University Honors Program offers honors-only courses and smaller, seminar-style classes. Students are also encouraged to participate in internships, independent research projects, and study abroad semesters.
Many honors students go on to professional schools, graduate programs, or to receive prestigious scholarships and fellowships. Others are hired by world-class businesses, engineering firms, and non-profit organizations. Still others join organizations like the Peace Corps or the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Above all, our honors students become citizens who engage in the process of inquiry and apply their knowledge in service to society.
Apply to Honors
The application for entry in Fall 2026 is now open. The deadline to apply is Jan. 5, 2026. If you are interested in joining the Honors Program, please visit our Application Information page for instructions on how to find the Honors Program application in the Billiken portal.
Benefits of the Saint Louis University Honors Program
Enriching Coursework
Students in the Honors Program have access to special academic experiences that enrich their general education studies and deepen their major-specific coursework.
Learn More About Honors Courses
Specialized Advising
Students in the Honors Program have access to a specialized secondary advisor who assists students with the design and completion of a curriculum plan that accounts for honors requirements as they complete a primary program of study. Honors Program students are also eligible to register for classes one business day prior to other students at their grade level, a privilege that allows them to craft a schedule responsive to their preferences and study habits.
Learn More About Advising and Registration
SLU Honors Learning Community
First- and second-year Honors Program students can participate in the Honors Learning Community, a residential program that features curricular/co-curricular programming to enrich a student's academic and social experience.
Learn More About the Honors Learning Community
Unique Academic Experiences
Students in the Honors Program have access to special academic experiences that enrich their general education studies and deepen their major-specific coursework.
About the Honors Program
The Honors Program at Saint Louis University engages intellectually curious students in a community grounded in the Jesuit values of holistic learning, academic innovation, Ignatian reflection, and global citizenship. Through individually tailored curricula, experiential learning opportunities, and developmental guidance and mentorship, the Honors Program prepares students to pursue lives of meaning and purpose and to strengthen communities.
The mission of the Saint Louis University Honors Program is informed by the following core values:
- Holistic learning
- Academic innovation
- Ignatian reflection
- Global citizenship
Holistic Learning
Holistic learning develops and shapes the whole person — mentally, emotionally, spiritually, academically, personally, and professionally — by recognizing all aspects of human experience as worthy of exploration and growth. It promotes learning across disciplines and values multiple ways of knowing, connecting academic practices with lived experiences.
- Communicate thoughtfully and effectively in multiple disciplines and contexts.
- Apply knowledge to social, cultural and professional contexts.
Academic Innovation
Driven by curiosity, academic innovation is the pursuit of new and creative approaches to learning, research, and discovery. It invites you to take an active role in your education, seek new ways to approach questions and problems, and work collaboratively across disciplines.
- Identify and apply multiple methods of inquiry to address complex questions.
- Conduct extensive, quality research or scholarship in a chosen academic field.
Ignatian Reflection
Rooted in the reflective tradition of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Ignatian Reflection is the intentional practice of pausing to examine your experiences — both inside and outside the classroom — to notice what stands out, understand why it matters, and thoughtfully discern how it has shaped your growth and informs your path forward.
- Describe the evolution of their quest for personal and professional purpose, as it is situated in social, cultural, and historical contexts.
Global Citizenship
Global citizenship is the practice of recognizing your role in an interconnected world. It challenges you to develop global awareness, understand how your choices and actions affect others, and engage thoughtfully in local and global communities with a shared sense of responsibility.
- Demonstrate awareness of the complex identities of themselves and others.
- Discern how their engagement with diverse communities and cultures affects themselves and others.