Honors Program

The Emerson College Honors Program is an intellectual and creative community that integrates a challenging liberal arts curriculum and specialized study in the student's chosen field. Students accepted to the program receive individual advising and take interdisciplinary seminars that fulfill the College's general education requirements.

Honors Program students enjoy a low student-to-faculty ratio in dedicated Honors seminars.

Community of Learners

The program fosters strong bonds between students and faculty. Students enjoy a low student-to-faculty ratio in dedicated Honors seminars and are invited to special lectures and dinners. They also have the opportunity to interact with upper-class colleagues through collaborative research projects and mentoring. 

In the senior year, students develop an Honors thesis, working individually with faculty advisors. They are eligible to apply for exclusive funds to support their thesis. Each Honors student receives the prestigious Trustee Scholarship equal to half tuition for up to four years.

Curriculum

Freshmen take an intensive yearlong seminar introducing them to the interdisciplinary study of literature and culture of the Americas with an emphasis on developing writing, oral presentation, and research skills. The seminar is team-taught and provides a platform for discussion, exploration, and debate, while strengthening writing and speaking abilities. The first-year seminars, HS 101/102, and the Writing Symposium, HS 103, fulfill three Emerson College requirements: the Literary Perspective, the U.S. Diversity requirement, and the Written Communication requirement.

Sophomores are introduced to the interdisciplinary study of science and philosophy with an objective of engaging in critical thinking and research. Different areas of inquiry are examined each year, such as evolutionary biology, environmental ethics, and epistemology and logic. The second-year seminar, HS 201, fulfills the Scientific Perspective while HS 202 fulfills the Ethics and Values Perspective.

Juniors take an Honors seminar consisting of an upper-division course in interdisciplinary studies with professors who guide them through the theoretical and methodological assignments, partly in preparation for the Senior Honors Thesis. 

Seniors work with a faculty advisor and the Honors Program director to develop a thesis related to their academic field. They present their senior theses late in the spring semester at the Honors Program Thesis Showcase. 

Some examples of theses from the 2011 graduating class:

Alecia Eberhardt, May ’11, Writing, Literature & Publishing 
History or Herstory: Perspective as a Reflection of Identity Construction in Fiction 
Advisor: Flora Gonzalez (Writing, Literature & Publishing) 

John Keane, May ’11, Political Communication: Leadership, Politics & Social Advocacy 
The Full Picture Project: Data Visualization in American Political Discourse 
Advisor: Spencer Kimball (Communication Studies) 

Ryan McGovern, May ’11, Interdisciplinary Studies 
The End of Act One: YouTube as the New Vaudeville 
Advisor: Michael Kreutz (Performing Arts) 

Sarah Mupo, May ’11, Print & Multimedia Journalism 
It's Not Jackie Chan: Making Sense of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! 
Advisor: Ken Feil (Visual and Media Arts) 

Alexander Yan, May ’11, Film Production 
Cinema Verite in Melodrama 
Advisor: John Gianvito (Visual and Media Arts) 

Benjamin Yarling, May ’11, Writing, Literature & Publishing 
Character and Reality: Locating the Functional Real in Fiction of American Late Capitalism 
Advisor(s): John Anderson (Communication Studies); William Orem (Writing, Literature & Publishing) 

Visit the Honors Program Eligibility & Admission page or contact the Office of Admission at 617-824-8600 or admission@emerson.edu to learn more about applying.

USEFUL LINKS

• Eligibility & Admission
• Undergraduate Admission