Undergraduate Honors Program

The Honors Program at Roosevelt University provides immersive academic opportunities for students seeking an enriched undergraduate experience, featuring close faculty mentorship, multi-disciplinary approaches to inquiry and creativity, personalized curriculum, civic engagement, and experiential learning. Students who complete the Honors Program gain tangible distinction and preparation for graduate school, professional success, and life as socially conscious leaders.

Differentiators Expectations Outcomes Opportunities Testimonials Admission Requirements

Location: Chicago

Start Term: Fall, Spring

Honors intellectual experiences emphasize your critical engagement with complex subjects. Whether you are in a small seminar led by a dedicated faculty member or designing your own unique project, you will acquire new knowledge, analyze real world situations, and apply what you are learning in the areas that matter most to you.

The program requirements are designed to fit seamlessly into most academic plans, whether you are starting Honors as a first year or transfer student. Your participation in Honors will enrich your experience without increasing the time it takes to earn your degree.

Honors curriculum includes CORE courses, electives, and courses in your major and minor. Specialized Honors tracks are offered in Psychology and Musical Arts.

Marjorie Jolles

, Program Director

mjolles@roosevelt.edu

312-341-6592

What Differentiates Us

Inclusive

Recognizing that difference broadens perspectives, the Honors program enacts Roosevelt’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in our recruitment and admissions. First generation students, non-traditional students, students of color, students from all socioeconomic backgrounds find a home in Honors.

Mentoring

Honors students are mentored closely by Roosevelt faculty in research projects, seminars, and advising. We coach students as they define their personal, professional, and academic goals and connect them to the resources and people they need to achieve those goals.

Flexible

Through our Experiential Learning Alternatives, students can elevate select non-Honors experiences to Honors. This makes the program easier to complete and emphasizes learning directly related to a student’s unique plans for their future.

Immersive

Honors seminars and individual research projects are grounded in issues affecting our communities, both locally and globally. Honors courses may involve working directly with community partners or studying abroad. When students express interest in a subject, we create opportunities for hands-on exploration.

Expectations & Requirements

Standards

In Honors, you will engage your curiosity in innovative learning across multiple disciplines, both in and out of the classroom.
The Honors program is designed to enhance and fit within your Roosevelt curriculum. You are coached to enroll in Honors courses that will fill degree requirements, so that approximately 25% of your course work will be in Honors. Your individual requirements are calculated when you are admitted to the program and range from 18-30 credits.
In your final year, you will complete a challenging capstone project: the Honors Thesis. Working one-on-one with a Roosevelt faculty member, you will produce an original research project that reflects your unique passions, skills, and interests.

Sample Courses

ACP 250: Simulating International Security
CJL 389: Race, Class, Gender, and Crime
ENG 215: Latinx Literature
JOUR 250: Chicago History, Power, and Politics
MATH 389: Mathematics of Voting
MNOM 240: Alexander Hamilton: Music and History
POS 343: Urban Human Rights: Chicago and London
POS 343: Environmental Justice: Chicago and Vancouver
PSYC 345: Psychology of Women
PSYC 381: Children and Families
SPAN 252: Immigration Today
WGS 352: Case Studies in Activism

See honors curriculum and requirements

Outcomes

Graduate Schools Attended

Recent Honors Program grads have pursued further study at graduate schools including:

Harvard University
New York Law School
University of Chicago
University of Michigan
University of Wisconsin

Recent Employers

Honors Program grads have gone onto work for a wide range of emplyers, including:

City Colleges of Chicago
Domestic Violence Network
Northwestern Medicine
Obama Foundation
Teach for America
Virgin Hotels

More Opportunities

Experiential Learning Alternatives (ELAs) allow you to design an Honors program that best suits your goals. Your experiences in areas such as research, service, internships, and study abroad can fulfill Honors program requirements.
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) matches students as paid research assistants on faculty members’ research projects in any discipline at the University. Recent UROP projects have been based in Biology, Psychology, Political Science, History, Education, English, Chemistry, Sociology, and the Mansfield Institute for Social Justice. This research experience prepares you to excel in professions and graduate programs.
Newberry Library Seminar: Take advantage of this semester-long humanities seminar, working with students and faculty from Roosevelt University, DePaul University, Loyola University Chicago, & the University of Illinois at Chicago. The seminar is worth 6 credits and involves reading assignments, research in the Newberry collections, and a major research paper. Course topics vary by year, and enrollment is limited to 5 Roosevelt students.
Honors students are offered information and support for applications for fellowships and scholarships outside of Roosevelt. Supplemental course advising and individualized coaching supports all individual students as you work toward academic goals, career readiness, and dreams for your future.

Testimonials

Many programs in many schools can teach you how to learn, but the honors program at RU teaches you how to think. It allows you to have an exploratory role in your own education where you get to work with professionals in the field of your choice. It is really one of the most gratifying experiences I have ever had. You will be challenged, you will be tested, and you will be rewarded for the work beyond measure. The honors program at RU does not mean that the classes are harder, just different. What it boils down to is the classes are more engaging, you spend more time discussing information ensuring a global understanding of concepts, and the courses are super cool. The faculty are proud to teach these courses and it shows.

Taylor Smith - Psychology, Forensic Psychology concentration '17

The Honors Program will give you a great education that forces you to think critically about topics you may not otherwise know about. This helped me both in my major and within my other professional ventures outside of class. The program provides students with tremendous opportunities and knowledge that they can use after they graduate. I never thought I would be able to do many of the things that I’ve done in college and I have the honors program to thank for many of them.

Lauren Grimaldi - Political Science major, Journalism minor '18

Admission

We consider all students holistically. Admissions to Honors is based on your academic passion, commitment, and potential.
First year, transfer, and current Roosevelt students are eligible to join. There is no additional cost to participate in the Honors program.
We review your academic record and a brief application to learn more about you, your passions and goals.
All admitted students will meet with a member of the program staff for personalized advising, academic planning, and orientation to the program.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but should be submitted by July 15 for Fall and October 15 for Spring so that class schedules can be planned to include an Honors course.

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