You are here: American University Learning Communities Honors Frequently Asked Questions

Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about the AU Honors program! Please review the below "Frequently Asked Questions" for general program information, information for prospective students, and information for current students. 

Have questions not featured below? Email us at [email protected]. 

About our Program

Here’s what makes AU Honors extraordinary:  

You will join a very select few. More than 1400 students applied for the 95 spots in the program.   

There is no other honors program like it in the country. Instead of presenting a broad, introductory overview of a single subject, your Honors core courses are taught by faculty drawn from different disciplines from across the university who are asking some of the most interesting questions: What is the line between influence and theft of ideas? Is decolonialization just a buzzword? What forms of literacy do we need to navigate all the AI slop? Each class incorporates Washington DC as an extension of the classroom, capitalizing on our convenient location in the nation’s capital. 

An unmatched living-learning experience.-- First-year Honors students live on the Honors floor in Anderson Hall in the same area of campus as the rest of your first-year classmates. You will enjoy the proximity of Anderson to the Honors Office, your classes, and to the AU shuttle. You can be in class or downtown in minutes. And you’ll interact with other highly motivated students from all four years through our many social and academic events throughout the year. 

Unparalleled Mentorship & Research Opportunities – Honors faculty and staff will personally guide you through academic and professional development, including: 

Our innovative Challenge Course, where you’ll conduct original research or creative work on a topic of your choice. 

Opportunities to present at national conferences and showcase your work on campus. 

Exclusive access to the Early Identification Program, designed to prepare students for prestigious scholarships like the Truman, Rhodes, and Fulbright awards. 

A Commitment to Purpose & Service – AU Honors embodies the university’s mission to advance knowledge, foster intellectual curiosity, and empower students to become leaders who drive meaningful change. Whether your interests lie in policy, the arts, social justice, or science, AU Honors will equip you with the tools to make an impact. 

Paid leadership opportunities – As part of our commitment to career preparation and professional development, AU Honors offers paid leadership opportunities through our student advisory boards, teaching assistantships, and program associate positions. With rigorous coursework, hands-on experiences, and personal mentorship, we will help you turn your ambitions into achievements. 

A Fun, Vibrant Community – AU Honors is more than just academics: as a four-year program, we strive to bring students from across all four classes to enjoy your time in Washington, DC together with faculty and staff. With community dinners, outings to New York City and the campus-owned organic farm in Virginia, and a bunch of celebrations – including Cake Day, when we simply celebrate the joy of cake – Honors is a place to be yourself within a community that supports you.

To review the AU Honors curriculum, please visit the following link: AU HONORS CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS.  

The AU Honors is highly selective, accepting fewer than 15 percent of applicants to the freshman cohort. Fewer than 8 percent of AU students are in the AU Honors program.  

The 2026-2027 cohort will welcome approximately 95 new first-year students. Across all four years, about 350 students are actively enrolled in the AU Honors program.  

AU Honors students receive significant support both in and outside the classroom. In addition to AU Honors faculty and staff, students are supported by AU Honors Program Associates and Teaching Assistants. Program Associates work with our Complex Problems courses, and Teaching Assistants work with our AU Honors Research Experience and Theories of Inquiry courses.  

Students may also choose to participate in the AU Honors Peer Mentor program. AU Honors students are grouped into groups of 5-7 students, including first-year students and upperclassmen. Upperclassmen serve as mentors to the first-year students and take them on excursions into DC. There is no fee associated with participation in the peer mentor program.  

Students are also encouraged to check out the Honors Student Advisory Council and Honors & Scholars BIPOC Scholars group. These are student-run groups within the AU Honors programs. Students in these groups advocate for the needs of the Honors & Scholars community. The executive board members of these groups hold office hours throughout the semester. Students are encouraged to connect with the executive board members to share concerns or seek information.  

At American University, students have a wide network of support including staff members, faculty members, student-leaders such as Resident Assistants and Orientation Leaders, and more. AU’s many student-support offices are here to assist students through their college journey. For questions about specific resources, feel welcome to contact our team at [email protected] so we may connect you to the appropriate office.  

Absolutely -- at AU Honors, we work hard and play hard! In addition to academic opportunities, students in AU Honors are part of a tight-knit community. Recently examples of social programming include: 

  • Trip to Airlie Farm 
  • Bus trip to NYC  
  • Monthly community dinners 
  • Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by our Faculty Director 
  • Honors & Scholars Halloween party 
  • Semester-long peer mentor scavenger hunt around DC 

A living-learning community (LLC) is a cohort of students who live together and explore a common interest or academic pursuit. First-year students in the AU Honors program will live together with their Impact Scholars peers on the Honors & Scholars LLC floor in Anderson Hall. Students may be exempt from this living requirement for several reasons, including but not limited to:  

  • Approved to commute 

  • Living in an affinity community (e.g. Sankofa House, All-Women's Housing, etc.) 

  • AU athlete 

  • Housing accommodations  

AU Honors is proud to be a part of the larger Honors & Scholars community within American University’s Department of Undergraduate Education and Academic Services. The “Scholars” in “Honors & Scholars” refers to our sister program, the DC Community Impact Scholars. To learn more about the Impact Scholars program, please visit the following link: DC COMMUNITY IMPACT SCHOLARS WEBPAGE. 

Yes! Many AU Honors students pursue internships and employment opportunities while completing their coursework for AU Honors. AU Honors is also proud to offer multiple paid student leadership positions through our program.  

Definitely! To make sure you can fit all your requirements into your schedule, we recommend connecting with our AU Honors Academic Advisor, Elise Keely, early in your academic career. Elise can help you build a graduation plan that meets your goals. Whether it’s double-majoring, minoring, studying abroad, or graduating early, our team is here to help you find a way of balancing it all!  

Yes! Many AU Honors students study abroad during their time with the program. To make sure you can fit all your requirements into your schedule, we recommend connecting with our AU Honors Academic Advisor, Elise Keely, early in your academic career. Elise can help you build a graduation plan that meets your goals. Whether it’s double-majoring, minoring, studying abroad, or graduating early, our team is here to help you find a way of balancing it all! 

AU Honors also offers week-long study abroad opportunities through our program for those interested in shorter experiences.  

The AU Research conference is held annually during the last weekend of April. This year, the conference will be held on April 26th in Kerwin Hall.  

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter using the following link: NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP. 

Follow us on Instagram @auhonors. You can also subscribe to our weekly newsletter using the following link: NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP. For general inquiries, please email our team at [email protected].  

For Prospective Students

AU Honors is not accepting applications at this time. For prospective first-year students, please email us at [email protected]. Additional space may become available, potentially allowing us to accept more applications. Email our team to be notified if applications reopen.  

Rising sophomores – unfortunately, our sophomore application has closed. However, consider researching your respective major’s Honors in the Major program for other opportunities to soar academically. 

We would be honored to meet with you! To set up a time to chat, please email us at [email protected].  

Students living on the LLC floor may live with an AU Honors student, DC Community Impact Scholars student, or other students placed on our floor.  

Unfortunately, our sophomore application has closed. However, consider researching your respective major’s Honors in the Major program for other opportunities to soar academically. 

For Current Students

We love this question! There are several ways to get involved with the AU Honors community, including but not limited to:  

  • Apply to be a PA in a future semester. 

  • Apply to be a TA in a future semester.  

  • Get involved with the Honors Student Advisory Council.  

  • Get involved with the Honors & Scholars BIPOC Group (open to ALL students regardless of identity – the goal of the group is to promote inclusivity and celebrate community!).  

  • Become a Peer Mentor for Fall 2026 – applications will open after the semester ends! 

AU Honors is proud to collaborate closely with AU’s Office of Merit Awards. The Office of Merit Awards does incredible work supporting students pursuing highly competitive scholarships, including the Fulbright and Gilman. Email our team at [email protected], and we’ll be more than happy to connect you with the Merit Awards team.  

Great question! The AU Honors program, also sometimes referred to as "University Honors," is open to students of all majors. AU Honors is a four-year program and managed by our team within the Office of Undergraduate Education. In addition to our academic requirements, AU Honors students also have a strong sense of community and will have many opportunities to connect with peers and faculty throughout their experience.  

Students can start applying to Honors in the Major programs as sophomore students. Honors in the Major programs are managed by their respective academic departments. Students can participate in both AU Honors and Honors in the Major. Each program has its own unique coursework but both programs offer scheduling flexibility, allowing many AU Honors students to also graduate with Honors in their Major.  

For freshmen, sophomores, and graduating seniors, yes! Freshmen are required to present their research projects from their HNRS-151 course. Sophomores are required to present their Challenge Course findings. Graduating seniors must present their Capstones in order to graduate with Honors. The AU Honors Research Conference will always be held during the last weekend of April. As a reminder, this year’s conference is scheduled for April 26th.  

The Research Conference is one of the highlights of our year, inviting faculty, students, staff, and other community members to celebrate the hard work our students have done throughout the academic year. It’s always a fun day! 

Before making a decision, let’s chat! Email us at [email protected] so we can set up a meeting. One of the leading reasons students request to withdraw is because they believe they cannot fit Honors into their schedule. This is often not the case, so our team would love the opportunity to talk through options with you. That being said, we’ll always support what ends up being right for you!