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Dare to know AU Honors Program

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Welcome to AU Honors

We begin in wonder, journey in curiosity, and ultimately, dare to know. The AU Honors Program brings together a diverse group of students and faculty to engage in experiential and inquiry-driven learning. Propelled by curiosity and a desire to take risks, our students endeavor to push the bounds of the known and the knowable throughout their academic journeys. The program supports students as they dare to contribute to knowledge, creative expression, and meaningful change.

AU Honors fosters critical thinking, intellectual growth, and readiness for careers or graduate school. Beyond the carefully structured first year, each semester in Honors prepares students by building skills and knowledge for the next. This pathway to learning prepares students for increasingly independent exploration and project-based coursework anchored by ongoing support of Honors faculty and staff. Please review the below section to learn more about the benefits of the AU Honors program. 

Why AU Honors?

The first-year Honors living-learning community is an extension of the Honors classroom. In their first year, students live together in Anderson Hall. All first-year students at AU are housed on South Campus, so Honors students get the full first-year experience.

As a member of the Honors community, you'll be supported by Honors Program Associates (PA) who attend your Honors classes and lead the HNRS-150 lab, as well as Residential Assistants (RAs) who live on the floor. Your RAs and PAs provide the living-learning communities with special programming such as outdoor outings, study sessions, and game board nights. Participation in a living-learning community is a great way for Honors students to connect with ambitious and studious individuals dedicated to academics and a rich social life. Placement is through AU's Housing & Residence Life. 

Learn more about AU Honors housing here. 

 

AU Honors students have several opportunities to conduct research throughout their time with the program. Our scaffolded approach allows for increasingly independent exploration and project-based coursework supported by distinguished faculty and staff.

As freshmen, AU Honors students will complete group research projects through their AU Honors Research Experience (HNRS-151) course. In the spring semester of their first year at AU, AU Honors students take the AU Honors Inquiry Experience (HNRS-151). HNRS-151 is a 1-credit course, during which students work on faculty-led projects intended to engage in the process of knowledge-creation and knowledge presentation. HNRS-151 offers students the unique experience of conducting and presenting research as first-year undergraduate students. 

As sophomores, AU Honors students complete the Honors Challenge Course (HNRS-398). Through this course, research teams will select the topic of their choice and receive direct mentorship from their selected faculty mentor. Challenge Course research groups may also be eligible for funding. As juniors and seniors, AU Honors students must complete their colloquia requirements and capstones.

All AU Honors students will have the opportunity to present their research at the annual AU Honors Research Conference held in April. 

AU Honors students have access to many opportunties to gain leadership skills through paid and volunteer leadership opportunities within the program. 

Program Associates (PAs) - As sophomores, juniors, and seniors, AU Honors students are eligible to serve as Program Associates to AU Honors Complex Problems (CORE-106) seminars. The primary function of the PA is to facilitate experiential learning and to design out of class experiences that complement the classroom learning for students in the Honors program, as well as to serve as an undergraduate TA to the faculty member. Additionally, the PA is responsible for facilitating interpersonal relationships and creating an academic living-learning community that maximizes the opportunities for exploration and personal growth. This is a paid position. 

Teaching Assistants (TAs) - As juniors and seniors, AU Honors students are eligible to serve as Teaching Assistants to AU Honors Theories of Inquiry (HNRS-395) sections. The primary function of the TA is to work with both the Honors Theories of Inquiry faculty and students to facilitate integrated learning experiences in the classroom. Duties may include, but are not limited to: communicating information to students on behalf of the faculty and the AU Honors office, holding office hours, securing room space, arranging technology to meet the needs of the professor and/or students, and assisting the AU Honors Program staff with Admissions recruitment events. The TA is responsible for attending the class that they are the TA for every week. The TA may also work with staff in the AU Honors Program to assist with events throughout the semester. This is a paid position. 

Peer Mentors - Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the AU Honors program are encouraged to volunteer as peer mentors to the incoming freshmen. This rewarding experience provides peer mentors with valuable skills such as communication, problem solving, role-modeling, budget management, and event planning. Peer mentors provide a range of support to their mentees. Please refer to the above section to learn more. 

Incoming AU Honors freshmen will have the opportunity to sign up for the AU Honors Peer Mentor program. Through this program, AU Honors freshmen will receive mentorship from current AU Honors sophomores, juniors, or seniors. By joining the Honors Peer Mentor program, first-year students will be able to:

  • Learn to successfully navigate the transition from high school to life at American University in all of its facets (academic, social, emotional).
  • Develop a sense of belonging in Honors, AU, and greater DC community.
  • Demonstrate increased awareness of university and AU Honors program resources.
  • Develop a mentor relationship with one or more Honors students.
  • Explore D.C. through various events and programs facilitated by peer mentors. 

Several AU Honors Spring research courses include an international travel experience. Past classes have visited Northern Ireland, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Belgium. This year, Professor Middents' HNRS-151 section is going to London and Brighton. AU Honors Spring research courses are exclusively available to Honors students. 

As upperclassmen, AU Honors students will also have the opportunity to study abroad through the AU Abroad office. To learn more about study abroad experiences offered at AU, please visit this link here. 

AU Honors students are also encouraged to apply for funding through the Summer Scholars and Artists program and the Undergraduate Research fund. In past years, some students have elected to use their awards to conduct research abroad. 

AU Honors is proud to work closely with AU's Office of Merit Awards to support our students as they apply for merit awards. AU Honor students receive priority one on one consultation with merit award advisors who will guide you through the process of applying for national scholarships. Honors students with a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA are automatically included in the OMA early identification program that supports select first semester sophomores to meet with OMA advisors about applying for awards.

The Honors Program also hosts a luncheon for first and second year Honors students to engage in a series of roundtable discussions with the advisors who work with the various scholarship organizations, This is a great opportunity to learn more about the awards, ask questions, and make follow up appointments with the advisors if students choose to begin applying for one of the awards. AU Honors students have been nominated or selected for various scholarships and awards, including but not limited to the Obama-Chesky Scholarship, Truman Scholarship, Boren Scholarship, Killam Scholarship, and more!