Why Join Honors?

T.H.E. Curriculum

Our curriculum, The Honors Experience (T.H.E.) is an experience-based, highly customized curriculum to fit each student’s individual goals. It features a combination of professional planning, coursework that has students discuss pertinent contemporary world issues, and six signature experiences. These experiences can be completed through Honors coursework or through outside of the classroom pursuits, such as internships, research, study abroad, volunteering, or working. The curriculum allows students to graduate with honors without adding significant additional credit hours. Through an integrated support network of staff at every step of the way, we encourage and guide students through their education at UTSA and make them competitive upon graduation. Learn more about T.H.E. and read about how our students have used it to chart their path in Honors and beyond UTSA.

Honors Residential Community

The  Honors Residential Community, located on campus in the brand new Guadalupe Hall, is home to our first-year Honors students from across all of our programs. This community, with students of all majors, fosters an intellectually diverse and rich environment. It also allows our students to build friendships and network across majors that will serve to help them develop as individuals and professionals.

Honors Advising

The Honors College academic counseling team provides students with advising for Honors curriculum requirements and professional coaching for experiences and opportunities. Honors Counselors are available in the Experiential Learning Lab, located in GSR 1.204. Visit our staff page, or Counselor page, to see the Counselor bios and contact information.

Priority Course Registration

Members of the Honors College have the benefits of priority registration, which allows them to register for classes with seniors on the first day of the enrollment period, regardless of grade level.

Honors Scholarships and Development Awards

All students accepted and in good standing within the Honors College may apply each semester for Honors College scholarships. Each year, 80 students are awarded a $1,500 Honors College Dean's Scholarship. Additionally, 40-50 other students receive awards/scholarships worth $250 - $2,500. In addition to tuition-based scholarships, students can apply to developmental awards each month that fund outside experiences such as presenting work at an academic conference, pursuing professional certifications, funding an unpaid internship, or carrying out a volunteer project.

Scholar Programs

The Honors College is the home of two scholar groups, the Top Scholar and Terry Scholar programs. These programs are designed for high caliber students interested in academics, service, and leadership. Our students are routinely making an impact at the state and national levels. These scholarships last for 4 years, covering tuition and board, and have the additional benefit of scholars working closely together in cohorts of talented students.

National Awards and Fellowships Advising

The Honors College is home to the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards and Fellowships, which assists students to identify and apply for prestigious programs. From first-year to senior, Honors College students are encouraged to apply to national awards that further their career plans as well as earn students full academic scholarships to graduate school. UTSA Honors students are routinely named recipients of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, the Goldwater Fellowship for undergraduate research, as well as Fulbright awards. See our list of past winners.

Special Programs: Spend a semester in Austin, Washington D.C. or study abroad!

The Honors College offers special programs such as Citymester, Legislative Scholars in Austin, and the Archer Fellowship in Washington DC, which matches students with internships related to their field in government institutions, non-profits, and other organizations. Honors College study abroad programs see students learn about sustainability in Costa Rica, explore the topic of migration in Mexico, and spend the month of May in Tokyo and Kyoto. These program costs are all subsidized by scholarships for participating students.

Outstanding Faculty

Honors courses are taught by distinguished faculty from across UTSA’s colleges as well as by prominent members of the San Antonio community including authors, filmmakers, and industry experts. Small classes ensure that students can collaborate with renowned faculty, with examples including Dr. John Phillip Santos, the first Mexican-American Rhodes Scholar and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, to Rene Zenteno, the Under Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior in Mexico.

Innovative Courses

Honors seminars see students demonstrating experience-based learning outside of the classroom, which is often done in collaboration with community partners. Students’ classes include visits to local organizations, such as blood donation centers, state prisons, and art galleries. Faculty embrace experiential teaching pedagogies which have students actively learning by doing.

Read further about our admissions process .