Where Your Curiosity Can Flourish
The Duquesne University Honors College provides opportunities for students with exceptional academic talent to enrich their education. For 40 years, honors students have accepted Duquesne's challenge to demand more of themselves intellectually, academically and morally.
At Duquesne, we say Spiritus est qui vivificat—"it is the spirit that gives life." May your search for future academic and intellectual challenges be an inspired one!
Here at the Honors College, we embrace the Catholic Intellectual Tradition—an unmitigated
search for truth with openness to mystery. If this appeals to you, welcome home. We
seek no less than to liberate every human person from injustice, poverty and ignorance.
Achieve Your Bigger Goals in the Honors College
If you are a prospective Duquesne student who meets the academic requirements of the Honors College, you will be recommended by the Office of Admissions and will automatically receive an invitation to join.
The "criteria" for an invitation to the Honors College is fluid, based on SAT or ACT scores, high school GPA, and other admissions data. If you meet SAT or ACT requirements (1360 or 30 minimum), you will automatically receive a letter inviting you to join. If your scores are lower, you may fill out a separate application.Students must also demonstrate a commitment to our humanities curriculum when accepting the invitation to join the University Honors College.
We begin sending out invitations in early October and continue on a rolling basis throughout the spring.
We require a response to our invitation by May 1 of the year you plan to enter Duquesne
University. After May 1 we cannot guarantee a place for a student who does not respond
by the deadline.
By Application or Reapplication
If you do not receive an invitation to join but would still be interested in joining, fill out an application form. For fall incoming freshman only.
If you are not initially invited or accepted into the Honors College, you may reapply following the completion of your first semester at Duquesne. Deadline for current Duquesne students is the add/drop week of the spring semester. For current students, please submit the Honors College Admissions Application. Email for application.
- The application should be mailed/emailed to the office of the Honors College. Required
supporting documentation includes:
- An "endorsement" via email (from an academic advisor or a faculty member)
- A statement of intent, in the form of an essay
We will review your complete application and contact you with a decision within a
reasonable period of time.
In either case, there is no additional tuition and all financial aid is handled through
the Office of Financial Aid. The Honors College provides financial support for special
projects you may wish to do, such as Honors Fellows.
Honors College classes are smaller than regular BRDG classes at Duquesne—typically
around 15 students or fewer—allowing for a lot of interaction between students and
faculty. The learning is discussion-based with a focus on special topics, giving students
horizon-expanding discussions and broader perspectives.
The six HONR courses you need for graduation replace six courses that are already
part of your normal schedule—the university Bridges curriculum (BRDG)
Course description packets are emailed out before early Honors College registration.
Opportunities to get your six HONR courses:
| Bridges requirement | HONR course | Important notes |
| On-Ramp: Intro to Bridges | HONR 001 | Students take this the summer BEFORE their first fall semester at Duquesne |
| Information Literacy | HONR 100 | Offered starting Fall 2025 |
| Writing and Analysis | HONR 101 | Required unless AP transfer |
| Writing and Literature | HONR 102 | Required unless AP transfer |
| Essential Questions | HONR 154 | Required |
| Foundations in Ethical Reasoning | HONR 155 | Required |
| Communication and Creative Expression (BRCC) |
August Wilson House course (HONR 203, spring only) Steel Pan Band (HONR 208) HONR 210-216 varies by semester. Look for BRCC |
|
| Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (BRCT) | HONR 210-216 varies by semester. Look for BRCT | Philosophy tutorials include BRCT |
| Cultural Fluency and Responsiveness (BRCF) |
August Wilson House course (HONR 203, spring only) Study Abroad (HONR 205) Steel Pan Band (HONR 208) HONR 210-216 varies by semester. Look for BRCF |
|
| Ethical Reasoning Moral Responsibility (BRET) | HONR 210-216 varies by semester. Look for BRET | |
| Quantitative and Scientific Reasoning (BRQS) | HONR 210-216 varies by semester. Look for BRQS | |
| Social and Historical Reasoning (BRSH) | HONR 210-216 varies by semester. Look for BRSH | |
| Theology and Philosophy courses (1 each) |
Some HONR 154 (Essential Questions classes) are either Philosophy or Theology. Some HONR 210-216 sections are either Philosophy or Theology (varies by semester). |
Required |
| Special Honors Course: Speed Trap | HONR 299, summer only, 0-credit | Take the summer before your third year |
| Experiential Learning (BREL) | August Wilson House course (HONR 203, spring) | |
| Capstone (BRCP) | Honors Fellows courses (HONR 395, 450, 495, 499) | Check your major for capstone requirements |
Honors College students gain unique, tangible opportunities to merger their professional goals with creative work in the humanities and liberal arts. Regardless of your major, you will delve deeper into literature, history, philosophy, theology, music, arts and other humanities fields.
Students are happiest and most successful in the Duquesne University Honors College when they understand and are inspired by profound questions.
We've found that the humanities offer us the beginnings of answers to why students
choose their professions, and how they will best serve other human beings—whether
that be lawyers, pharmacists, speech therapists, educators or any other career.
In the Honors College, you'll have access to funding for research projects and become
more sought after in graduate programs around the world.
Our Traditions
Dig Deep into Your Passions
All Honors College students have the opportunity to become an Honors Fellow, pursing an independent project that deepens their knowledge about something they care about. We provide financial support to these pursuits when needed.
There are three ways to pursue your project:
- Research
- Creative Arts
- Community Engagement
Those whose project require more resources and time can apply to become Endowed Fellows, with financial support up to $5,000.
Global Perspectives
During the dinner, international students and staff from a particular part of the world will speak informally about their culture and experience while attendees enjoy authentic food from the speakers' home country.
Faith and Fantasy Literature
An Honors College tradition since 2012, Harry Potter Week separates the art from its author and celebrates the fandom of Harry Potter for the whole campus. Escape rooms, scavenger hunts, Honeydukes parties, and trivia contests all culminate in one big Harry Potter carnival with games and prizes galore. Students in our long-standing honors tutorial course, Theological Worlds of Harry Potter, transform spaces on campus to transport us all to Hogwarts and beyond.
Community Engagement
Based in the Honors College since 2011, the partnership between Duquesne University and August Wilson House is dedicated to continuing the literary, historical and artistic legacy of Pittsburgh playwright and poet August Wilson. Since its founding, the partnership has engaged in a variety of activities including student-created business plans, communications and events.
The partnership between Duquesne University and August Wilson House is dedicated to continuing the literary, historical and artistic legacy of Pittsburgh playwright and poet August Wilson. This benefits students as a course which approaches social justice issues such as community trauma, poverty, and inequity head-on by working side-by-side with community partners in the Hill District.
Registration Information Session
Fall semester program, geared towards freshmen, occurs about a week before early registration begins. This program entails inviting successful upperclassman in every program to attend and share their knowledge of courses, registration, professors etc. to first-year students and new members of the Honors College.
Break From Your Devices
Students are challenged to take a daylong break from phones and social media to focus on solely reading books in this all-day competition. Meals are provided to students as they try to outlast each other and take part in discussions about their reading selections.
Get to Know Faculty and Staff
This weekly event offers Honors College students a free breakfast with various faculty and staff around Duquesne, providing an intimate setting to get to know other departments outside of the classroom.
Honors College Student Organization
The HCSEE provides a vibrant social outlet and helps students hone leadership skills. The HCSEE organizes service projects and academic interest programs, including Race to the Campus and the Duquesne University Academic Challenge (DUAC). Through HCSEE, students build friendships, explore new ideas, and expand their networks. Members may hold various elected positions and offices within the society.
HONORS STUDENTS TESTIMONIALS
I appreciate the flexibility of the Honors College, which allowed me to earn a required credit through a project of my choosing. Inspired by my Indian culture, I decided to plan and execute a dinner to celebrate my heritage and expand my classmates’ horizons.
From my perspective, being a part of the Honors College has been a wonderful experience overall. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my classes. My favorite class through the Honors College was Sherlock Holmes. This class went over major stories involving Sherlock Holmes and we got to write our own stories about him.
