FAQ
What is the “Honors Triple?”
The “Triple” is a group of linked courses—literature, history and philosophy—taken by all first year students over two semesters. Students take the “Triple” in the same group of students and with the same professor for both semesters. The “Triple” is the heart of the Honors Program—intellectually, in its exploration of the unfolding of western civilization and socially, as the foundation of the community spirit that characterizes Honors.
What is the “Honors Lab?”
The “Lab” is a humanities lab that is part of the triple in which students experience some of the incredible variety of artistic and cultural activities at La Salle and in the Philadelphia Metro area. Past labs have included trips to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Wilma Theater, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the art collection at the Barnes Foundation, and many more. Like the triple, the Labs contribute to the intellectual life of the Honors Program and to its social and community life.
What if I am majoring in a subject which requires a field placement, clinical experiences or internship or if I am in the Business Scholars or 4-year BS/MBA program?
Students in majors like Social Work, Education, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nursing, Nutrition, and the Business Scholars are released from the Honors Project and a specified number of Honors electives.
The University Honors Program is compatible with both the Business Scholars Co-Op Program and the 4-year BS/MBA program. Students who qualify for these programs receive one letter, co-signed by all the programs, inviting their application.
How competitive is the Honors Program?
The spirit of the Honors Program is collaborative, not cutthroat. All the students in Honors have strong records of achievement and personal success, but the prevailing spirit in the program is collaborative and supportive. Students work together, often in the residence halls where they live, and in seminar-sized classes designed to foster interaction and mutual learning.
What do Honors students do besides study?
Honors students can do everything that La Salle offers—and they do. They write for and often edit the university paper and yearbook; they participate in service and outreach groups, such as Circle K and Neighborhood Tutors; they take and lead service trips to Appalachia and Habitat for Humanity sites; they are members and officers of fraternities and sororities; they are in the Masque, the university theater group, and provide music for masses and prayer services. And some honors students play Division I sports. All of this happens while following the Honors Program curriculum and demanding majors (and double majors or multiple minors).
What are some of the benefits of the Honors Program?
- Small class sizes, with classes of 18 to 20 students.
- Priority registration for courses during each semester.
- Close interaction with faculty, many of whom have won teaching and research awards, and who are carefully selected to teach high-achieving students.
- Personal support during four years at La Salle, including mentoring for prestigious fellowships and scholarships such as the Fulbright, Marshall and Rhodes.
- Being a member of a learning community characterized by highly motivated, intellectually curious peers.
How do I apply to Honors?
Applicants to La Salle are invited to apply to the University Honors Program on the basis of superior performance in high school as reflected in their application for admission in their GPA, class rank (if available). SAT or ACT scores may be submitted if applying via Traditional Admission. La Salle University, including the University’s Honors Program, is Test Optional. In lieu of standardized test scores, Honors Program Applications will evaluated holistically.
On receiving an invitation, applicants complete an “Expression of Interest (EOI).” After review of the EOI, the Director of the Honors Program notifies applicants of their acceptance.