The Emmanuel College Honors Program invites ambitious and talented students to push their personal boundaries and expand their worldviews by participating in a rigorous and co-curricular academic experience. Students immerse themselves in an engaged learning community in which they openly discuss big ideas, differing perspectives and complex, timely questions.

The program combines reading- and writing-intensive coursework, collaborative learning opportunities with professors and complementary experiences that leverage Boston’s outstanding cultural offerings—all of which culminate in a distinction project in each student’s individual major.

To graduate within the Honors Program, students must complete four Honors courses, a Distinction paper and one Honors experience, which may include studying abroad, working as a peer mentor in a class for first-year students or serving as a research assistant with a faculty member.

Selection for the Program is offered to our most competitive students based on application materials.

Program Director:
Catherine Bueker, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology
617-264-7771
buekerca [at] emmanuel.edu (buekeca[at]emmanuel[dot]edu)

In the Honors Program, you can:

The Emmanuel College Honors Program develops students into competitive candidates for scholarships and fellowships, advanced study and career opportunities after graduation. The time management, effective communication and critical thinking skills honed in honors programs also make students stand out on resumes or graduate school applications.

What do you want to accomplish? Students in the Honors Program are given access to special mentoring regarding course selections, study abroad experiences, scholarships and fellowships, graduate school options and other opportunities. Honors students also become leaders on campus through peer mentoring, organizing co-curricular Honors events and serving in the community.

What interests you? As an honors student, you will design and complete an independent, faculty-directed research project to earn Distinction in the Field of Study. You may also compete for funding related to your project or for travel to present at conferences, conduct research at specialized libraries and more.

With a required minimum GPA of 3.3 to remain in the program, students enrolled in the Honors Program are supported and challenged by faculty and their peers to excel in and out of the classroom.

THE HONORS EXPERIENCE

We said, “think big,” right? Just how big is up to you. Students in the Honors Program are encouraged to apply for College-funded travel fellowships for advanced study as well as nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Emmanuel’s Scholarship and Fellowship Committee is dedicated to helping you explore and identify opportunities that best fit your academic goals, navigate the application process and help you write personal statements and prepare for interviews.

In the past few years, Emmanuel students have earned:

  • Fulbright Awards to study in locations such as the Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Andorra, and Indonesia
  • A Boren Scholarship to study Amharic in Ethiopia
  • Goldwater Scholarships for undergraduate research on autism spectrum disorders and dementia
  • A Truman Scholarship to study public policy administration at the graduate level to advocate for peace and conflict resolution in the Sudan
  • Gilman Scholarships to study abroad in Spain, Morocco and India

In the Honors Program, you can also think small—with small, interactive courses specifically for Honors students that take an interdisciplinary look at the sciences, literature, leadership, ethics and contemporary social issues. Here is just a sneak peek:

  • HON1101 Citizenship in the Contemporary U.S.
  • HON 2201 Affective Reading: Sympathy and in the Institution of the English Novel
  • HON2402 Justice: Theories, Evidence and Practice
  • HON2405 Interreligious Ethics
  • HON2503 Ethics and Mental Health
  • HON2601 Developing Leadership & Creating Community Change
  • HON2605 Religion, Trauma and Healing

Explore Emmanuel

Alumni The Madeline Navien Kenney Endowed Scholarship Opens... As the descendant of Irish immigrants, none of whom had completed education beyond the eighth grade, Madeline was a determined outlier. College was an...
Internships & Outcomes Hunter Ryan Murray ’25: Internships Highlight Multip... A campus in the heart of Boston and numerous connections within the city’s sports scene were key factors in bringing Hunter Ryan Murray ’25 to Emmanuel College. He also appreciates the College’s emphasis on practical application and internships. Going into college, Hunter Ryan Murray ’25 was focused on writing, media, and the Boston sports scene. He leaned into those interests at Emmanuel...
In the News Maura Bradley-Gnanou '96, G'99 Honored at ... The award, named after the beloved educator, was presented by Mission Grammar Principal Caroline Sliney and members of Leydon’s family.Leydon’s legacy...