Join the University Honors Program
CSUSB’s University Honors Program is comprised of a community of individuals who share their unique talents and strengths with the program, campus community, and world. We hope to cultivate more students who incorporate the program’s core characteristics into their academic journey at CSUSB. Honors students strive to both develop and exude:
- Curiosity about the world around them;
- Desire for life-long learning;
- Strong work ethic;
- Creativity;
- Critical thinking and problem solving;
- Community engagement and service.
The University Honors Program enhances students' college experiences by making additional opportunities available to them. As members of a community of highly-motivated learners, honors students enjoy a variety of benefits. They:
- Receive priority registration within your class year;
- Fulfill general education requirements in smaller-sized Honors classes;
- Design an advising plan and strengths-based career pathway with the program counselor;
- Enjoy the use of the Honors facilities such as: study rooms, a computer lab, and a student lounge where you can engage with other honors students;
- Participate in free off-campus excursions to museums, galleries, and live performances.
Inclusivity
The University Honors Program is an inclusive community that welcomes students from all backgrounds and interests. The program includes students from every major on campus, with programs designed to challenge students in their chosen fields of study while exploring related fields. The program's activities also celebrate the rich diversity of identities that make Honors such an exciting place to learn, explore, and build friendships. With a philosophy that embraces each student's unique blend of strengths and experiences, the program strives to help students connect their individual identities to the career and graduate school goals.
Honors in Action
Students in the program commit to active engagement in community activities each academic year, combining these individual activities and the Honors Program organized events. With our emphasis on community engagement, the University Honors Program initiated Honors in Action, a community partnership program that teams the Honors Program with community groups in need of support in achieving their missions. Those partnerships range from pairing students with children in the community through the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program to larger scale events, such as our work with Rebirth Homes and the San Bernardino County CASE office to sponsor a week of activities to raise awareness around issues of human trafficking. This event includes a campus-based exhibition, speakers, a film, and an awareness walk.
Exploratory Excursions
The purpose of the Exploratory Excursions Program is to provide students with opportunities to learn about both the region in which they are studying and diverse areas of knowledge through experiential learning. The program takes students in the University Honors Program out into the surrounding area to learn about diverse topics on location. The trips are no cost to students, except for meals.
Exploratory Excursion destinations include cultural, historic, and scientific spaces. Cultural excursions have taken students to The Getty Center, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Huntington Library and Gardens, and stage productions at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles. Science trips have taken students to, among other places, The California Science Center, kayaking in Black Canyon, and on whale watching trips. The historical excursions will allow students to visit locations such as The Getty Villa and historic locales in the metro-LA area.
Each trip has limited capacity and sign-ups are on a first-come/first-serve basis. As noted above, the only out-of-pocket expense for students is meals, since the program covers transportation and admission fees.
