The COLFA Honors Program runs collaboratively with the UTSA Honors College to provide a unique educational experience for academically talented students with a commitment to excellence in the Liberal and Fine Arts. This program is open to all COLFA majors who have already been accepted into the Honors College or who would like to join COLFA Honors and the Honors College (3.5 GPA). Requirements for COLFA Honors directly map onto Honors College requirements.  

The COLFA Honors Program is designed for a small cohort of 25 students to learn together in community. Students will meet and collaborate with faculty across COLFA departments during the program. The program is also designed to expose students to research at an early stage in their academic careers and mentor them closely to pursue additional experiential learning opportunities such as study abroad and service learning. Through COLFA Honors, students will find their place at UTSA and be introduced to opportunities throughout San Antonio and beyond.   

COLFA Honors Program Structure

  • COLFA Honors Seminar I and II. Upon joining, students complete a cohort-based one-year experiential sequence (two courses, 6 credits total). This one-year sequence is based on a singular theme: 
    • Fall Semester: Inquiry and Discussion. Each week, your instructor will organize reading, discussion, or demonstration related to the course theme. Invited COLFA faculty and community members will visit the course throughout the semester to explore our theme from different disciplines and career perspectives. Course listing: COLFA Honors Seminar I (CSH1213H)  
    • Spring Semester: Applied knowledge. Spring semester is led by a COLFA faculty member who guides students on an applied research or creative approach related to the course theme.
    • Course listing: COLFA Honors Seminar II (CSH 3823H)
  • COLFA Experience Requirement: COLFA Honors students complete at least one COLFA-related special program or COLFA-related experience as part of the Honors College upper division experience requirements.
  • COLFA Research Conference and Showcase: Students are required to present at the COLFA Research Conference and Showcase at least once during the program. Students are encouraged to present earlier than their final year and can present multiple times. 
  • COLFA Honors Event attendance: Each semeser, students participate in 3 Honors community building events hosted by the Honors College and COLFA student Success Center 
  • In remaining years, students work toward completing the general Honors College Requirements. 

2025-2026 Experiental Learning Sequence:

  • News and knowing: Deciding what and whom to believe
    • Fall: Guided seminar explores the question "what is fake?" We will focus on topics such as political imposters in history, doppelgangers in literature, counterfeit culture, hoaxes, conspiracies, and disinformation. (instructor: Drew Chapman, Modern Languages).
    • Spring: Applied research seminar leads students on a project related to the course theme. "Public Trust and Political Knowledge". We will focus on a variety of topics, from media consumption to nationalization to conspiracy theories. Working with faculty at the UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research, students will design their own survey that measures knowledge and trust among local residents, which we will field and analyze. (instructor: Bryan Gervais, Political Science).

UTSA Honors College Requirements

  • Admitted into the Honors College
  • 3.0 GPA each semester to maintain good standing and a 3.3 overall GPA to graduate
  • Attend six honors events each academic year (COLFA Honors event count toward this requirement)
  • Completion of Honors 1000 — (0 credit hour)
  • Completion of HON 2301 Civic Ethos — (1 credit hour)
  • Completion of Honors CSH 1213 Topics in World Cultures — (3 credit hours). Satisfied by COLFA Honors Seminar I.
  • Completion of Honors WRC 1023 Freshman Composition II — (3 credit hours)
    • Entering students who have already completed Composition II through dual, transfer, or credit earned at UTSA have satisfied this requirement.
  • Completion of 3-6 Upper Division Honors Exereriences
    • COLFA Honors Seminar II counts as one Honors Experience
    • Completion of one additonal COLFA-related experience
    • 1 to 3 more Honors Experiences of student's choice*

*Students who join the COLFA Honors/Honors College with fewer than 60 credits complete 6 Honors Experiences. Students who join the Honors College with over 60 credits complete 3 experiences. Students can join the COLFA Honors Program as freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Students must enroll in the 1-year sequence in their first year in the program and complete Honors experiences as necessary. 

List of Potential COLFA Honors Experiences

  • Any COLFA-led study abroad/study away program including archaeological field schools
  • Research w/ faculty;
  • Philosophy and Literature Circle at Dominguez State Jail
  • Knowledge for Freedom program
  • Ananse Leadership Program
  • For credit internship utilizing knowledge/skills in COLFA major
  • Mellon Humanities Pathways;
  • Departmental or Honors Thesis 
  • COLFA SSC Ambassador

COLFA Honors Recommended Curriculum Timeline

Year 1: Fall 
  • Enroll in COLFA Honors Seminar I (CSH1213H), 3 credits
  • Enroll in Honors 101 (HON: 1000), 0 credits 
  • Students participate in 3 Honors community building events hosted by the Honors College and COLFA student Success Center 
Year 1: Spring
  • Enroll in COLFA Honors Seminar 2 (CSH 3823), 3 credits; counts as 1 Honors Experience
  • Enroll in Civic Ethos (HON 2301), 1 credit 
Year 2
  • Student completes two experiences
  • Students can participate as Learn to Lead Ambassador in Fall semester in CSH1213H.
    • Students may enroll in honors courses specific to their major, personal, or professional goals. 
    • Students can engage in study abroad, internships, or service learning.
  • Students plan to take Civic Ethos, if not already completed.  
Year 3
  • Student completes two experiences:
    • Students may enroll in honors courses specific to their major, personal, or professional goals. 
    • Students can engage in study abroad, internships, service learning or other outside of the classroom activities.
Year 4
  • Student completes one experience:
    • Students may enroll in honors courses specific to their major, personal, or professional goals
    • Students can engage in study abroad, internships, service learning or other outside of the classroom activities.

 

 

Join

COLFA majors who are invited to join the Honors College as a first-year student, transfer student, or current student at UTSA will also receive an invite email to COLFA Honors with instructions on how to join.  Please note that students can only join the program at the beginning of Fall semesters. 

Contacts