The Duns Scotus Honors Program, named after the great Franciscan scholar John Duns Scotus, strives to create a community of scholars and intentional learners who desire to integrate knowledge with reflection, commitment, and service to develop wisdom with humility.
The Honors Program is designed to help academically motivated and prepared students make the most of their college experience through honors courses and projects. Most of the academic work in the Honors Program fulfills university and major requirements. There are two tracks of the Duns Scotus Honors Program: a four-year Fellows track and a two-year Scholars track. As a Fellow, in the first two years students take honors Foundations courses, participate in enrichment experiences, and engage in service learning. In the junior and senior years, students take honors courses and work on honors projects as directed by the faculty who supervise their major. In addition, students take three one-hour interdisciplinary seminars and continue to participate in enrichment experiences and service learning. The Duns Scotus Scholars are expected to fulfill the latter half of the program. All Duns Scotus Honors students complete their academic career by producing an honors thesis. Upon graduation, students who complete the program receive an Honors designation on their transcript.
To be eligible to apply for the Duns Scotus Honors Fellows program as an incoming freshman, you must qualify as a Presidential or Trustee Scholar.
Transfer applicants must have a 3.25 cumulative GPA from their prior institutions. Higher consideration will be given to transfer applicants who were successful Honors students at their prior institution.
Complete this online application form.
The Duns Scotus program director will contact you to schedule an interview. If you are a freshman, the interview will take place at the Freshmen Scholarship Competition in February if present. If not attending the Competition, efforts will be made to arrange an interview in person or by phone.
Priority Deadline for Fellows Program: March 15
Priority Deadline for Scholars Program: May 1
All other applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis based on eligibility and program capacity.
Duns Scotus Honors Fellows are in a part of our honors program designed for students who wish to participate during their entire undergraduate career and attend USF for all four years. The four-year curriculum for Fellows fulfills requirements in the university’s general education as well as requirements in the fellow’s chosen major.
The Duns Scotus honors fellows curriculum consists of:
During the freshman and sophomore years, most Duns Scotus honors fellows:
During the junior and senior years, Duns Scotus honors fellows will need to complete:
An honors thesis or capstone project that is of sufficient quality to be submitted to an undergraduate academic journal or for presentation at an academic conference
Enrichment Experiences – Students must attend at least three enrichment experiences each year that challenge and broaden their intellectual boundaries. The Duns Scotus Program sponsors at least six shared enrichment experiences a year. Fellows are required to attend at least one of these events each year. The other two enrichment experiences can be satisfied by attending University or local community events.
Good Standing – In order to remain in good standing in the program, a student must maintain an overall 3.25GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.25, the student will remain in the program on a probationary status and will have one semester to bring the GPA back up to the required level. If the GPA is not improved after one semester, or if it falls below 3.25 a second time, the student will not be permitted to continue in the program.
Service Learning – Duns Scotus Fellows are expected to integrate their academic learning with their development as “women and men who contribute to the world through service and leadership.” Over the course of four years of study, Duns Scotus Fellows are expected to participate in and reflect on at least 90 hours of service.
In order to remain in the program and graduate with honors a student must complete the sequence of courses, seminars, enrichment experiences and service learning as outlined above.
Two-Year Scholar Requirements
Accepted transfer students or current USF students may apply for the two-year track of the Honors Program as Duns Scotus Scholars. Applicants must have a 3.25 cumulative GPA from USF or their prior institutions.
The Scholars curriculum consists of:
During the junior and senior years, Scholars will need to complete
Enrichment Experiences – Students must attend at least three enrichment experiences each year that challenge and broaden their intellectual boundaries. The Duns Scotus Program sponsors at least six shared enrichment experiences a year. Scholars are required to attend at least one of these events each year. The other two enrichment experiences can be satisfied by attending University or local community events.
Good Standing – In order to remain in good standing in the program, a student must maintain an overall 3.25 GPA. If the GPA falls below 3.25, the student will remain in the program on a probationary status and will have one semester to bring the GPA back up to the required level. If the GPA is not improved after one semester, or if it falls below 3.25 a second time, the student will not be permitted to continue in the program.
Service Learning – Duns Scotus Scholars are expected to integrate their academic learning with their development as “women and men who contribute to the world through service and leadership.” Over the course of two years of study, Duns Scotus Scholars are expected to participate in and reflect on at least 45 hours of service.
In order to remain in the program and graduate with honors a student must complete the sequence of courses, seminars, enrichment experiences and service learning as outlined above.
Contact Brady Jones, advisor of the Duns Scotus Honors Program, at bjones@stfrancis.edu.
