Honors Living Learning Community 

Incoming freshman have the opportunity to take part in our residential program located in Butler Hall.  Located on the new Concho Mall green space and minutes away from the home of the Honors College, Butler is a traditional residence hall, meaning that its rooms are double occupancy with a community style bathroom. A total of 2,905 students live in Texas State’s traditional style halls.  These halls offer a true college experience. Butler is co-ed and air conditioned. Ethernet ports are available in every room and every room has moveable furniture.  Butler has numerous study rooms and two community kitchens.

Students in this program will register for honors sections of US 1100 - University Seminar, a course required for incoming freshmen.  Students will also attend the Freshman Honors Retreat and be able to participate in other programming.  This is the chance to get to know other students in honors and live among students who have chosen to make a strong commitment to academics in a creative and engaging environment. 

To learn more information about applying to live in the Honors Learning Community, click here.

Honors Sections of US 1100

All incoming freshmen are required to take a University Seminar class.  Honors sections are taught by active honors faculty including the Dean, Director of Academic Programming, and Fellowship Coordinator of the Honors College.  Class size is smaller than a regular section (17-20 students only) and enrollment is limited to students accepted to the Honors College.  This class explores the opportunities available to students in the Honors College and even begins the process of helping students start envisioning a thesis project.  Enrollment takes place during summer orientation and information regarding class times and instructors will be provided by the first orientation session.

The Common Experience

The Common Experience is a year-long initiative of Texas State University-San Marcos designed to cultivate a common intellectual conversation across the campus, to enhance student participation in the intellectual life of the campus, and to foster a sense of community across our entire campus and extended community. As a part of US 1100, incoming freshman are encouraged to attend the various events the Common Experience has to offer. Speeches from well known intellectuals, film showings, and various other artistic events designed around the Common Experience help to increase the intellectual richess of the academic experience at Texas State University.

For more information on the Common Experience and to view past themes, click here.   

The Freshman Honors Retreat

A way of building the honors community is through our annual Freshman Honors Retreat.  Distinguished guests and Texas State faculty will guide students through workshops on creativity and leadership, in addition to a variety of recreational activities. This day-long event provides an opportunity for freshman honors students to get to know one another and envision their future at Texas State.

The 2011 Fall Freshmen Retreat featured Texas State artist-in-residence Eugene Lee as the keynote speaker.  The Honors College hosted a talent show where students showcased a talent or performance of their choice.  This year's acts included: several music performances, recitation of poetry, solo acts, and more.

If you would like to see highlights from our 2011 retreat, click here.

To register for the Fall 2012 Freshman Honors retreat, click here.