Brooklyn Honors Program

As the recipient of a Top Tier Scholarship, you are eligible to be considered for the Honors Program. If you were awarded a Deans, Esse Non Videri or Presidential Scholarship and wish to be considered for the Honors Program, you must submit an original manuscript (thesis, research or term paper) for review by the program director.

First-Year Students:

In the fall, Honors first-year students enroll in one of several specially designed Honors First-Year Seminars. These seminars vary in focus—some are more science-oriented, while others center on the appreciation of the arts and literature. Many include a field trip component to New York City, such as visits to the American Museum of Natural History. Across all sections, the courses are intentionally structured to foster critical thinking, scientific curiosity, effective learning strategies and thoughtful self-reflection. Together, these experiences prepare Honors first-year students for deeper, more meaningful engagement with their academic studies moving forward.

In the spring, first-year Honors students enroll in an Honors seminar centered on the history and culture of a neighboring city, culminating in a faculty-led trip to that location. Past destinations have included Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to strengthen their leadership, public speaking and communication skills by engaging diverse audiences—most notably by presenting their research on site during the field experience.

Beyond the First Year: 

Students are required to take four honors seminars; these are eight-week classes where honors students work in a close setting with faculty over engaging and interesting topics. Previous classes have included:

• “Urban Planning in the Era of Global Warming”
• “Chaos Theory”
• “Existentialism in Film and Literature”
• “Millennials as Change Agents”  

Travel and study abroad! Honors students may enroll in courses exploring global science, art, and culture, with the opportunity to participate in a partially subsidized international trip at the end of the semester. While many experiences take place in Europe, like Italy, Greece and Spain, destinations have also extended to countries such as Japan and Taiwan.

Explore the art of Italy

• In past years, students have studied several periods of Italian art, such as Gothic/Medieval and proto-Renaissance through the High Renaissance.
• Students also take guided tours of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• The course culminates with a ten-day trip to various cities in Italy (Rome, Venice, Florence, etc.) where students come face to face with the artworks they have studied during the semester.

Impressionism through Expressionism

• Other offerings in previous years included a course on French art encompassing Impressionism through Expressionism, which culminates in a trip to cities in France such as Paris and Nice.  

Past Trips have included:

• Italy
• Greece
• Japan
• Spain
• Taiwan

Cultural Outings:

Honors students participate in various academic and cultural events in New York City. Past events include:

• Lectures on near death experiences in NY Academy of Sciences
• Seeing La Boheme at the Metropolitan Opera
• Taking a Circle Line Guided Tour around the island of Manhattan
• Trips to various museums, such as the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Civic Engagement and Community Service:

Honors students also participate in civic engagement and community service. Previous events have included fundraising and participating in the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk in New York City.

Professional and Academic Development:

Honors students also attend professional and academic workshops that are focused on the development of skills essential to academic success. These workshops give students what they need to prepare for a career after college.