College of Letters & Science
‘Twas the week before finals, and L&S Honors students bundled up to brave the cold climb up Observatory Hill. Their destination? Washburn Observatory, where they gathered to celebrate the end of a successful semester and the coming of a well-deserved break. This final social event, planned by Honors program staff, had two parts: hot chocolate …
The L&S Honors Program’s annual Go Big Read Luncheon was a resounding success, filling every seat in the Pyle Center’s AT&T Lounge on November 4, 2025. Students, faculty, and staff gathered for an engaging conversation with Percival Everett, author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel James, this year’s campus-wide Go Big Read selection. From the moment …
The L&S Honors Program welcomed Dean Eric Wilcots to the historic Washburn Observatory on October 15, 2025, for a memorable Wednesday @ Washburn event. Attendance was strong, with students eager to hear from the Dean about his personal journey, his leadership of the College of Letters & Science, and his passion for astronomy. True to …
Check out our overview of Spring 2026 Automatic Honors Sections (updated January 12, link opens in a new tab). Please note that a previous version of this document incorrectly listed Psych 406 as a social science course; it only carries biological science breadth. Automatic Honors credits can come from Honors Only and Accelerated Honors sections. …
The L&S Honors Program’s Fall 2025 First-Year Dinner brought together the newest members of the Honors community for an evening of connection, celebration, and inspiration. Held on September 30, 2025, the event filled the room—every seat taken—as first-year students gathered to meet one another, Honors staff, and some of the most outstanding UW faculty and …
The L&S Honors Program’s first Wednesday @ Washburn of the semester, held on September 17, 2025, was such a success that it exceeded capacity and prompted a second session. Hosted in the historic Washburn Observatory, the event featured Professor Daniel Kapust, the Director of the L&S Honors Program, who is also a professor of political …
A visitor to the Philosophy Department in Helen C. White will encounter a beautiful work of art just outside the door to the main office. The piece, pictured below, features a range of terms central to the study of philosophy; some involving matter and its nature, others involving psychology and ethics, and others involving epistemology …
On April 11, 2025, the Honors Program hosted the 2025 Senior Honors Thesis Symposium—a hallmark event recognizing the culmination of years of research by undergraduate Honors scholars at UW–Madison. Held at Union South, the day-long symposium featured student presentations spanning disciplines from astrophysics to art history, spotlighting the intellectual curiosity and dedication that define Honors …
Want to contribute to the Honors Program and develop valuable professional and transferable skills? Work 6-10 hours/week alongside Honors staff and earn $15/hour! The Program Assistant works individually and as a part of a team to support programmatic and administrative activities of the L&S Honors Program as it serves students in their academic and co-curricular …
Check out our overview of Fall 2025 Automatic Honors Sections (updated March 31). Automatic Honors credits can come from Honors Only and Accelerated Honors sections. The Automatic Honors Sections document can help you identify courses of interest as you prepare to enroll for the upcoming term. Please note the following: