Honors instruction is a valued high-impact practice in L&S and provides you with an opportunity to develop inspiring courses and collaborate with some of the most engaged, intellectually curious undergraduates on campus.
We encourage L&S departments to consider offering “Honors Only” courses as part of their core undergraduate instructional mission.
Call for Honors Only Course Funding Proposals
For courses that will be taught in AY27-28, we anticipate that some funding will be available in the form of:
- Short-term staff (lecturer replacement) funding: If a department would have difficulties assigning an instructor to teach an Honors Only seminar because they are needed to teach another essential undergraduate class, we may be able to fund replacement instruction.
- Supplies & Expense funding to support Honors discussion/lab activities
More details will be available in Fall 2026.
The funding application deadline for Honors seminars or Honors discussion/lab sections taught during the 2026-27 academic year was Monday, November 17, 2025.
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Who may teach an Honors Only course/section?
Honors Only seminars and discussion/lab sections should be taught by faculty members or permanent/long-term instructional staff with a terminal degree. As a general rule, graduate students, postdocs, and temporary lecturers should not be instructors in Honors Only settings.
We understand that each department’s situation may be different. If you would like to discuss your department’s plans for Honors teaching assignments, please reach out to the Honors Faculty Director or Associate Director of Advising and Curriculum.
Why teach my course as an Honors Only seminar or with an Honors Only discussion section?
Honors Only seminars/sections foster a highly motivating learning environment for some of UW’s most intellectually curious and engaged students. Instructors regularly share that Honors teaching is particularly rewarding and enjoyable. Moreover, availability of Honors Only coursework across disciplines is critical to the Honors in the Liberal Arts curriculum. There are over 1,600 undergraduates in the L&S Honors Program. By offering Honors Only coursework, you can help these incredible students discover or deepen their interest in your field and make impactful connections.
What types of Honors Only courses are most in demand?
We welcome proposals from all types of courses that can contribute to an enriched liberal arts education. Course characteristics that are particularly sought after by students and helpful to the Honors in the Liberal Arts curriculum include:
- No or few prerequisites, including courses open to first-year students
- Satisfy the ethnic studies requirement (ESR)
- Carry biological/physical/natural science breadth and are intended for students with non-science majors
- Connect to current issues, technology, health, or law/policy
- Interdisciplinary profile
We have had an overrepresentation of Communication B courses in recent years, so that is not a particular need at this time.
For more about Honors Only teaching guidelines and policies, visit our Teach an Honors Only Course page.
What form of funding is available?
Details for AY27-28 courses is TBA.
We anticipate that some funding will be available in the form of:
- Short-term staff (lecturer replacement) funding: If a department would have difficulties assigning an instructor to teach an Honors Only seminar because they are needed to teach another essential undergraduate class, we may be able to fund replacement instruction.
- Supplies & Expense funding to support Honors discussion/lab activities
Can I receive funding for the same course more than once?
Yes. Honors funding can be received for the same course for multiple years.
In competitive application cycles, courses that have previously received funding may be deprioritized.
Proposal Process
- Learn more about the Honors Program, the different types of Honors courses, and possible teaching ideas.
- Talk with the Honors Program to discuss your course idea and get answers to your questions about the funding proposal.
- Check in with your department chair and curricular representative about your interest in teaching Honors, how offering Honors courses can support your unit and College-wide priorities, and budget/course funding plans for the next academic year.
- Complete the proposal materials, if seeking funding for your Honors Only offering:
- Honors Only Course Funding Proposal Form
- Draft Honors syllabus
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- Cover letter from chair, associate chair, or Honors coordinator, as appropriate for the unit (one per department/program)
- Your department submits all Honors course funding proposal materials to Christine Evans (cmevans3@wisc.edu) by the deadline.
Timeline
Early Fall
- Departments begin preparing course plans for the following academic year.
- Faculty consider their teaching plans and can prepare Honors Only Course Funding Proposal materials.
November
- Honors Only Course Funding Proposals are due.
December
- The Faculty Honors Committee will review proposals.
- Departments will be notified of the award status of their proposals by late December or as soon as possible.
Questions?
- For questions about the application process or Honors course curricula and design, reach out to Christine Evans at cmevans3@wisc.edu.
- For other questions related to your proposal, reach out to Faculty Director Dan Kapust at director@honors.ls.wisc.edu.
- If you’re ever unsure where to start with a question related to L&S Honors, you can email honors@honors.ls.wisc.edu.