Build cultural experiences and special events into our Honors courses.
For 70 years, SJSU’s Humanities Honors Program has offered motivated students in any major an immersive introduction to world cultures from ancient times to the present day through a team-taught, interdisciplinary four-course sequence that fills GE requirements.
In 2024–25, we opened the next chapter in our history with an updated and streamlined version of the Humanities Honors sequence that covers a broader range of global cultures and that more easily fits into the schedules of students in unit-intensive STEM majors.
Two years in, our relaunch has been a resounding success. Since announcing the new courses, we have started each fall full to capacity with 100 students enrolled across four sections. We have also taken our students on 9 field trips, hosted 12 guest speakers, and awarded 5 modest scholarships for excellent student work.
A few highlights: our students heard from the founder of Ireland’s first African theater company and from a Harvard expert on the anti-caste movement in 20th-century India; and in fall 2025 they attended the world premiere of a major new opera in San Francisco, David Henry Hwang and Huang Ruo’s "The Monkey King."
Now Humanities Honors is ready to grow in 2026–27—with your support! Meeting our goal will help us: offer two additional Humanities Honors sections in fall 2026 to match student demand; continue to integrate field trips and other special experiences as we expand; and increase the amount and number of student scholarships we offer.
Help us bring this Spartan tradition to a new generation of students—and become part of the Humanities Honors story yourself!
