The University Honors Program began in 1966 as a proposal by the Committee for the Program for Gifted Students at Southwest Texas State College by history professor Dr. Emmie Craddock (pictured left). In 1967 the General Honors Program was established with 36 students out of 55 applicants being accepted into the two classes offered. Of the initial applicants, 25 came from Liberal and Fine Arts, 18 from the Science School, eight from Applied Arts and four from Education.

For more than 40 years students in the honors program have benefited from interdisciplinary classes in subjects that bring students and faculty together from a wide range of disciplines. Since its inception, the honors program has offered small, seminar-type classes where faculty members provide an atmosphere designed to promote curiosity, creativity and a respect for learning. Honors program graduates complete individual research by completing honors theses that represent a culmination of their undergraduate educational experience.

From spring 2004 through spring 2008, a gift from the Roy F. and Joann Cole Mitte Foundation of Austin created an endowment for the University Honors Program at Texas State University-San Marcos. The program was named Mitte Honors for that period. More than 500 students have graduated in the honors program by completing coursework and writing their undergraduate thesis.

In spring 2007, the program graduated the first students to complete the minor in honors studies. Exemplifying the importance of the honors thesis, the minor was initially developed by two honors graduates, Leann Fields and Claudia Scott, as their honors thesis.

The University Honors Program, now located in Lampasas Building next to Old Main, welcomes graduates to stay in contact with us and stop by for a cup of coffee in the University Honors Forum.

For information on how to give back to the University Honors Program, please contact:

Dr. Heather Galloway
Director, University Honors Program
Professor, Physics
Galloway@txstate.edu
512-245-226