Louisiana’s Only Official Honors College in Liberal Arts & Sciences
What Sets Scholars’ College Apart
- Small, seminar-style classes, ensuring deep discussion, close faculty mentorship, and personalized academic support
- All faculty hold PhDs, guiding every student individually through cross-disciplinary inquiry and research-rich learning environments
- Substantial scholarships & out‑of‑state fee waivers available for admitted students, helping keep this elite education accessible
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE & CURRICULUM
Common Curriculum
Begin your journey with a shared core of courses that examine the most important ideas and written works from throughout the world and across time (Texts and Traditions I-IV), develop your quantitative and scientific reasoning skills in math and lab-based science classes, develop your writing skills (Critical Reading, Critical Writing) and learn another language (French, Spanish, Latin, or Ancient Greek)—all designed to foster critical thinking, creativity, and interdisciplinary expertise.
Major or Concentration Options:
- A Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) with concentrations like Classical Studies, Philosophy-Politics-Economics, Scientific Inquiry, or Humanities & Social Thought.
- Or a more traditional major (e.g., Biology, English, Business, Engineering) which you may be able to combine with the BALA in a dual major or double degree.
- Accelerated Master’s programs that allow you to earn a master’s degree in just one year.
Senior Thesis
Your experience at Scholars culminates in a senior thesis. You begin it in the spring of your junior year, but actually your entire career at Scholars has been preparing you to produce this original research or creative project.
You Don’t Have to Change Your Passion to Join the Scholars’ College
At Louisiana Scholars’ College, we believe academic excellence shouldn't come at the cost of your chosen career path. That’s why students from nearly any major at Northwestern State University can participate in the Scholars’ College experience.
How It Works
Students outside the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) program may pursue a traditional NSU major while completing the Scholars’ College core curriculum, earning an official Scholars’ designation on their transcript.
Why Join as a Non-BALA Major?
Benefit from smaller classes, personalized faculty mentoring, priority registration, and exclusive Scholars’ housing. Gain valuable experience through a thesis—opportunities rarely offered in traditional programs—and access dedicated scholarships and research funding.
Scholars in Every Field
From future doctors to designers, researchers to entrepreneurs, our Scholars represent every discipline—driven by curiosity, united by a passion for learning, and committed to leading.
Scholars' College Certificates
This certificate develops compassionate and knowledgeable health care providers through the study of medicine and health from the perspective of literature, philosophy, art, and the social sciences.
Core courses (6 hours):
- SMHU 4000 Honors Seminar in Medical Humanities
- One of SBIO 3870 Seminar in Biomedicine (03) Biomedical Ethics, SLSC 4820 Sociobiology and the Evolution of Sex, SPHI 3100 Professional Ethics, SBIO 3880 Darwin and Evolutionary Theory, SPHI 3860 Philosophy of Knowledge, or SSOT 4230 Sociology of Mental Disorders
Medical Science courses (6 hours):
- 6 credit hours of courses at the 2000-level or above with the following prefixes: AS, ALHE, BIOL, BMET, HED, NURA, NURB, PSYC, RADS, and SBIO.
Support courses (6 hours; at least 3 hours must be at the 3000-level or above):
- ALHE 2200 Cultural and Ethical Influences on Health Care
- ALHE 2210 Introduction to Imaging Sciences
- ANTH 3050 Biological Anthropology
- AS 4040 Special Populations
- AS 4510 Ethics for Addiction Professionals
- BIOL 2990 Environmental Law BIOL 3280 Evolution
- BIOL 4340 Bioethics
- CFS 3500 Cultural and Societal Issues Affecting Families
- COMM 2500 Interpersonal Communication
- CJ 4500 Drug Use in Modern Society
- ENGL 2700 Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies
- ENGL 3910 Multicultural Literature
- ENGL 4160 Language and Gender
- ENGL 4700 Literature and Culture (02) The Literature of Health and Healing
- ENGL 4720 Language, Social Interaction, and Social Identity
- ENGL 4970 Film, Gender, and Sexuality
- GEOG 2020 Cultural Geography
- HED 4500 Sexuality Education
- HED 4600 Drug and Alcohol Education
- HIST 4070 Slavery in the Americas
- HUM 4010 Health and Humanity
- HUM 4020 Human Values and Health Care
- NURA 2550 Humanistic Nursing
- NURB 3030 Nursing as a Profession
- NURB 3122 Dimensions of Professional Nursing
- NURB 4950 Special Topics in Nursing
- PHIL 1010 Introduction to Philosophy
- PHIL 1020 World Religions
- PHIL 2020 Ethics
- PSYC 3050 Diversity Issues in Psychology
- PSYC 4440 History of Psychology
- PSYC 4450 Abnormal Psychology
- PSYC 4900 Psychology and Film
- SBIO 3870 Seminar in Biomedicine (03) Biomedical Ethics
- SBIO 3880 Darwin and Evolutionary Theory
- SHPS 2000 Seminar in the History and Philosophy of Science
- SLSC 2000 Interdisciplinary Seminar (04) Music and Disability Studies
- SLSC 4820 Sociobiology and the Evolution of Sex
- SLTN 2880 Greek and Latin Elements in English
- SPHI 2820 Ethics
- SPHI 2850 The Religious Philosophies of India and China
- SPHI 3100 Professional Ethics
- SPHI 3820 Existentialism
- SPHI 3860 Philosophy of Knowledge
- SSOT 3830 Understanding Violence
- SSOT 4230 Sociology of Mental Disorder
- SOWK 3080 Loss, Grief, and Dying
- SOWK 3090 Human Diversity
- SOC 3239 Sociology of Deviance
The Honors Critical and Analytical Thinking certificate develops students’ ability to evaluate evidence, construct sound arguments, and solve complex problems across disciplines. It awards them a credential in the most sought-after skills by employers and whose “honors” designation indicates it was earned at an advanced level.
Core Courses (10-11 hours; all required)
- SPHI 1000 Critical and Analytical Thinking (new course; 1 hour)
- PHIL 2030 Logic (3 hours) or SPHI 3850 Symbolic Logic (4 hours)
- PHIL 1010 Introduction to Philosophy (3 hours)
- SCRT 181W Critical Reading / Critical Writing (3 hours), ENGL 2510 Argumentative Writing (3 hours), or ENGL 2610 Analytical Writing (3 hours)
Support Courses (9 hours):
- ACTT 4220 Statement Analysis
- ACTT 4320 Data Analysis for Accounting and Finance
- ALHE 4230 Health Informatics
- ANTH 4080 Anthropological Theory
- ART 2560 Graphic Communication I
- BIOL 3060 Biostatistics
- BIOL 3061 Biostatistics Lab
- BIOL 3280 Evolution
- BIOL 4130 Neuroscience
- BIOL 4910 Critical Reading
- BUAD 3120 Intermediate Business Statistics
- BUAD 4000 Reading and Discussion
- CHEM 2110 Quantitative Analysis
- CHEM 2111 Quantitative Analysis Lab
- CHEM 4900 Undergraduate Seminar
- CFS 3500 Cultural and Societal Issues Affecting Families
- CFS 3700 Play, Learning, and the Brain
- CFS 4010 Perspectives in Child and Family Studies
- COMM 2020 Mass Media and Society
- CIS 3300 Intermediate Object-Oriented Programming
- CIS 3900 Systems Analysis and Development
- CIS 4020 Data Structures
- CIS 4070 Data Analytics
- CSC 3030 Computer Theory
- CSC 3050 Programming Languages
- CSC 3060 Database Theory and Design
- CSC 4010 Artificial Intelligence
- CJ 3350 Analysis of Police Operations
- CJ 3355 Cultural Competence and Criminal Justice
- CJ 3360 Criminal Investigation
- DAN 2050 Rhythmic Analysis and Dance Accompaniment
- DAN 4700 Laban Movement Analysis
- EDUC 3010 Assessment and Data Literacy
- EPSY 3000 Classroom Assessment
- EET 1330 Electrical Principles I
- EET 2320 Basic Electronics
- EET 3310 Digital Electronics II
- ENGL 3200 Advanced Grammar
- ENGL 4420 Literary Theory
- ENGL 4620 Classical Rhetoric
- ENGL 4630 Contemporary Rhetoric
- ENGL 4640 Composition Theory
- ENGL 4660 Syntactical Theories
- ENGL 4680 Medieval to Modern Rhetoric
- FIN 4120 Principles of Investments
- FIN 4150 Portfolio Management
- FIN 4220 Statement Analysis
- GEOG 4060 Filed Methods in Cultural Geography
- HIST 3000 The Historian’s Craft
- HMT 3000 Lodging Management
- HMT 3020 Food and Beverage Management
- HP 4150 Tests and Measurements in Health & Physical Education
- HP 4170 Testing, Evaluation, and Prescription of Exercise in Health and Human Performance
- IET 2790 Statics
- IET 3510 Methods and Work Design
- IET 3570 Engineering Economics
- IET 4910 Modeling and Simulation
- MGT 3500 Management Science Techniques
- MGT 4450 Purchasing and Supply Management
- MGT 4460 Supply Chain Management
- MKTG 4440 Marketing Research
- MKTG 4450 Purchasing and Supply Management
- MKTG 4460 Supply Chain Management
- MATH 2080 Fundamentals of Proof
- MATH 3150 Theory of Probability
- MATH 4150 Foundations of Mathematics and Computability
- MSL 2010 Leadership and Decision Making
- MSL 2011 Leadership and Decision Making Laboratory
- MSL 4010 The Army Officer
- MUS 4010 Form and Analysis
- NURB 3030 Nursing as a Profession
- NURB 3110 Pathophysiology for RN’S
- PHIL 2020 Ethics
- PHIL 2030 Logic
- PHIL 4030 Aesthetics
- PHYS 2510 General Analytical Physics I
- PHYS 2511 General Analytical Physics I Laboratory
- PHYS 2520 General Analytical Physics II
- PHYS 2521 General Analytical Physics II Laboratory
- PHYS 4100 Modern Physics
- PLPS 3010 Introduction to Law
- PSCI 4150 Political Theory
- PSYC 4400 Statistics of Behavioral Research
- PSYC 4450 Abnormal Psychology
- RADS 4510 Professional Imaging Practices
- SBIO 3820 Comparative Neurobiology
- SECO 2810 An Introduction to Economic Reasoning
- SLSC 3840 Visual Literacy
- SLSC 4240 Conspiracy Theories and Moral Panics
- SMAT 1830 Introduction to Pure Mathematics
- SMAT 2830 Mathematical Logic and the Deductive Sciences
- SPHI 2820 Introduction to Ethics
- SPHI 3100 Professional Ethics
- SPHI 3710 Ancient Philosophy
- SPHI 3740 Medieval Philosophy
- SPHI 3810 Modern Philosophy
- SPHI 3840 Contemporary Analytic Philosophy
- SPHI 3850 Symbolic Logic
- SPHI 3860 Philosophy of Knowledge
- SSOT 4230 Sociology of Mental Disorder
- SSTA 3810 Honors Applied Statistics
- SOWK 2010 Critical Thinking and Writing in Social Work
- SOWK 4030 Statistics in Social Work Research
- SOWK 4350 Analysis of Contemporary Social Policy Issues
- THEA 4480 Script Analysis
- THEA 4520 Dramaturgy
- UPSA 2700 Planning and Decision Making in Public Organizations
At least 9 hours of the 19-20 hours must be at the 3000-level or above.
An Honors Certificate in Professional Ethics recognizes exceptional achievement in the study of moral reasoning and ethical decision-making across professions. The honors distinction reflects advanced engagement with complex ethical issues through rigorous coursework, research, and reflection on integrity in professional life.
Core Courses (3 courses; 9 hours)
- One of SPHI 2820 Introduction to Ethics, PHIL 2020 Ethics, or PHIL 1010 Introduction to Philosophy
- One of SBIO 3870 Seminar in Biomedicine (03) Biomedical Ethics, SECO 3850 Law and Economics, SHIS 3730 American Labor History, SPHI 3710 Ancient Philosophy, SPHI 3820 Existentialism, or SPHI 4200 Ethics and Technology
- SPHI 3100 Professional Ethics
Support Courses (3 courses; 9 hours; at least 3 hours must be at the 3000-level or above)
- ACCT 3200 Intermediate Accounting III
- ACCT 4080 Auditing
- ACCT 4120 Fraud Examination
- ACCT 4140 Corporation Income Taxes
- ACCT 4150 Accounting Ethics and Research
- AS 4040 Special Populations
- AS 4510 Ethics for Addiction Professionals
- ALHE 2200 Cultural and Ethical Influences on Health Care
- ALHE 3000 Foundations of Patient Care
- ALHE 2400 Foundations of Health Care
- ALHE 4520 Research in Healthcare
- ALHE 4600 Teamwork and Leadership Challenges for the Healthcare Professional
- ANTH 3070 American Indians and the Law
- ANTH 4340 From Real to Reel
- ABA 4200 Ethics, Supervision, and Professionalism in Applied Behavior Analysis
- BIOL 2180 Natural Resources Policy
- BIOL 2990 Environmental Law
- BIOL 4340 Bioethics
- BLAW 2250 Business Law I
- BLAW 3260 Business Law II
- BLAW 3270 Healthcare Law
- BLAW 3280 Cyber Business Law
- BLAW 3290 Employment and Labor Law
- BLAW 3300 Fintech and Financial Services Law
- CFS 1070 Professionalism in Child and Family Studies
- CFS 3500 Cultural and Societal Issues Affecting Families
- CFS 4010 Perspectives in Child and Family Studies
- COMM 2040 Media Law and Ethics
- COMM 2360 Public Relations Principles
- COMM 3600 Writing for Strategic Communication
- CIS 3100 Information Systems and Technology in Business
- CIS 3410 Certified Ethical Hacking
- CIS 3980 Introduction to Information Security
- CJ 3070 American Indians and the Law
- CJ 3355 Cultural Competence and Criminal Justice
- CJ 3380 Criminal Justice Ethics
- CJ 4450 Criminal Law
- ECED 1060 Orientation to Early Childhood Education
- ECED 2020 Foundations of Diverse Early Childhood Education
- ENGL 2700 Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies
- ENGL 3910 Multicultural Literature
- ENGL 4230 Literature and the Environment
- ENGL 4340 From Real to Reel
- ENGL 4740 Digital Rhetoric and Writing
- FIN 3150 Real Estate
- FIN 4200 Financial Policies and Practices
- HED 4500 Sexuality Education
- HED 4600 Drug and Alcohol Education
- HED 4940 Safety Education
- HIST 4070 Slavery in the Americas
- HMT 1050 Professionalism in Hospitality Management and Tourism
- HMT 4030 Perspective in Hospitality Management and Tourism
- HMT 4150 Legal Aspects of Hospitality/Tourism Management
- HP 3300 Legal and Ethical Issues in Sport
- IET 1800 Occupational Safety and Health
- IET 2830 Advanced Industrial Safety Engineering and Management
- IET 2840 Development of Occupational Safety and Health Programs
- IET 3740 Supervision in Organizations
- LIB 1030 Information Sources and Services
- MGT 3220 Organization Management
- MGT 4450 Purchasing and Supply Management
- MGT 4500 Leadership, Motivation and Power
- MKTG 3300 Sports and Entertainment Marketing
- MKTG 4450 Purchasing and Supply Management
- MSL 2020 Army Doctrine and Team Development
- MSL 4010 The Army Officer
- MUED 2020 Foundation of Music Education
- NURA 2550 Humanistic Nursing
- NURB 3030 Nursing as a Profession
- NURB 3122 Dimensions of Professional Nursing
- PHIL 1010 Introduction to Philosophy
- PHIL 1020 World Religions
- PHIL 2020 Ethics
- PLPS 3030 Litigation
- PLPS 3040 Estates, Trusts, Wills
- PLPS 3050 Corporations
- PLPS 3060 Real Estate and Mortgages
- PLPS 3070 Family Relations Law
- PLPS 3120 Gender and Law
- PSCI 3060 Public Administration
- PSCI 3090 Constitutional Law
- PSCI 4150 Political Theory
- PSYC 3050 Diversity Issues in Psychology
- PSYC 3060 Social Psychology
- PSYC 4500 Psychology in Business and Industry
- PSYC 4510 Ethics in Psychology
- RADS 2210 Radiology Introduction
- RADS 4620 Advanced Practices in Radiography
- SBIO 3870 Seminar in Biomedicine (03) Biomedical Ethics
- SCRT 181W Critical Reading, Critical Writing (15) Literature and the Law / SLSC 2000 Interdisciplinary Seminar (03) Literature and the Law
- SECO 3850 Law and Economics
- SHIS 3730 American Labor History
- SLSC 3850 Social Movements and Social Activism
- SLSC 4240 Conspiracy Theories and Moral Panics
- SMHU Honors Seminar in Medical Humanities
- SPHI 2000 Seminar in Philosophy (01) Greek Moral Theory
- SPHI 2850 The Religious Philosophies of India and China
- SPHI 2860 Philosophies of Christianity
- SPHI 3710 Ancient Philosophy
- SPHI 3820 Existentialism
- SPHI 3880 Study of a Major Philosopher
- SPHI 4200 Ethics and Technology
- SSOT 2850 Issues of Social Justice
- SOWK 2100 Social Work as a Profession
- SOWK 3070 Social Work Values and Ethics (2 credits)
- SOWK 3080 Loss, Grief, Death, and Dying
- SOWK 3090 Human Diversity
- SOWK 4270 Child Welfare and the Law
- UPSA 3600 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations
- UPSA 4400 Law and Public Policy
Admissions Criteria
The Louisiana Scholars’ College is looking for motivated, intellectually curious students who want to develop their academic and creative talents.
There are no minimum requirements for admission to the Louisiana Scholars’ College, but an ACT composite score of at least a 22 (SAT 1100) and a GPA of 3.1 are recommended. The Scholars Admissions Committee performs a holistic review of the student’s entire application packet. This packet includes, in addition to their NSU application, the following items:
- Resume of High School Activities, Achievements, and/or Honors
- Writing Sample (3-5-page High School English, History, or Science Paper)
- One Recommendation Letter from a Teacher or Guidance Counselor
These materials should be submitted to scholars@nsula.edu
However, students who have an ACT composite score of 25 (no subscores below 20) and an unweighted GPA of 3.3 (out of 4.0 in Regents’ or comparable curriculum) are entitled to automatic admission. They do not have to submit an application packet; their application to NSU is sufficient. They just need to notify the Scholars’ College at scholars@nsula.edu of their wish to become a Scholar.
0%
of graduates from NSU
were employed, in continuing education, serving in the military, or volunteering within six months of graduation.
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dedicated faculty members
Ensuring intimate, high-quality instruction and mentorship for robust academic engagement.
