Why the Patrick Leahy Honors College Stands Apart
Why the Patrick Leahy Honors College Stands Apart
PLHC combines the best traditions of honors education with a bold commitment to societal impact. Where most honors programs measure excellence through research, PLHC also measures it through impact, opening doors for students passionate about leadership, innovation, civic engagement, entrepreneurship, policy, and sustainability. Students join an interdisciplinary cohort with faculty mentorship from year one.
A Shared Foundation: First and Second Year
A Shared Foundation: First and Second Year
Every student completes a shared course sequence that builds a common language across majors and pathways.
- HCOL 1000, Contemporary Challenges 1 (Writing and Research): interdisciplinary inquiry and a major research project.
- HCOL 1500, Contemporary Challenges 2 (Collaboration and Presentation): collaborative solutions presented at a final symposium.
- HCOL 2000, Research in the Disciplines: research questions, methods, and impact across fields.
- HCOL 2989, Democracy and Effective Action: civic engagement and community-engaged research.
Two Honors Pathways, One Community
Two Honors Pathways, One Community
Students apply to a pathway at the end of year one; transfer and current UVM students may join as sophomores.
| Pathway: | Students Complete: | Prepares Graduates For: |
|---|---|---|
| Honors Scholar in Interdisciplinary Research — for students creating new knowledge and pursuing advanced scholarship. | Advanced coursework, research methods, faculty-mentored independent research, and an honors thesis or scholarly equivalent. | Graduate and professional school, research careers, and knowledge-driven leadership. |
| Honors Scholar in Societal Impact — for students addressing societal challenges through collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. | Societal-impact coursework, community-engaged learning, design thinking, internships, and a community-informed capstone addressing a real-world challenge. | Public service, nonprofit leadership, business, public health, education, policy, and sustainability. |
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Developmental modules complement academic work:
- Leadership: teamwork, reflective practice, facilitation, project management, and leading across differences
- Ethics and civic responsibility: power, accountability, and the responsible use of knowledge
- Professional preparation and wellbeing: career readiness, communication, networking, and resilience
- Social change in practice: civic engagement, systems thinking, and the Vermont context
- Interdisciplinary research methods: foundational practices for investigating complex questions across fields
Guaranteed High-Impact Experiences
Guaranteed High-Impact Experiences
Every student completes at least one significant experiential opportunity, such as faculty-mentored research, community-based internships, policy projects, innovation challenges, or study away. Where paid internships are not possible, PLHC provides summer funding support for research or community-based internships, reducing financial barriers and expanding participation.