TRACTS

Choose to Be Challenged

The Honors Traditions in Critical Thought and Scholarship (TRACTS) BA is a first-of-its-kind degree in the Ogden Honors College that answers the call for interdisciplinary learning, critical and creative thinking, effective communication, and research-based inquiry. Anchored in both humanities and sciences, Honors TRACTS is designed for exceptional students who want to lead the way in creating positive change in Louisiana and beyond. Honors TRACTS is specifically designed to complement any major at LSU, allowing students to integrate technical expertise with a deep understanding of historical, political, scientific, and cultural contexts and equipping them with in-demand "soft skills" such as effective communication and collaboration, ethical reasoning, problem identifying and solving, and adaptability. 

 

Why TRACTS?

Interdisciplinary by design, the Honors TRACTS program will help you develop the ethical reasoning, problem-solving, and cultural fluency skills that today’s employers value. A TRACTS Bachelor of Arts can act as a standalone degree or complement your chosen major with coursework in history, science, literature, and more.  

The texts students encounter in TRACTS span centuries and remain foundational to Western thinking. They are the cornerstones of our past and present debates about social, political, and economic structures and the values behind them. By engaging with these texts, with experts, and with one another, students practice the skills needed to face future challenges: to question, debate, think critically and creatively, and work toward consensus and solutions in group settings, all while wrestling with timeless questions about what the good life is and how we achieve it. 

Program Features and Benefits

  • A four-course Founding Traditions sequence (HNRS 2402, 2404, 2406, 2408) that is anchored in the rigorous study of canonical works in Western philosophy, literature, culture, and the arts, from ancient Greece to the present day
  • HNRS 2100: The Great Conversations introduces students to transformative texts that have shaped the great conversation of what it means to be human, with discussions spanning literature, science, history, philosophy, economics, and politics.
  • The Honors Capstone offers Ogden students a unique opportunity to conduct guided research that bridges their academic passions and career aspirations.
  • The program’s emphasis on ethical reasoning and cultural awareness, combined with foreign language mastery, prepares Ogden students for opportunities in international and multicultural settings.
  • In addition to offering study abroad opportunities for Honors TRACTS majors, the Ogden Honors College will partner with Louisiana businesses, industry leaders, community organizations, and professional and graduate programs to offer internships, employment opportunities, and connections to graduate and professional programs, including law and medical school.
  • Honors students will earn credit for completing Honors Core Experiences (HCEs) through HNRS 1010 by completing three distinct co-curricular activities in Campus and Community Engagement, Global Citizenship, Arts and Letters, Leadership, Research Engagement, and Professional or Personal Development

Application period is not currently open. 

alt text description

Engage & Support

The TRACTS BA program prepares students for leadership across diverse fields and provides a rigorous academic experience through small seminars, research opportunities, and personalized advising. Supporters can help by promoting the program, funding scholarships, or providing internship opportunities to aid students in developing in-demand skills for Louisiana’s future workforce.