Welcome to the Honors College at Youngstown State University!

The YSU Honors experience connects students to each other, to the campus and to the community through our five pillars of student lifelong learning and intrapersonal development:

The Emperor is YSU's Honors academic journal, a student-led, peer- and faculty-reviewed, open-access journal. The Sokolov Honors College is committed to publishing exemplary work by YSU undergraduate students through this journal.

By giving students a public forum for sharing their intellectual pursuits, The Emperor promotes increased student engagement in research and creative scholarship, while also fostering a community of emerging scholars.

We are grateful for our honors alumni and donors

University Scholars and Honors alumni contribute considerable time, talent, and treasure to support today’s student experience. The Sokolov Honors College appreciates all the ways alumni give back and invites you to consider additional ways to engage with your alma mater.

As a student in the college, you will be able to take Honors courses, work with professors to create Honors credit opportunities in non-Honors courses and attend topical seminars for enriched learning. This earns you a special designation at commencement and on your diploma and final transcript—not to mention an advanced academic experience that becomes uniquely your own.

Mission of the Sokolov Honors College 

Inspiring a love of learning through opportunity, community and family

The Honors College experience is built on five pillars of academic and social excellence:

Research & Scholarship

We have Truman, Rhodes, and Goldwater scholars; students taking part in REUs and internships as early as their first year; and those making the most out of their Honors courses, creating projects around topics they're passionate about.