Special Opportunities

If you want to learn, we’ll help take you as far as you want to go. Our academic offerings extend from the classroom and the lab to your residence hall and overseas.

• An honors program that will surprise high-achieving students. SIU’s University Honors Program is an enriching, rewarding experience much like that of a private college. The UHP courses are more exclusive than others you will take at SIU—small, limited to UHP students, and taught by our best faculty. Scholarship, leadership, mentorship, and other benefits are unlimited if you push yourself.
• Hands-on research opportunities for all students—undergraduate and graduate. It’s no surprise the Carnegie Foundation ranks SIU among the top 5 percent of all U.S. higher education institutions for research. It’s the exchange of ideas and thrill of discovery that define our culture. REACH (Research-Enriched Academic Challenge) is just one program that offers undergraduates small grants and other opportunities to gain research expertise by working alongside faculty mentors.
• Study abroad fills student desires for a multidimensional education. Go beyond the classroom and see how the world works firsthand. We offer a variety of university-level, international study abroad experiences through semester- or year-abroad programs, short-term travel/study programs, and educational exchanges.
• Living/Learning Communities for those who want to live with like-minded students. You’ll get to know professors and classmates better‚ have greater access to academic resources‚ and find specialized programs right in your residence hall. Students who participate in a Living/Learning Community often have higher GPAs, more positive campus experiences, and are more likely to graduate.

These are just some of the programs that U.S. News & World Report lists in their “Academic Programs to Look For.” At SIU, you also have access to The Saluki First Year, internships/co-ops , service learning, and writing in the disciplines.

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