Are you interested in innovating and collaboration to address humanitarian challenges? If so, the Innovation Pathway might be for you!
University Honors Program members make the most of their academic experience by designing an individualized Honors Advisory Program. The Innovation Track is a structured opportunity for honors students to work in interdisciplinary teams on a yearlong capstone project that focuses on one or more of the humanitarian challenges in the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which include poverty, gender equality, clean water, affordable clean energy, responsible consumption, and quality education. The focus of this pathway is to innovate and collaborate to address some of humanity's most pressing challenges.
Like the College Track, honors students need to complete two honors seminars, two honors courses, and a capstone project. For the Innovation Track, students will take:
- Honors course 1: LD ST 3700H (or an approved course)
- Honors course 2: ENGL 3020H/3090H/3140H (or an approved course)
- Two seminars from the Innovation Track List
- HON 4900B: Independent Study: Innovation Pathway (1 credit, fall; 3 credits, spring)
The Innovation Track Program of Study can be found here. For questions, please contact the Honors Student Engagement Specialist, Erin Todey (eftodey@iastate.edu). The first cohort of students completed the Innovation Pathway Capstone (HON 4900B) during the 2024-2025 academic year. We are currently recruiting for the second cohort for the 2025-2026 academic year (1 credit in fall, 3 credits in spring)!
Here's what the first cohort has to say about their experience:
"I enjoyed that the Innovation Pathway could be anything that we make it to be. It allowed us to explore our personal interests and choose a project that both aligned with our interests and the SDGs. The greatest benefit was collaboration - we had support, but also the freedom to work on the project that interested us. I am so proud of what our teamwork allowed us to accomplish!" - Holly Hilbrant, Environmental Science and Geology
"Being a participant in the Innovation Pathway Capstone was one of my favorite experiences in the Honors program! If you are looking for an opportunity to expand your knowledge into areas that are not your specific field of study but rather an area of interest, this opportunity is perfect for you. Much of the Honors experience, and college in general, I found to be very individualized. I was looking for an opportunity to work in a long-term collaborative environment before graduation to experience more teamwork efforts. If that is something you are seeking, this will be the perfect fit for you!" - Jennifer Holliday, Agricultural Studies, Journalism & Mass Communication, International Agriculture