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Kogod Business Honors Program

KSB Honors Program Current Cohort

The Kogod Business Honors Program is designed for our most talented and ambitious undergraduates who desire to pursue academic challenges beyond the standard course work.

This program provides the opportunity to advance one's academic skills and knowledge through a set of challenging honors courses.

The honors courses are designed with an emphasis on:

  1. Data/evidence-based approaches and analytical techniques to solve complex and interdisciplinary problems
  2. Experiential learning
  3. Critical thinking

In addition, the program also includes several workshops and activities that are designed to refine the students' interpersonal and communications skills. The window just opened for the second cohort of applications. Contact KSBhonors@american.edu with any questions.

All Honors Students complete a senior capstone project. Projects center on a contemporary business topic of the students' choice, which they begin exploring upon entering the program. Guidance is provided by a faculty or business leader, further deepening students' knowledge of the field.

Additional research opportunities are provided through students' coursework. Honors courses strongly integrate academic findings into the curricula, giving students a strong knowledge of contemporary research topics. Students are encouraged to advance their own research skills by exploring these topics while collaborating with faculty and their peers.

Enrichment outside the classroom is a core element of the program. Honors students are expected to participate in extracurricular and experiential activities, and engage in a mentoring program.

These opportunities help students sharpen their leadership and networking skills with dynamic, real-world experiences. Students are required to participate in at least two extracurricular activities per semester.

Activities include, but are not limited to:

  • Leadership lunches
  • One-on-one meetings with deans, department chairs, and other AU thought-leaders
  • Small group meetings with distinguished Kogod guests
  • Dean's dinners and other high-profile Kogod events
  • AU's Toastmaster's Club and other on-campus leadership clubs

Mentorship is a key dimension of the Kogod Business Honor students' experience. Students are paired with alumni to give them an academic and professional sounding board. This connection helps build a professional mindset, and serves as a valuable networking opportunity.

Students must complete at least two core courses and the capstone course, MGMT-458, to meet the curricular requirements of the Kogod Business Honors Program.

Keep in mind that not all the honors courses have to be taken together in the same semester and be aware of the course prerequisites (ex. MGMT-458) when making up your graduation plan.


Fall 2017 IBUS-300 Fundamentals of International Business  
  ITEC-355 Production/Operation Management
Spring 2018 MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
  MKTG-300 Principles of Marketing  
Fall 2018 FIN-365 Corporate Finance  
  MGMT-353 Organizational Behavior  
  MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
Spring 2019 IBUS-300 Fundamentals of International Business  
  ITEC-355 Production/Operation Management  
  MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
Fall 2019 MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
  MKTG-300 Principles of Marketing  
  FIN-365 Corporate Finance  
Spring 2020 MGMT-353 Organizational Behavior  
  MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
Fall 2020 IBUS-300 Fundamentals of International Business  
  ITEC-355 Production/Operation Management  
  MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
Spring 2021 MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
  MKTG-300 Principles of Marketing  
  FIN-365 Corporate Finance  
Fall 2021 MGMT-353 Organizational Behavior  
  MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)
  IBUS-300 Fundamentals of International Business  
Spring 2022 ITEC-355 Production/Operation Management  
  MGMT-458 Strategic Management (Capstone)

While a strong academic background is a key criteria for admission, we are also seeking students with a keen sense of curiosity. The desire for deep questioning, exploration, and growth is a defining characteristic of the Kogod Business Honors Student.

Eligible students are invited to apply to the program upon the completion of 30-45 credits.

To apply, students will submit the following:

  1. A personal essay detailing why they want to join the program
  2. A pitch for their capstone project
  3. Their current resume
  4. An unofficial transcript

Applications are due May 15, 2017, and January 15, 2018, with admit decisions made shortly thereafter.

For more information, contact Professor Jeff Rinehart, Kogod Business Honors Program Director, at rinehart@american.edu or 202-885-1847.