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The Honors College

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Speech & Debate

The Speech & Debate program empowers students to channel their competitive drive into research, argumentation, and leadership focused on today’s most pressing societal challenges.

  

THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON HONORS SPEECH & DEBATE PROGRAM

The University of Houston Honors Speech & Debate Program is the home of competitive speech and debate on campus. A co-curricular program of the Honors College, it harnesses the competitive energy of UH undergraduates to engage them in research, argumentation and leadership on the grand challenges facing contemporary society. As a high-impact key engagement activity, its strategic goals are to cultivate competitive success, encourage campus engagement and foster community building across Houston and beyond.

In addition to intercollegiate competition, the program also encourages campus engagement through hosting public debates and other speech and argumentation themed activities. The coaches of the team also offer courses on public policy, leadership and other topical issues. Currently, UH participates in four different styles of speech & debate.

Contact speech and debate director Rob Glass for any questions.

Follow us on Instagram @uhdebate

Interested in Joining the team? 

Click Here to Fill Out the Interest Form

About the Program

  • Policy Debate

    One of the longest standing debate traditions on campus, the policy debate team competes in NDT-CEDA intercollegiate policy debate. First qualifying to the National Debate Tournament in 1951, UH made it to the Elite Eight at nationals in 2014. Members are also eligible for membership in the national Speech & Debate Honor Society, Pi Kappa Delta.

  • Speech

    Formerly known as the UH Forensics Society, the speech team competes in individual events ranging from extemporaneous speaking to dramatic duo. The team has a long history dating back to the 1960s, and its members are also eligible for PKD. 

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    Legal Debate

    UH also participates in two legal debate competitions, mock trial and moot court. Focusing on a style that prepares competitors for the courtroom, each team offers a unique opportunity for students interested in the law to learn about legal procedure and reasoning in a competitive environment

  • Model Debate

    Since 1988, the Honors College has participated in the national Model Arab League (MAL) conference where students model a delegation to a session of the Arab League. These simulations provide students an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and to learn about the social, economic, cultural and political issues facing leaders of the Arab world. Since then, the program has expanded to compete in both Model G20 and Model United Nations.

 

APPLY FOR A DEBATE SCHOLARSHIP

Learn more about the Honors Hibbler Debate Scholarship

 

UH Honors Debate Workshop

The Honors Debate Team at the University of Houston will be holding the UH Honors Debate Workshop “HDW” at the University of Houston from June 28 through July 2, 2026. This is a premier debate workshop with top faculty from around the country teaching competitive debate to high schoolers.

This summer workshop will offer intense three week sessions in Lincoln-Douglas and Policy Debate, along with Two Week Sessions in Congress, Policy, Public Forum and Worlds School formats with both residential and commuter options.

We are also expanding our Speech and Individual events programming, offering a two week IE camp and a one week Extemp camp. In addtion, a two-week Model UN and Model Arab League program will also be offered as well as a dedicated Middle School program.

For the week of July 20 we will be offering a One Week “Debate Intensive” program in Policy and Lincoln Douglas, this will involve a week of three debates a day and a dedicated session for speech redoes for debaters. There will also be an online option for remote participation.

 The workshop is inclusive for all high school students who wish to participate, we allow middle schoolers to participate in the middle school program and in specific events on a case-by-case basis.

UH Honors Debate Workshop | University of Houston - June 28  -July 25, 2026 | Learn more and Apply Here!