Honors Project

• Overview
• Your Topic
• Faculty Sponsor
• Proposal
• Presenting Your Project

Overview

The Honors Project provides a capstone research, scholarly, or creative experience for students completing the Honors Program. Students have the opportunity to curate their own independent study under the guidance of a faculty sponsor culminating in a presentation at the annual Honors Project Showcase.

Getting Started

1- Attend an Info Session in the semester before you plan to complete the project. Each semester several Honors Project Info Sessions are held in Lippitt to introduce students to the requirements of the Honors Project. These are announced on social media, on the Honors website, and via direct email to students. Any student who plans to complete the project (HPR 401/402) must attend one info session before submitting their project proposal.  

2- Once you have attended a project information session you may want help in focusing your topic or identifying a faculty sponsor. Meet with the Honors Project Advisor, Professor Heather Johnson, during walk-in Advising Hours or by appointment.

3- Once you have a solid plan and a faculty sponsor lined up, you are ready to submit the Honors Project Application. Key Dates: Proposals for Fall due March 1. Proposals for Spring due October 1.

 

Academic Credits

Most students complete 3-credit projects. Think of this as about 10 hours of focused work per week during a typical semester (thus 6 credits would be 20 hours per week).

Depending on the needs and possibilities of your program of studies and the scope of the project you undertake, you may choose to do a 3-credit or 6-credit project. Your faculty sponsor and the Honors Project Advisor can give you guidance. When you undertake a 3-credit project, you register for HPR 401. When a project is substantial enough and the time commitment warrants it, the project may be done for 6 credits, and you will sign up for both HPR 401 and HPR 402 over the course of two semesters.

Some students request that the Honors Project credits also count for credit towards their major/minor degree. Approval for this is at the discretion of the Department Chair of your academic major/minor. If you are granted major/minor credit, it may also be necessary to submit a “Curriculum Modification” form to the College from which you are graduating. Check with the Department Chair about this.