Check back soon for more information on Teaching in Honors, the Research Project Mentor Role, and submitting an Interest Form to join us as a Faculty Fellow.
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Please include "University Honors Program Faculty Information Request" in your subject line.
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Teaching in Honors
Under Construction
Research Project Information and Mentor Role
Project Goals
Honors students complete theses similar to work that might be expected of a first-year graduate student. This process should be deliberately rigorous. However, it is not meant to consist merely of an intimidating series of 'hoops,' but a meaningful process of inquiry relevant to the discipline and the student’s interests in it. This project advances the student’s post-graduation goals, whether it serves as a writing sample, conference presentations, or an exemplary piece for a portfolio when students apply to graduate programs or enter the workforce.
The student should conclude this experience with an understanding of how knowledge is produced in their field as well as the confidence and capabilities to articulate, develop, and understand discipline-based research or creative work at an advanced undergraduate level. The project should be attendant to the conventions of written and oral presentation that are particular to the discipline. Whatever form the project takes, it should be a demanding exercise (3 units = roughly 140 clock hours of work) and the resulting presentation should demonstrate in depth skill and understanding of the topic.
There are three components required to complete the project:
- a written proposal that articulates that goals, methods, anticipated results, and material needs of the thesis project;
- a written thesis document that meets the conventions of the particular discipline and that is due by the end of week 15 in the graduating semester;
- an oral or poster presentation as appropriate to the discipline.
The faculty mentor evaluates the thesis upon completion and emails the Honors Program Director to communicate that they approve the final project as the student submits it to the Honors Program.
Some questions we hope the graduating honors students can address include:
- How does their discipline produce knowledge?
- What are the conventions of discipline research?
- Can they give examples of those conventions in their project?
Conferences
Presenting to department faculty, as is common for independent studies, fulfills the presentation requirement for the senior project. The University Honors Program, however, strongly encourages students to participate in another conference as a means of building professional experience. Some potential conferences include:
- Meeting of the Minds (For Spring Semester graduates)
- Southern California Conference of Undergraduate Research (SCCUR- for Fall Semester graduates)
- Western Region Honors Council Conference (WRHC- Applications typically due in January, present in March/April)
- Discipline-specific conferences organized by national or regional associations.
- The Honors Program provides an end of semester Research Symposium for students unable to present their work at any of the above venues, but this is not the preferred site for satisfying the presentation requirement.
Guidelines for Faculty Advisors
Honors students are only ever able to complete their theses because faculty generously provide support to them throughout the process. While the program is unable to provide stipends, we do strive to show support by presenting faculty with gifts to acknowledge their work.
Additionally, we have shifted our strategy for independent study courses that thesis students take in support of their projects. Rather than sponsoring the course through Honors with the Director as faculty of record, we encourage students to do independent studies with mentors so that sponsoring mentors receive credit under the new system of counting independent studies.
- Intend to meet every other week or as needed
- Read and give feedback on at least one draft
- Be willing and able to provide criticism and direction
- Evaluate and sign off on final draft
- Sponsor Student for conference
- In some cases, assist with IRB application process
- Optional: Independent Study
Interest Form
Under Construction