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The Honors Project can be based on library or field research, an original experiment, or a creative endeavor. NOTE: To complete an Honors Project in a course a student must have a 3.2+ GPA in 100+-level courses OR permission of the Honors Coordinator.

Student: With your faculty mentor (the instructor of the course in which you will do a project), complete the HONORS PROJECT PROPOSAL submission form (see below) and submit to: .

Deadline: Friday of the Fourth Week of the Semester

Honors Project Requirements / Dates:

  • Students are required to submit a 10-15 page written component at the end of the semester. This can be a research paper, or a series of shorter reports. A creative project must include the creative piece plus an analytical description of process. All papers must include a bibliography of resources and be documented in MLA or APA format. The final paper must be reviewed and approved by the faculty mentor and a copy emailed to the Honors Coordinator no later than noon on the Friday of final exam week.
  • Students are required to give a 15-minute face to face OR virtual presentation to their class before final exam week. More details about presentations will be sent to you.
  • Students are required to attend the Honors Poster Session. We hope to hold an in-person event at the end of the semester; there will also be a virtual option for students who need that accommodation. More details will be sent to you.
  • Students must receive a grade of B or better in the course in which the project is completed in order to receive the Honors notation for the course on their transcript.

Questions?: Contact

Honors Project Submission Guidelines

Student: In a separate Word or PDF document, type your responses to the following questions in the order listed and review the proposal with your faculty mentor. The proposal must be accepted by your faculty mentor. Ask your faculty mentor to submit the proposal to the Honors Coordinator. Incomplete proposals will not be accepted by the Honors Committee. The Honors Committee will review the proposal and forward their comments to the student and the faculty mentor. Please keep a copy of this form and your proposal for your records.

  1. Student name
  2. Student ID
  3. Student email address (the one you will check!)
  4. Title of the course, the course number and section (for example, Intro Psychology PSY101-11)
  5. Faculty mentor’s name
  6. Title of your project
  7. Description of the project (150-200 words) containing the following:

    • Preliminary thesis statement or statement of purpose. (The project should have a focus specific enough to do it justice in the time allowed for completion.)
    • List of objectives (What do you hope to learn, demonstrate or accomplish from completing the project?)
    • A statement on how this project exceeds the course content and requirements.
    • Methodology to be used: Library research, internet research, laboratory experiments, surveys, interviews (who?), etc. (Usually just one or two methodologies are used.)
  8. List at least three specific sources that you will use by title and author (plus URL if online source). Mostly primary sources should be used. Your course text is not acceptable as one of your sources. Your mentor can help you find some initial sources. Your final paper must include your complete list of Works Cited.
  9. Tentative schedule for completion of the project. Include:

    • Your schedule of meetings with your faculty mentor (at least 5 meetings, which can be done face to face, or via email or Zoom)
    • The dates for submitting your outline, first draft, and revised draft to your faculty mentor
    • The date and time of your class presentation. (The presentation to the class must take place BEFORE final exam week. In online classes you will submit a presentation to Discussions in Blackboard.)

Faculty mentor: Please review the Honors Project proposal for clarity and completeness and submit it to the Honors Coordinator by the deadline. The project must exceed your normal course requirements and will NOT be calculated as part of the student’s grade. The Commonwealth Honors Program will pay faculty a $200 honorarium (limit 2) for mentoring a completed project. You will be contacted by the Honors Coordinator after the submission deadline.

Deadline: Friday of the Fourth Week of the Semester
Email completed proposal to:

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