university honors college thesis and creative project information and other useful material
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University Honors College
Thesis and Creative Project Information
andOther Useful Material
Graduation Requirements 20 hours lower-division Honors coursework (any 1000 or 2000 level courses) 11 hours upper-division Honors coursework, including:
1 hour Honors Lecture Series 3 hours Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar—Required unless waived for
Study Abroad Credit or UH 4010 Institute of Leadership Excellence (summer course)
3 hours upper-division Honors coursework 1 hour Thesis Tutorial (UH 4900) recommended 2nd semester of junior
year 3 hours senior independent research or creative project (UH 4950)
(upper-division can be substituted for lower-division)
Honors Contract Information Receive Honors credit for a non-Honors upper-division course
(3000 and 4000 level) OR a 2000 level course that is never offered (check with Laura Clippard if in doubt)
Juniors and Seniors eligible Must have completed 12 or more Honors lower-division coursework No more than four (4) hours can be counted toward the 31 hours Honors College requirement
For Spring 2014
Take the Lecture Series, UH 3000
Complete an Honors contract
Register for a UH interdisciplinary seminar class
Take an upper-division Honors class if your major offers them
What is ILE? ‘Institute of Leadership Excellence’ which can be substituted for UH 3500 or UH 4600 Leadership development and personal growth and
skill development Limited enrollment—must be nominated and apply by December 1 Meets during May for one week (9 a.m.—6 p.m.) Email [email protected] for more information
Ways to EarnAdditional Honors Credit
Having a 4 or 5 on Advanced Placement (AP) test scores (up to nine Honors hours awarded).
Having an “A” in Governor School course (up to three Honors hours awarded).
Study Abroad college credits (must have approval prior to trip) for up to nine hours Honors credit.
Earn one point higher than the score required for International Baccalaureate (IB).
(Nine hours total), in any combination—Form online:http://www.mtsu.edu/honors/Forms/shtml
What if I am short onlower-division hours?
Study abroad can count up to hours for Honors
Lecture Series can be taken times
Collage can be taken times
Take an extra interdisciplinary course
*If you are very short on Honors hours, please schedule an individual meeting.
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Research vs. Creative ThesisRESEARCH
Must have strong methodology as determined by your major
IRB approval may be needed Timeline needs to allow time
for research and write-up Students should consider
publishing their research in professional journals
CREATIVE
Always has a written academic component
More flexible in content Resources and medium are
important Samples are available for
viewing Timeline is key
Challenges of Doing a Thesis Communication breakdowns between
student and thesis advisor
PROCRASTINATORS BEWARE Checking your MTSU email is vital Technique issues for science students Working on your thesis during summer Timeline is the key to your success Financial aid issues—Incompletes may
affect you Be prepared to revise
TIME MANAGEMENTIS CRUCIAL
Benefits of doing a Thesis
Academics and Research can be
Prepares you for graduate school and other challenges
Makes you in the job market or when competing for graduate school
Other intrinsic benefits
Fun!
stand out
Summary of StepsPreparation needed to sign up for UH 4900 (early
fall f unior year)
Choose a topic Read thesis guide and books Vet thesis ideas with potential faculty mentor Choose faculty mentor Select tentative working title for your project Complete degree audit with Honors College advisor
HOW TO WRITE A BA THESIS
A Practical Guide From Your First Ideas to Your Finished Paper
By Charles Lipson
Summary of Steps Enrolling in UH 4900(late fall of junior year) Jointly determine class time slot with faculty mentor
Complete UH 4900 enrollment form and secure signatures
Return form to HONR 205 and get course reference number and permit
Register for UH 4900 online Ms. Clippard helping a student
Timeline and Summary of StepsUH 4900 Deadlines
Proposal Due, (electronic and paper copies)—Basically one month: Late-September or Mid-February.
Committee Meeting, early-to-mid October or late February.
Revised proposal, end of October or late March:
CHECK WITH ADVISOR FOR DEADLINES
Summary of Steps Enrolling in UH 4950
(late spring of junior year) Obtain UH 4950 enrollment form at proposal committee meeting
Complete form and secure signatures of faculty mentor and department chair
Return form to HONR 205 to get course reference number and permit
Register for UH 4950 online
Timeline and Summary of StepsUH 4950 Deadlines
Final version of thesis project, Mid-October or late March, ready for defense, due in HONR 205
Thesis Defense Mid-November or early April
Revised thesis (if required), by last day of classes, printed on cotton paper, with signatures, due in HONR 205 for binding and archiving
CHECK WITH ADVISOR FOR DEADLINES
Commonly Asked Questions What format should I use? It is up to your major. Does my thesis advisor need to be Honors faculty? No. How can I pick my thesis advisor? Check out the list of past
thesis advisors or select a professor that you are comfortable working with.
Is a thesis just a longer term paper? Definitely not. How can I sign up for the thesis class? Meet with Laura to
make sure that you have enough hours and complete the UH 4900 form. How do I pick my topic? Find out what research is going on in
your field and meet with faculty about your specific ideas.
More Commonly Asked Questions What happens in the UH 4900 meeting? Faculty give very specific feedback on
how to strengthen the proposal and then students revise it. What kind of feedback do students receive? Narrow the topic, more research
needed, and more references needed are some examples. How can I prepare? Meet with your thesis advisor weekly.
What happens in the UH 4950 meeting? First, dress in a professional manner and bring all relevant materials. There will be an academic discussion about the thesis, including your recommendations on the topic. At the end of the discussion, the student will leave the room while faculty discuss the thesis. You can bring family/friends with you to wait. The last stage is a ringing of the bells on campus, and having pictures made.
How can I prepare for the meeting? Review your materials and remember YOU are the expert. Be prepared to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis.
Summary of Steps
You may pick up a hard copy of the complete Thesis Guide in HONR 205, or find it online at the bottom of the following Web page:
http://www.mtsu.edu/honors/thesis.shtml
Honors Study Abroad Information • Don’t forget to ask for credit and funds for your study abroad! Form on our Web site: http://www.mtsu.edu/honors/Forms.php Study Abroad Fair, November 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Watch for
information on Fulbright workshops• Gilman Scholarships, Students with Pell Grant may be eligible to
compete for these national scholarships for study abroad• Honors College Signature Italy Summer 2014 trip Information: Monday, Sept. 30 @ 4 p.m. or Tuesday, Oct. 1 @ 11:30 a.m., HONR 106. Special Honors funding available for selected participants
Fellowships and Funding URECA Funding for Research and Creative Projects: Get paid to do academic work! Check out their MTSU Web site: http://www.mtsu.edu/urc/
Learn more about national scholarships: Honors Lecture Series, Nov 11th, Monday, 3:00 p.m., Room 106 or view the Honors College Web site link:
http://www.mtsu.edu/honors/ufo/index.php Students can apply for Fulbright, Truman, D.A.A.D. and many more!
Important Things to Remember:1. See your major advisor before Nov 8th. If
you wait until the last minute, you may not get an appointment.
2. Check your Pipeline for Holds! You receive holds for parking tickets, library fines, or if an advisor wants to see you. You cannot register if you have holds!
3. Students who are approved can register on Friday, Nov 8, 2013 for Spring 2014 classes.
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Honors CollegeAcademic Advisors
Ms. Laura Clippard 615-898-5464 — HONR 227 [email protected] OR
Ms. April Goers 615-494-7767 — HONR 228 [email protected] Honors Web site:
http://www.mtsu.edu/honors