The intent of the Honors Contract is to provide the opportunity for
the Honors student to select a class from his/her degree plan that is not ordinarily
offered as Honors and arrange with the professor to enhance the class in order to earn
Honors credit.
Any Honors Program student in good standing may enter into a
contract with an individual professor to earn Honors credit for a regular class at the
3000 level or above. The expectation is that
the student will complete an additional and meaningful component of work beyond the
requirements of the regular course syllabus.
This extra component may be constituted by one of the following:
No Honors Program student may earn more than a cumulative total of
15 hours of Honors Credit through any combination of Independent Study, Honors Contracts,
and the Honors Thesis. Honors Program
students normally may not earn more than 6 hours of Honors Credit through the Honors
Contract option.
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HONORS THESIS
The Honors Thesis is an important option for becoming
an Honors Program Graduate. (For information on the non-Thesis route, see
below.) For students aiming at post-baccalaureate degrees, the Honors Thesis
is an opportunity to demonstrate clearly the ability to complete a major
research/creative project. For all students, it provides the opportunity to
pursue in depth an area of study or research that is personally important or
intriguing. It can easily become the foundation for post-graduate research,
facilitating the acquisition of grants and other support in graduate school.
During the
Junior year, the Honors student should identify the general topic
of the Thesis research as well as a faculty member who will be the Thesis
supervisor. Before the conclusion of the second semester of the Junior
year, the student should submit
1.
a letter of intent to the Honors Program Director
accompanied by
2.
a Thesis Prospectus outlining the project
envisioned for the Thesis, including proposed length of the finished paper,
and
3.
a letter from the intended Thesis supervisor
indicating his/her willingness to serve in this capacity.
General
Regulations
1.
No student will be permitted to enroll for HNRS
4360 or 4361 until he/she has achieved senior standing through the
completion of 90 hours of course credits, inclusive of at least 12
hours of Honors credits.
2.
The request for HNRS 4360 or 4361 must include
signatures of all thesis committee members (see below for composition of
committee).
3.
The request for HNRS 4360 or 4361 must include a
clear definition of final products to be completed by the end of the term.
See guidelines on research and writing below.
4.
The thesis student may submit a request for
research funds from the Honors Council, where appropriate. Forms and
guidelines for such a request are available from the Honors Program
Director.
5.
If the product designated for HNRS 4360 is not
completed on schedule, the student will not be permitted to enroll for HNRS
4361.
6.
A grade of "incomplete" will be assigned for 4360
until after the completion of 4361. In the case of a student who does not
make adequate progress to enroll in 4361, a grade of NG will be assigned for
4360.
7.
With approval of the Honors Program Director and
concurrence of the Honors Thesis supervisor, an alternate research/creative
activity class may be accepted in lieu of either HNRS 4360 or 4361, as
appropriate. Examples of courses that may be accepted are: HNRS 3360, HIST
4390, CHEM 4371, ARTS 4399, PHYS 4210 and 4220.
Thesis
Committee - A Thesis Committee must be formed before the request for
HNRS 4360 or 4361 will be approved. This committee will include
1.
the Thesis supervisor as chair of the committee
(The supervisor must be a full-time Lamar University faculty member with the
rank of assistant professor or above.)
2.
at least one member of the Honors Council
3.
another faculty member of the student’s choice
4.
the Honors Program Director or Assistant
Director.
5.
Copies of thesis materials will be forwarded to
the full committee only after initial approval of the thesis supervisor.
Research
and Writing - The following elements will normally form part of the
student's progress toward the completed thesis:
1.
The thesis Prospectus is due with the application
for enrollment in HNRS 4360.
2.
During the 4360 semester, the student will
complete a literature review and submit a research design no later than
mid-semester.
3.
A summary statement on research completed and an
outline of the thesis are due by the end of the 4360 semester.
4.
A draft of the thesis is due by midterm of the
4361 semester. A finished copy of the thesis must be submitted to the
Thesis Committee at least two weeks before Dead Day at the end of the term.
Presentation - The student must make a public presentation of the thesis
findings before receiving final approval of the Thesis Committee. The time
and place of presentation will be coordinated by the Honors Program
Director.
Approval
- Signatures of all members of the Thesis Committee must be secured before
the date designated for submission of grades so that the Thesis Supervisor
may assign a grade for both HNRS 4361 and HNRS 4360.
