Many colleges, schools, and departments at The Florida State University offer an honors curriculum in the major. Honors work at the major level consists of a thesis or project, which the student completes over a period of two or three terms with the aid of the three faculty members whom the student chooses. Although the terms thesis and project are often used interchangeably in the program, a thesis is more precisely based on traditional library research and critical analysis and a project on primary research or creative activity such as that conducted by a scientist in a laboratory or an artist in a studio. An honors student who engages in empirical research is not expected to write a thesis, but a project report. Honors work is available only in a department from which the student plans to earn a bachelors degree.

Honors in the Major is designed to encourage talented juniors and seniors to undertake independent and original research as part of the undergraduate experience. The program helps some students to decide whether they enjoy the independent work required in graduate study. Successful Honors-in-the-Major graduates find that the talents they develop are especially useful later in graduate and professional school and in their careers. Independent honors work in the major provides the opportunity to work closely with three faculty members, who get to know more about the honors student than they would during everyday classroom contact.

Honors Admission Requirements

Since departments set higher requirements, students should also check with their academic major advisors. The University asks that the prospective honors student have at least sixty (60), typically seventy-five (75), college credits and a 3.2 cumulative GPA. Transfer students must have a 3.2 overall GPA, including all transfer work, and a 3.2 GPA on at least twelve (12) Florida State University credits. Older students should note that they may choose not to count credits that are five or more years old, as long as the most recent sixty (60) credits average 3.2 and the recent Florida State University GPA is at least 3.2 on twelve (12) credits.

The semester before starting the Honors in the Major Program, students are counseled by, and make formal application to, the University Honors Program. The application shows that the student has the required grades and credits, a proposed thesis topic, sufficient time prior to graduation to complete the project, a directing professor, and the support of the academic department.

As part of the application process, each student is referred to an honors liaison in the major department. The honors liaison is the faculty member in each department who gives advice on honors in the major, how the program fits into the major, and any additional requirements the individual department may have for its honors students.

Completion of the Honors Thesis or Project

Each Honors-in-the-Major student works on the thesis or project for two or three terms. Each term an honors student is in the program, the student enrolls in a three (3) credit honors thesis/project course. Honors in the major students earn six (6) or nine (9) honors credits that must average at least a B. Several departments have additional requirements.

Each honors student works with a directing professor from the major, one additional professor from the major, and one professor from another department. There are a few restrictions, but students are generally free to choose their professors. The directing professor is the official teacher of the honors thesis course, but all three professors contribute their expertise.

A prospectus is due to the University Honors Program Office the term before the thesis is finished. This is a short paper that states the nature of the honors project, its scope, and its methodology. The prospectus must be approved by all three professors.

The honors student defends the finished thesis or project in a meeting with all three faculty members. Following a successful defense, the student must submit two copies of the completed and bound thesis or project report to the University Honors Program office no later than the Tuesday (i.e., the fourth day) before the last day of classes of the term in which the student graduates. One copy must bear the faculty committee members original signatures. The program places one copy of the thesis in a permanent collection in the Strozier Library and one copy on display in the honors office. Further details and specific deadlines are available from the University Honors Program Office.

Students who participate in Honors in the Major become members of the University Honors Program and are eligible for all program activities and other benefits. They are also eligible, on a space-available basis, for honors-only liberal studies courses. Students who finish the program are recognized on the transcript and at commencement.

Course

ANT 4914r Honors Work in Anthropology