In certain departments, any student who has achieved at least junior status may apply for departmental honors work provided that he or she has a GPA of at least 3.5 in the major field and a cumulative GP A of at least 3.3 in all courses. An application and proposed program for study must be approved by all faculty members in the major area. Upon approval, the student will register for three hours in the 490 course or six hours in the 490-491 courses of the appropriate department.
The departmental honors project must be distinguished by creative, critical, and independent scholarship and must culminate in a thesis or honors paper. A committee of at least three faculty, no more than two from the student's department, must approve the completed project by majority vote in order for honors to be awarded. If the project is approved, the student's transcript will be marked "Graduated with Honors," the thesis title will be listed in the Commencement program, and the manuscript will be placed in Kelly Library. Should the project not be approved for honors, the completed study may be recorded on the transcript as an independent study.