2008 Woodie Awards
Seniors focus on honors projects
Meghan McCallum
Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Features
Every student knows how exciting it can be to focus on one particular theme in an independent study or tutorial. For those interested in pursuing a longer-term study of a specific subject, Lawrence encourages students to work on honors projects.
"For most students, an honors project ends up being almost a year-long, intensive independent study…culminating in a long, written project," said Faith Barrett, Assistant Professor of English and Chair of the University Committee on Honors.
Usually, a student has an idea for his or her honors project in the fall term of their senior year. Then, each student finds a faculty member to supervise and advise his or her work. Professor Barrett explained that in the English department, students working on honors projects usually meet with their faculty advisor on a weekly basis throughout the year.
During these meetings, the student and advisor discuss the student's progress and work on problems or developments. "When I work with students on an honors project, I want about 10 pages of writing per week," she added.
Though these projects are very popular among students in the English and biology departments, Professor Barrett said, they are certainly not limited to any particular subject. So far, students have submitted project proposals for these two areas as study as well as studio art, chemistry, economics, French, geology, government, history, music, psychology, religious studies, and Russian. Students are also able to work on projects that cover multiple disciplines, if they so choose.
When finished, the project results in a long paper sometimes accompanied by artwork, music performance, or other media of presentation where necessary. The student then undergoes an oral examination by the Honors Committee, in which they present their work and are questioned on it. Three faculty members -- the student's own project advisor, one from a different department, and one additional from any department -- serve as voting committee members, Professor Barrett said. Essentially, these voting members decide whether or not the student will receive honors for the project they have completed.
"For most students, an honors project ends up being almost a year-long, intensive independent study…culminating in a long, written project," said Faith Barrett, Assistant Professor of English and Chair of the University Committee on Honors.
Usually, a student has an idea for his or her honors project in the fall term of their senior year. Then, each student finds a faculty member to supervise and advise his or her work. Professor Barrett explained that in the English department, students working on honors projects usually meet with their faculty advisor on a weekly basis throughout the year.
During these meetings, the student and advisor discuss the student's progress and work on problems or developments. "When I work with students on an honors project, I want about 10 pages of writing per week," she added.
Though these projects are very popular among students in the English and biology departments, Professor Barrett said, they are certainly not limited to any particular subject. So far, students have submitted project proposals for these two areas as study as well as studio art, chemistry, economics, French, geology, government, history, music, psychology, religious studies, and Russian. Students are also able to work on projects that cover multiple disciplines, if they so choose.
When finished, the project results in a long paper sometimes accompanied by artwork, music performance, or other media of presentation where necessary. The student then undergoes an oral examination by the Honors Committee, in which they present their work and are questioned on it. Three faculty members -- the student's own project advisor, one from a different department, and one additional from any department -- serve as voting committee members, Professor Barrett said. Essentially, these voting members decide whether or not the student will receive honors for the project they have completed.
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