University Honors College
Thesis and Creative
Project Information
and
Other 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 Laura.Clippard@mtsu.edu
for more information
Ways to Earn
Additional 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 on
lower-division hours?
 Study abroad can count up to
 Lecture Series can be taken
 Collage can be taken
hours for Honors
times
times
 Take an extra interdisciplinary
course
*If you are very short on Honors hours, please schedule an individual meeting.
Research vs. Creative Thesis
RESEARCH
 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 MANAGEMENT

IS 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
Summary of Steps
Preparation 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
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 Steps
UH 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 Steps
UH 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.
Honors College
Academic Advisors
 Ms. Laura Clippard
615-898-5464 — HONR 227
Laura.Clippard@mtsu.edu OR
 Ms. April Goers
615-494-7767 — HONR 228
April.Goers@mtsu.edu
 Honors Web site:
http://www.mtsu.edu/honors