Missouri State University
Honors College
Departmental Distinction Requirements
2009-2013
I. Departmental Distinction Program
Requirements
minimum of 12 honors credit hours in department of major
senior distinction project worth at least three credit hours (may be included
in 12 hours in major)
Courses
Courses used to fulfill general honors requirements also may be applied to departmental distinction.
It is the prerogative of the department of major to determine what courses may or may not be
used to fulfill the departmental distinction requirements.
Sample course sequences:
A.
MAJ 312
MAJ 401
MAJ 499
4 (upgrade from 3 with honors component)
4 (upgrade from 3 with honors component)
4 (senior honors project)
12 honors credits
B.
MAJ 312
MAJ 401
MAJ 412
MAJ 499
3 (regular honors section)
3 (regular honors section)
3 (regular honors section)
3 (senior honors project)
12 honors credits
II. Distinction Project Proposal Form
Process
The student should consult with a senior faculty member in the department of major and settle
upon a topic and design for the project. A written proposal describing the project must be
submitted to, and approved by, the Director of the Honors College.
Deadline
The project proposal must be submitted prior to the beginning of the student’s senior year.
Form
The proposal should contain the following elements:
 Title Page
 Signature Page (Approval of the Project)
 Abstract covering the following:
 Subject
 Purpose of the Research
 Need for the Study
 Methods
 Projected Date of Completion

Course Enrollment
Course Enrollment. The proposal must provide the following
information: (a) semester of enrollment, (b) course code and number, and (c) number of credit
hours.
Approval of the Project. A signature page, bearing the signatures of the project advisor,
department head, and Director of the Honors College must be a part of the proposal.
Funding
A small stipend might be available for xerography, library research, and other expenses related to
the project. Request for funds (max. $250) must be made in the proposal.
III. Distinction Project Format
The completed project will contain the following components in the order given:
Acceptance/Signature Page
Title Page
Abstract
Table of Contents
List of Tables (if any)
List of Figures, Plates, or Illustrations (if any)
Body of Thesis
Literature Cited, References, or Bibliography
Appendix (if any)
Index (if any)
Project Acceptance/Signature Page. The format shown below is to be used. The page must bear the
signatures of the project advisor, department head, and Director of the Honors College.
Title Page. The required format is shown below. The title and author entries are centered within
the margins of the title page. The title, in all capitals, is double spaced and presented in inverted
pyramid style if longer than 48 spaces. This page is counted as "I" but pagination is not shown.
Abstract. The format shown below must be used. The abstract should be not more than 350 words
and should contain a statement of the problems, materials, methods or procedures used, a
presentation of principle results, and a conclusion or summary. The body of the abstract should be
single spaced and limited to one page. Number as "ii" in pagination.
IV.Distinction Project Preparation
Form
Use one side of 8 2" x 11" white, bond paper.
Spacing
Double space all materials in text. Single space may be used for footnotes or quotations of five lines
or more.
Print Size and Quality
Standard pica (10 characters per inch), elite (12 characters per inch) or proportional spacing is
required. Script or slanted faces are not acceptable. Italics may be used for book or journal titles,
scientific names of species, and other appropriate situations. Acceptable print quality: letterquality (laserjet or inkjet).
Margins
1 2" left side. 1" top, right side, and bottom. The area within these margins must contain all parts
of the project -- all parts of illustrations, graphs, the body of the project, and the page numbers.
Page Numbering
Page numbers should be in the upper right hand corner, 1" from the top and 1" from the right edge
of each page. Pages prior to the body of the project should be numbered with small Roman
numerals (I, ii, iii, etc.); the body of the project through the index should be numbered with Arabic
numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.).
V. Completion of Departmental Distinction
Deadline
The completed honors distinction project, including all those elements listed under "Project Order"
above, must be submitted to the Honors College on the final day of classes prior to graduation.
Minor corrections and/or changes in the body of the project may be made up until date of
commencement.
When the student completes these requirements, his/her diploma and transcript will read "...in the
Honors College with distinction in [major]."
SENIOR HONORS PROJECT PROPOSAL
by
Joe Honors
Submitted to the Honors College
Missouri State University
Month Year
Approved:
Project Director
Department Head
Director of the Honors College
SAMPLE TITLE PAGE
TITLE HERE IN
TWO OR THREE LINES
A Senior Honors Project
Presented to
the Department of [Major]
and the Honors College
Missouri State University
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for
Departmental Distinction in the Honors College
by
Joe Honors
Month Year
TITLE (ALL CAPS)
Academic Department
Missouri State University, Month Year
Joe Honors
ABSTRACT
(body - single spaced - one page)
TITLE OF PROJECT
by
Joe Honors
A Senior Honors Project
Submitted to the Honors College
Missouri State University
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for Departmental Distinction in the Honors College
Month Year
Approved:
Project Director
Department Head
Director of the Honors College
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
HONORS COLLEGE
COURSE COMPONENT PROPOSAL
STUDENT NAME:
BearPass M#:
COURSE CODE (e.g. UHC 410-999): _________________________________________
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: __________________________________________________
Honors course components allow students the opportunity to complete honors-level study in areas
where the Honors College is not normally able to provide distinct sections. In consultation with the
course instructor, students may design an expanded syllabus that features additional course work
worth 1 credit hour (or approximately 15 contact hours per semester). Honors components should
be reading or writing intensive, emphasize research, or require synthesis and critical evaluation in
written or oral form of course concepts and themes. Students are expected to complete work that
qualitatively differs from what is normally expected in the course and should not use components
to simply add additional assignments or to extend the length of term papers and projects.
Describe the purpose of the proposed honors course component:
Describe the arrangements for satisfying the additional contact hours to be added to the course (e.g.
extra meetings, regular sessions during office hours, lab hours, blended course interaction):
Describe how the course instructor will assess and grade the honors component materials:
Please attach the original course syllabus and a detailed proposal outlining the additional
academic expectations and requirements for the honors course component. Proposals
without these materials will not be approved by the Honors College.
Student’s Signature
Instructor’s Signature
Department Head’s Signature
_Date
____ _Date
_______Date
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: END OF FIRST WEEK OF THE SEMESTER
IN WHICH THE HONORS COMPONENT IS TO BE COMPLETED.
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Honors action
Honors credit hours
Director's Signature
Date
Time of Day
db
by
Days of Week
Location Code
Honors College Departmental Honors
Research Funding Request
Name: ___________________________________ Bear Pass M#:________________________
Class: FR SO JR SR
Major: ________________________________________
Phone: ________________________Email: _________________________________________
Funding requested (up to $250.00): ________________________________________________
Project Description:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________
Describe how funds will be utilized (attach supporting documentation when possible):
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________
Students will be reimbursed for approved expenses. Save all original receipts and
supporting documentation. Reimbursements typically take about three weeks to be
processed and will be issued by check. Please note that Missouri State University does not
reimburse tax costs.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
Project Director Signature
Date
Date
_____________________________________________________________________________
Honors College Signature
Action: _______________________________________________________________________
Date