Departmental Honors in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Guidelines for Departmental Honors

Eligibility requirements

The Departmental Honors Program in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies is open to majors who have strong academic records but either do not qualify for or wish to participate in the Honor.  Students who have maintained a cumulative 3.5 grade point average through 5 semesters and have at least a 3.65 in our major may apply to the program.

Applying to the honors program

Application to the program must be made by April 1 junior year or by November 15 senior year.

An application consists of the following:

  1. A  2-3 page proposal which outlines the central question or issue  to be investigated during work on the project, including a discussion of the methods to be used. 
  2. 1-2 page preliminary bibliography
  3. The name of the faculty advisor who has agreed to direct the project.
  4. A printout of the student record (from webstac) should be included, one that includes the latest GPA. 
  5. A timeline that includes the following:
  • Indicate whether it will be a 1 or 2 semester project
  • Specify if IRB approval is needed, and if so, when IRB application will be submitted

Acceptance procedure

  1. All Departmental Honors proposals will be reviewed the Department.  Students will be notified of their acceptance or rejection by April 30 or December 15, depending on the semester they applied.   In some cases, students will be asked to rewrite and resubmit their proposals. 
  2. Any honors projects requiring IRB approval must have IRB applications submitted by May 15 or January 1.
  3.  Accepted students should register for WGSS L77 498 (Directed Research and Writing) in the designated section of their project advisor.

Project requirements, expectations, and guidelines

  1. The final project must be a minimum of 15 pages long, typed, double-spaced, including bibliography for one semester, 30 pages for two semesters.
  2. L77 498 is directed research and writing, and the expectation is that the student and advisor meet weekly for 30 minutes.  (The College expectation is that instructors meet with students 0.5 hours/week PER UNIT of instruction. 

Evaluation of the project

Candidates should submit their completed project by the last day of classes.  In addition to the project advisor, the finished paper will be read and evaluated by two other faculty members.

The readers will determine the level of distinction based on project, specifically, the quality of the research, the intellectual breadth and depth of the project, and quality of the writing.

Other expectations

  • Participation in either the fall or the spring Undergraduate Research Symposium.
    • Registration is required.  Research posters must be dropped off at the WGSS Office within one week of the symposium.
  • Presentation of honors thesis results to WGSS faculty and students.
    • During the first Monday of reading week, students will be expected to give a 10-minute presentation of their honors thesis