Graduation with University Honors is one of the highest honors granted by Bowling Green State University.  To graduate with University Honors, students must demonstrate not only their ability to perform well in a range of both Honors and non-Honors courses but also their attainment of the five learning outcomes essential to the University Honors Program: the ability to draw interdisciplinary connections, to convey ideas clearly and forcefully both orally and in writing, to think independently, to think critically and analytically, and to work collaboratively with others.

When you graduate with University Honors, your name and title of your project appears in the graduation program book and you receive the privilege of wearing additional academic regalia, purple Honors cords, provided to you by the University Honors Program.

Who is eligible to graduate with University Honors?
All University Honors students who have met the following criteria by graduation are eligible:

1. For students that entered the program Fall 2005 or later: Completion of the core curricula (HNRS 201 and A&S 250H) with at least an A or B in one of the two courses.  For students that entered the program Fall 2004 or before: Completion of at least one HNRS seminar (HNRS 201, 240, 250, 260, A&S 250H or ENVH 210H) with a grade of A or B.  These seminars must be taken for a grade.  They may not be taken as a tutorial or independent study to be able to count toward Graduation with Honors.
2. A minimum overall G.P.A. of 3.5 or better.  (Note: This rule is strictly enforced.  A student with a G.P.A. of 3.499999 would not be eligible.)
3. At least 23 graded credit hours of University Honors coursework, including the Honors Project Development and the Honors Project.  Only courses in which a grade of “A” or “B” is earned may count toward the 23. 
4. No more than 10 of the hours presented for Graduation with University Honors may be from the same General Education category (i.e., Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities and Arts, Natural Sciences including Mathematics, and Cultural Diversity).  Similarly, no more than 10 of the hours may be from the College of Education, the College of Business, or the College of Music. Up to 6 of the 23 hours may be earned through Honors Independent Study or Honors Tutorial arrangements approved by the Director of the Honors Program.
5. A minimum G.P.A. of 3.4 or better in all Honors courses used to meet Requirement 3.
6. Completion of a graded Honors Project Development and Honors Project. Grade on each must be either an A or B.

What is an Honors Project?
Honors Projects only have three requirements:

1. original scholarship
2. interdisciplinary connections
3. justification of the theory and/or methodology used

Original scholarship. Original scholarship means the student needs to produce something that is new for their field. Given the wide range of majors and scholarly fields across the campus, it is hard to define this specifically. Original scholarship is not the summary and collation of existing knowledge in novel ways, as might be appropriate for a paper assigned in a class. Original scholarship requires that the student develop, synthesize, and/or create ideas in new and different ways. It allows the students to apply what they have learned across a number of different courses to a specific idea. Original scholarship should involve inquiry-based learning and, depending on the field, may involve experimental research or library research. Depending on the field, “research” and “creative work” may be understood to be synonymous.

Interdisciplinary connections. An Honors Project may focus on any topic of the student’s choosing.  Each project must, however, be interdisciplinary; that is, it must make use of the bodies of knowledge and methodologies of two different fields.  (One of these is typically the student’s major field, though it need not be.)   Projects have been produced by students in almost every department of the University, including elementary education, secondary education, special education, art education, music education, music performance, music history, music composition, architecture, aviation studies, English, Spanish, philosophy, art history, popular culture, American Culture studies, journalism, telecommunications, psychology, sociology, history, biology, biochemistry, chemistry,
physics, geology, computer science, environmental science, ethnic studies, women’s studies, physical therapy, kinesiology, communication disorders, economics, finance, accounting, and marketing.

Justification of the theory. This part of the project simply explains why students have chosen certain methods or creative endeavors for their projects. In some fields (i.e., philosophy, chemistry, literature), this is typically inherent in the project itself and doesn’t need to be explicitly addressed. In other fields (i.e., music and arts), this part of the project provides an explanation of why certain materials, musical styles, and presentations are used. For example, it provides an explanation of why an artist chose to present their work in ceramics as opposed to water colors. In addition, it helps explain the purpose and meaning behind the materials and images selected for presentation.

Faculty Advisors

Students completing HNRS 498 require one advisor and students working on HNRS 499 must work with at least two advisors-- from different departments.  (Both advisors may, however, be from the same college.  A student’s advisors may come from Music History and Music Performance, for example, or Management and Accounting, or EDFI and EDSE.)

Who can serve as a Faculty Advisor?
Any faculty member at the University, with the rank of Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Lecturer, Instructor, Part-time Instructor, or Adjunct Instructor may serve as an Advisor.  However, at least one advisor must be a Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor.  Graduate students may not serve as Faculty Advisors--unless they’re employed by the University as instructors or lecturers.  Faculty at affiliated institutions (such as the Medical College of Ohio) who are participating in BGSU degree programs (such as Nursing and Physical Therapy) may serve as advisors.  However, in these cases, the other advisor must be a BGSU faculty member.  A non-faculty member with special expertise in the student’s area may serve as an extra (or third) advisor but may not participate in the process of grading the project.

What are the responsibilities of the Faculty Advisors?
The Faculty Advisors’ primary responsibility is to help the student lay out the basic conception of the project, clarify the student’s objectives, and discover an appropriate research or creative strategy for achieving these.  Advisors typically provide reading lists for students--or augment lists prepared by the students themselves.  They also provide trouble-shooting assistance when problems arise.  Finally, they critique one or more early drafts of the project--and jointly assign the finished project a grade.

A grade should not be turned in to Registration and Records until the proposal or project is complete.  The single greatest problem that our students have is maintaining progress and contact with their advisors. The students are receiving 1 hour of course credit for development of their proposal and 2 hours of course credit for their project and most of this time is done on the students own schedule. It is reasonable for you to have set meetings with the student on a weekly or as needed basis in order to maintain their progress toward completion.

What should the length of the Honors Project be?
You as the advisor will set the appropriate length given your field or discipline. When determining the appropriate size of the Honors Project please remember these two guidelines. First, this is not intended as a Masters Thesis. Second, this is not an ordinary paper for a course. This is the culmination of the Honors student experience. Honors Projects typically result in papers of around 25 pages in length, but poetry, fiction, art (including sketches, paintings, and ceramics), computer programs, manuals, illustrated children’s books, curriculum guides, films, and other creative expressions are quite acceptable.  Students in music may produce arrangements or original compositions or give lecture recitals.  Honors students are encouraged to pursue projects which allow them to move in creative directions.

Students

How often should I meet with my Faculty Advisors?
You should meet with each of them on a weekly or as needed basis.  It’s a good idea to schedule a joint meeting with both advisors early in the semester.  After that, you may meet with them separately or together. These guidelines are for Honors 498 and Honors 499.

How do I find Faculty Advisors?
Most students choose at least one advisor from among the faculty they’ve taken courses from, know well, and have performed well for. The Honors Director is acquainted with faculty in almost every area of the University and will be happy to recommend other possible advisors to students.  The student should approach advisor candidates during the semester preceding the one in which the project is to be done (faculty like to learn of and agree to extra commitments in advance).  Most BGSU faculty readily agree to advise Honors Projects.  If a promising advisor seems reluctant, assure her/him that the Honors Projects are independent projects, that you’ll be assuming primary responsibility for the project, and that you’ll need only preliminary guidance and minimal help thereafter.

When do students do their Honors Projects?
Most students do their projects in either the fall and spring term of their senior years, but it is possible to do your Honors Project at any point during your time at BGSU. In addition, Honors 498 is required before Honors 499, but there is no need to do both courses in consecutive semesters.  Honors Projects can also be done during the summer--though it can sometimes be difficult to find appropriate faculty advisors during the summer.  Though students must formally register for the Honors Project in a particular semester, many students begin work on their projects before this semester begins.

Can I do an Honors Project while at an affiliated institution, such as the Medical College of Ohio?
Yes, students in Nursing and Physical Therapy, for instance, have completed Honors Projects while finishing their coursework at MCO.  In this case, one of your advisors can be from MCO; the other must teach at BGSU.  If you decide to use an MCO advisor (who may well be unfamiliar with the requirements for the Honors Project and Graduation with University Honors), you should encourage this individual to contact the Honors Director.

Honors 498: Honors Project Development

How do I sign up to do an HNRS 498: Honors Project Development?
Call the Honors Secretary to schedule an appointment with your Honors advisor. At this meeting, we will determine if you have completed the requirements or point out requirements that are not completed yet. In addition, we will provide you with the appropriate form needed to sign up for Honors 498. You’ll need to turn in Form 1 to the Honors Office by the end of the first week of classes of the semester in which you want to complete or enroll in your Honors 498.  Honors 498 Form 1 asks you for some basic information, including your G.P.A., the name of your advisor, and the signature of your advisor.

You will not be able to register for Honors 498 yourself. You will need to contact the Honors office and have them register you for this course after it is your time to register, but before the fifth day of classes. This should, and can be done before you turn in Form 1.

What are the requirements for successfully completing HNRS 498: Honors Project Development?
HNRS 498 has three outcomes for the course:

1. A 1,000-word description of the Honors project. This description will serve as a guide for the direction and extent of the project and is the necessary Honors proposal that allows you to sign up for HNRS 499. At the end of the Honors 498 course, you are required to turn in to your advisor and the Honors office the annotated bibliography and a 1,000 word proposal.
2. An annotated bibliography showing what existing scholarship will help guide you and demonstrate a thorough understanding of the background in your chosen field.
3. A timeline of significant steps which will serve as a guideline for the student, advisor, and Honors Program to monitor progress of the project.

What do I do once my proposal is completed for HNRS 498? 
You’ll need to pick up a copy of Form 2 in the Honors Office.  This form has a signature line for your advisor, the Honors Director and a space for the grade.  Once your advisor has graded your proposal, they should fill in the grade and sign Form 2. Turn in the signed Form 2 and a copy of your proposal to the Honors Program office by the first day of finals week.  The official University grade sheet gets turned in at Registration and Records.

Honors 499: Honors Project

How do I sign up to do an HNRS 499: Honors Project?
To sign up for HNRS 499, you need to fill out Honors 499 Form 1. This form requires some basic information on you and your two advisors. In addition, you will need to have both advisors sign Form 1. This form needs to be turned in to the Honors office by the end of the first week of classes of the semester in which you want to complete or enroll in your Honors 499.  As in Honors 498, we will register you for the course and this should be done before the fifth day of classes.

Are Honors Projects graded?
Yes.  To do an Honors Project, you must register for HNRS 498 and 499 or the equivalent (such as ENG 498H or HIST 480H).  HNRS 498 and 499 are official University courses, in which you’ll receive a letter grade.  This grade will be determined by your advisor (HNRS 498) or jointly determined by your advisors (HNRS 499)--and will figure in your overall BGSU G.P.A.

What grades are typically earned on Honors Projects?
Many students earn “A”’s.  Most earn either “A” or “B”’s.  However, grades are certainly not automatic.  Most faculty advisors have high performance standards and expect upper-level Honors students to be able to meet these.

What’s the best way to ensure that I earn an “A” on my project?
Work with your advisors to establish clear goals at the start.  Produce a high-quality description of the project.  Most importantly (to repeat): Get a draft of your project to your advisors at least one month before the final deadline so that they can give you feedback and you can respond.  Your advisors are almost honor-bound to give you an “A” if you’ve carefully responded to all of their suggestions for improvement.

Are there any pitfalls to avoid in doing an Honors Project?
Yes, the first is over-ambition.  Don’t tackle a topic that whole books have been written on or that whole courses are devoted to.  Find a topic that’s important and interesting and focus on a small part of it, employing what amounts to a case study approach.  In the conclusion of your project, you can discuss the larger implications of what you’ve discovered.

The second problem many students face is procrastination.  Many Honors students have learned to adjust their academic lives to meet deadlines set by faculty.  Some of these students find it difficult to handle the freedom allowed by an independent study arrangement.  To avoid procrastination: a) Set intermediate deadlines for yourself throughout the term (for finishing your research, outlining your argument, producing a first draft, producing a final draft) and be sure to meet them.  These deadlines will correspond to the deadlines which occur in more traditional courses.  b) Establish set times during each week for working on your projects (every Tuesday afternoon, Thursday evening, Saturday morning, for example).  If you regularly work a few hours each week on your project, you should be able to produce a high-quality project on time.  On the other hand, those who postpone work on their projects, figuring they can complete them late in the term, usually find that they were wrong.  There’s nothing more obvious--or more disappointing to faculty advisors--than a “rush job.”  Rush jobs are also of very little value to the students who produce them.  Good Honors Projects can’t be produced quickly; they demand too much care, thought, and attention.

What are the rewards of doing an Honors Project?
Those who complete an Honors Project and who meet the other requirements for graduating with University Honors receive special recognition at commencement (both in the Graduation Bulletin and during the graduation ceremony).  Their transcripts will feature the notation: “Graduated with University Honors.”  They’ll also be given a special gold seal to place on their University diplomas.

Graduation with University Honors is also a valuable resume item--especially for those who plan to attend graduate or professional school and who need to demonstrate that they have the capacity to do research.

Finally, completing an Honors Project is in itself a valuable experience, allowing the student to develop an original idea, work on it independently, develop self-confidence as a researcher and writer, practice his/her writing and speaking skills, and collaborate with two or more faculty members in the process of intellectual discovery and creation.

What do I do once my project is completed for HNRS 499?
You’ll need to pick up a copy of Form 2 in the Honors Office.  This form has signature lines for both your advisors and the Honors Director and a space for the grade.  Once your advisors have agreed on a grade for your project, they should fill in the grade and sign Form 2.  Make at least three copies of your completed project.  Turn in the signed Form 2 and one flat bound copy of your project to the Honors Program office by the first day of finals week.  Give a copy of your project to each of your advisors as a way of thanking them for their help.

Honors Reception

Am I done once my project is turned in?
Not quite.  Each year, in the spring, during the last week of classes, the Honors Program organizes a reception for all the students who’ve completed Honors Projects during the previous summer, fall, and spring.  At this reception, each student who has completed a project is asked to stand before the audience (of about 100) and describe her/his Honors Project in three minutes or less.  Each student is asked to give the title of their project, to list their advisors, to discuss the basic conception and methodology of the project, to describe any interesting problems that arose during the project and how these problems were solved, and to discuss the rewards of having done the project.  All faculty advisors are invited to the reception, as well as the President of the University, the Provost, the Vice Provosts, the Deans, and all Honors students.  Refreshments are served.  A highlight of the reception is the presentation of the Mayeux Prizes.

What are the Mayeux Prizes?
The Mayeux Prizes are given each year to one or more students who have completed outstanding Honors Projects.  The money for the prizes comes from an endowment created in honor of Patricia Mayeux, long-time employee and friend of the University.  In recent years, $750 has been divided evenly among five winners.  Mayeux Prize winners are chosen by a committee of Honors faculty, chaired by the Honors Director.  To be eligible for a Mayeux Prize, a student must present their project at the Project Reception--and submit a final copy of the completed project and Form 2, signed by the project advisors showing that the student earned a final grade of an “A”, to the Honors Office one week in advance of the reception.