INDEX

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

• Welcome
• About the College
• Academics
• Alumni Resources
• Diversity
• Faculty Resources
• Fund Raising
• Current Students
• Discover LAS
• LAS News & Events

• Honors Program

• Overview
• Forms
• Seminars
• Projects
• FAQ
• University Honors
• Honors Committee

Liberal Arts and Sciences Honors Program

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Honors Project
All students who graduate in Honors are required to complete an Honors project. In addition to being a graduation requirement your project should do the following:

• Enhance your future
  • Your project can be a special facet of your application to graduate or professional school.
  • Your project can show a future employer your ability to design and execute a project.
    
• Enrich your academic experience
  • Your project can add a dimension to your program of study that non-honors students do not have.
  • Your project can synthesize your major(s) and minor(s).
  • Your project can be a capstone integrating the knowledge and skills you have acquired during your university experience.
  • Your project should contribute to the body of knowledge about your subject.

At the end of your project you will share your findings at one of bi-annual Honors Poster presentations.

Scroll down for Honors Project Proposal Process and Timeline

Web Links
Project Proposal Instructions (Word)
Project Proposal Form (Word)
Guidelines for Project Advisers (Word)
Exemplary Honors Project Proposals
Honors Project Posters
Compliance

Honors Project Proposal Process
How to start the project proposal

• You and your project adviser develop your project proposal. Your project adviser must be an ISU faculty member. He/she should be someone you will enjoy collaborating with as your project evolves.
  
• The LAS Honors Committee must approve your project proposal before you begin your research.
  
• Your honors project topic should be in an area in which you have some background or expertise. It does not need to be in your major. The project should provide you with an intellectual challenge above and beyond what a regular student would have.

How and when to submit your project proposal

• Project proposals must be submitted at least two semesters before you graduate. Late proposals will not be accepted.
  Spring and summer graduates - September 15 of the preceding year
  Fall graduates - February 15
  
• You are welcome to submit earlier than the specified deadline. If you are planning to student teach or study abroad during your final semester you should consider submitting and presenting earlier. If you want to start doing research as part of a summer experience, you should submit a preliminary project proposal before your start of your summer program.
  
• The project proposal form is available at here. (Word)
  
• Submit your project proposal forms in 102 Catt Hall.

Other questions
If you have additional questions about the proposal process or your specific proposal you may contact Jane R. Jacobson (jrjacob@iastate.edu), the LAS Honors Committee Chair, or a Committee member in the area of your research.

Honors Project Timeline
Sophomore Year:

• Attend the fall and spring Honors Project Poster Sessions. Talk to students about their research. Begin to gather ideas about possible research topics.
• Note professors that you enjoy or ideas in class or lab that you would like to pursue.
• Talk to your academic adviser about how your Honors Project can enhance your program of study.

Junior Year:

• Select your project adviser.
• Talk with your project adviser about your project idea(s) and narrowing the topic to a reasonable research project.
• Begin background research on your topic. Part of the project proposal form is a bibliography.
• Consider submitting your proposal early if you will be off-campus during your final semester or want some breathing room during your final term.

Senior Year:

• Submit your project proposal by the specified deadline (at least two semesters before graduation).
• Conduct your research.
• Present your research findings at an Honors Project Poster Session.