Senior Honors Project

In their final year, Honors students complete a Senior Honors Project that reflects their academic interests and personal growth.
This capstone experience allows students to apply knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking to a topic of their choice, either individually or in a small group, under the guidance of a faculty advisor. The project provides an opportunity to showcase original work, demonstrate critical skills, and synthesize learning from the entire Honors experience.

All students present their completed project at the annual Student Research Symposium each Spring. Learn more about the Symposium ➜

Key deadlines

Spring Junior Year - April 1: Project Proposal due
Fall Senior Year - December 1: Final project deliverable due
Spring Senior Year - typically April: Present project at the Student Research Symposium

Student Responsibilities

Collaborate with a faculty mentor to define the project topic and develop a project plan with clear milestones.
Develop the Senior Honors Project Proposal with milestones and deadlines in the spring semester of the Junior year before enrolling in HONR 4093 for the Senior Fall term.
Meet with the faculty mentor frequently (at least every other week) to ensure steady progress.
Submit a final project deliverable by December 1 of the Senior year.
Present the project, results, or findings at the Student Research Symposium in the spring semester.
For group projects, each student must submit an individual proposal identifying their specific contributions.

Project Expectations

Senior Honors Projects should:

Demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving, or creative exploration relevant to the student’s field of study or academic interests.
Be conducted individually or in a small team, with clear contributions from each participant.
Adhere to university policies, ethical standards, and academic integrity.
Include a proposal approved by a faculty mentor, periodic check-ins, and documentation of progress.
Culminate in a public presentation of the project.
For create projects, include both the artistic/creative work and a formal paper articulating the project and its significance.

Examples of Senior Honors Projects

Research papers or thesis projects in the student's major field
Experiements or lab-based research
Creative projects such as portfolios, sculptures, performances, orignal compositions, or short stories
Multimedia or digital projects, including videos, films, or interactive presentations