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Honors Carolina is a four-year academic program geared toward the top 10% of undergraduates at UNC and promises those students a guided journey toward a successful career and purposeful life.  It is the University's way of investing in truly exceptional students by providing academic and non-academic challenges and opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom.

From the moment they step foot on campus, our students join a diverse community of scholars and friends. Approximately 2,100 students are currently members of Honors Carolina, and enjoy access to more than 200 small courses, award-winning faculty, and priority registration. Our unparalleled commitment to global learning offers students a doorway to the world through courses, internships, and research for academic credit.

The Honors Carolina "Go Anywhere" initiative is a comprehensive plan to elevate the program's reputation among industry leaders, position it as a destination of choice for top recruiters, and prepare students to seize opportunities before them through intensive advising and coaching. In fact, our academic advisors, career coaches, and alumni mentors are with students every step of the way. Through a diverse roster of co-curricular programs, students explore their interests; prepare for life after graduation; and connect with students, faculty, alumni, and leaders around the globe. Some enrolling first-year students are invited to participate immediately in Honors Carolina. Other students may apply to the program at the beginning of their second semester or first year of study. Details of the application process are available on the  Honors Carolina  website. Honors Carolina students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.000 or higher and complete a minimum number of honors credit hours by graduation in order to receive the “Honors Carolina Laureate” distinction on their transcript.

To graduate from the University with  honors or highest honors , students must complete a senior thesis in their academic major. Senior honors thesis programs are offered in nearly 50 departments, curricula, and professional schools throughout the University. Interested students should consult with the honors advisor in their major about department-specific requirements.

Visit Program Website

218 E. Franklin Street

(919) 966-5110

Peter T. Grauer Associate Dean for Honors Carolina

James Leloudis

[email protected]

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Celebrating Honors Thesis Students

With all that has been happening this semester, we wanted to make sure that we took a moment to give credit to ECL’s amazing honors thesis students. These students, in their final year, worked to produce roughly 35-80 pages of original research into a topic of their choosing. 

While we are unable to recognize these students in person, we congratulate these students and their advisors! 

Please read more about these students here . 

Below is the list of students, their theses, and their directors. These theses will all eventually be housed in the university library system. The list is as follows: 

Alexandria Morgan Andrews, “‘A perilous and terrible medicine’: Milton and the Problem of Divorce in Protestant England,” dir. Reid Barbour

John Collier Cobb, “Consciousness and Natureculture: Tracing Dualisms in To the Lighthouse and Between the Acts,” dir. Pamela Cooper

Jack Crouse, “Dramatic Censorship and the Children of the Blackfriars, 1603-1608,” dir. David Baker

Julia Alden Glass, “Artistic Practice and Mental Illness in Film,” dir. Martin Johnson and Rick Warner

Lenore Harrison, “Virginia Woolf’s Language of Gothic Fiction in The Voyage Out and Between the Acts,” dir. Pamela Cooper

Suiyun Pan (David), “Homer’s Helen and Bai Juyi’s Yuhuan: Beauty, Subjectivity, and Ethics,” dir. Li-ling Hsiao and Shayne Legassie

Elizabeth Fletcher Garland Rieman, “The Ultimate Adventure: Exploring the Religious Roots and Gender Politics of Victorian Era Children’s Adventure Fiction,” dir. Kimberly Stern

Shawna Sheperd, “Space and Psychology in Charlotte Brontë’s Villette,” dir. Kimberly Stern

McKenzie Marie Taranto, “Star Trek: The Next Interpretation; Changing Notions of American Citizenship in The Original Series,” dir. Sarah Boyd

Graham Lockwood Weaver, “Authorship and Accountability: Bakhtinian Authorial Presence in Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, William Faulkner’s Absalom, Absalom!, and Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita,” dir. Eric Downing and Stanislav Shvabrin

Sarah White, “Women and Children First: The Complexity of Societal Change in Dracula and NOS4A2,” dir. Guillermo Rodríguez-Romaguera

• Senior Honors Thesis
• Faculty + Staff
• Why Teach an Honors Carolina Course?
• Course Planning + Scheduling
• Registration and Wait List Process
• Burch Field Research Seminars
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Many Carolina students cap their undergraduate experience with a Senior Honors Thesis, partnering with a faculty mentor to develop original research or creative work. Students who successfully defend their theses before a faculty review panel graduate with Honors or Highest Honors.

Students may undertake a Senior Honors Thesis project only in their major field of study (with an exception for students who minor in Creative Writing). Students with double majors may graduate with Honors or Highest Honors in both fields of study. To do so, they must complete a distinct project in each field. All Senior Honors Thesis projects must be completed under the direct supervision of a faculty advisor. Tenured and tenure-track faculty, retired faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and fixed-term faculty appointed for more than a single year may serve as thesis advisors. Graduate students may not serve as advisors for Senior Honors Thesis projects.

Eligibility

Students who wish to undertake a Senior Honors Thesis project must have a cumulative GPA of 3.300 or higher. Academic departments may set higher thresholds for course work within students’ major field of study.

Honors Thesis Research Awards

Honors Carolina offers financial awards to support Senior Honors Thesis research. These awards, up to $500, may be used to cover any legitimate cost directly connected to a thesis project: laboratory equipment and supplies, computer software and hardware, travel, artistic supplies, books and periodicals not available through normal library sources, illustrations and duplication, etc.

Students must apply through their major department’s honors director or their faculty thesis advisor (for units without Honors directors). A Call for Proposals is sent to departments early each semester. Students may not submit applications directly to Honors Carolina .

Deadlines and application forms are here .

Reporting Deadlines

Students completing honors theses in the fall semester.

2nd Monday in November (4:00pm) Reporting forms and instructions will be sent to departmental honors advisors on September 1

Students Completing Honors Theses in spring semester

2nd Monday in April (4:00pm) Reporting forms and instructions will be sent to departmental honors advisors on February 1

Deadlines for specific semesters are here .

Students are required to upload the final version of their thesis to the  Carolina Digital Repository  by the final day of class in the semester in which they complete the thesis course work. Detailed instructions are included in the guidelines below.

Reporting Form

Helpful Resources

• Senior Honors Thesis Guidelines for Academic Units, Faculty Advisors, and Students
• Senior Honors Thesis Learning Contract
• Sample Senior Honors Thesis title page

INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS

Honors Thesis

“What I enjoy most about completing an honors thesis is the ability to delve into a topic of my choosing; the freedom to study whatever I fancy, purely for the love of education. I highly enjoy my right to fill my own education with a topic I truly love. “

– Kelly Pope, Class of 2015

Senior honors thesis  work is a specialized form of independent study that allows students to partner with a faculty advisor to complete an original and substantial research project. Many students consider this work to be the capstone of their undergraduate studies in their major department. Honors research proposals represent a serious commitment to extensive study and mastery of material, and should be developed in close consultation with the advisor. An honors thesis is usually a research paper; however, it may also take the form of a performance or film, as deemed appropriate by the student and his/her faculty advisor. All senior honors theses in the Department of Communication must include a written component, the scope and format of which will be determined by the project advisor.

Students who successfully complete and defend their honors theses will graduate under the designation “with honors” or “with highest honors.”

Eligibility

Students completing senior honors theses must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.300 at the beginning of, end of, and at all points during, the two semesters that they work on their projects.

An honors thesis involves two semesters of independent research for academic credit: COMM 693H in the fall of senior year and COMM 694H in the spring of senior year (or for students graduating in December: COMM 693H in the spring and COMM 694H in the fall semester immediately prior to graduation). Students who wish to begin work on their senior honors theses before this time may do so; however, they will not be able to begin earning academic credit until they are officially enrolled in the two-semester sequence as outlined above. Per University policy, students cannot be enrolled in senior honors thesis coursework during summer sessions.

Students completing the honors sequence will take a total of 6.0 credit hours (3.0 for COMM 693H and 3.0 for COMM 694H), which count towards elective credit for the major. Students should expect to devote a minimum of nine hours per week during both semesters of the honors sequence.

Thesis Advisor and Committee

Work on the honors thesis is done with mutual consent between the student and the faculty advisor. It is the responsibility of the student to seek out and find a faculty advisor. Faculty members are, generally, more willing to advise an honors thesis project when they have a prior relationship or experience with the student. Faculty members are also more willing to supervise a project if they have a professional interest in the project topic.  Students are encouraged to begin conversations with a faculty member about honors thesis projects during their junior years. When approaching potential advisors, students should bring an outline of what they plan to do for their projects, as well as a brief explanation of why they are interested in pursuing an honors thesis.

Tenured and tenure-track faculty, postdoctoral fellows with teaching appointments, and fixed-term faculty who have been employed by COMM for at least one year may serve as senior honors thesis advisors. Advisors must have a permanent or adjunct appointment in the Communication Department. Graduate students may not serve as thesis advisors.

After finding an advisor, students need to assemble a committee of two or more faculty members, including the advisor, to evaluate the thesis work at the end of the honors sequence. While the faculty advisor is expected to work closely with the student, the committee members or “readers” are expected to read only a completed or nearly completed thesis and participate in the thesis defense.

Tenured and tenure-track faculty, retired faculty, postdoctoral fellows with teaching appointments, and fixed-term faculty who have been employed by an academic unit for at least one year may serve as committee members. Graduate students may not serve as members of Honors thesis committees.  Members may be drawn from any academic unit at UNC-Chapel Hill or from another accredited college or university, as deemed appropriate and approved by the project advisor. Once assembled in consultation with the project advisor, the committee must be approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

After finding a committee, students need to complete a Senior Honors Thesis Learning Contract that must be approved and signed by the student’s thesis advisor before the end of the last semester prior to the honors sequence (typically spring of their Junior year). The learning contract should include an outline of the scope and direction of the research, a schedule of meetings, readings, target dates for submitting interim chapters and/or reports for review, and course assessment information, as well as the expected date for the submission of a near-final copy of the thesis to be defended. A template for the learning contract can be found below.

The learning contract and committee membership must be approved by Director of Undergraduate Studies before the end of the semester prior to starting the thesis. Students should bring their learning contracts to the Student Services Manager in Bingham 117 who will submit them to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.  Once the senior honors theses have been approved, the students will be notified and officially registered for COMM 693H for the upcoming semester. Each faculty advisor will be assigned a different section of COMM 693H.

At the end of the first semester of thesis work, the faculty advisors will submit grades for their students. Students and their advisors will also meet to discuss their progress. If at this time, an advisor deems a student’s progress insufficient to warrant continuation, the advisor will notify the student of this evaluation, and the student will discontinue work on the thesis, enrolling in a traditional course for the following semester, or, if the advisor is willing, continuing the project as an independent study project (COMM 396).

Students will automatically be enrolled in COMM 694H for the semester following COMM 693H, unless a student’s advisor specifies otherwise.

Research Funding

Honors Carolina offers financial awards to support senior honors thesis projects. There are two funding cycles per year, with deadlines announced by the Honors Carolina Office. Students must apply through their major academic unit’s honors director. Students may only apply for one round of funding.

Funding is also available through the Office for Undergraduate Research .

Upon completion of their projects, senior honors thesis students must pass an oral examination (thesis defense) or other appropriate form of evaluation. Students are responsible for making arrangements for their thesis defenses by discussing the date/time of the defense with all committee members and reserving necessary classroom/performance space and equipment. Students can contact the Student Services Assistant if they need assistance with reservations.

At a thesis defense, committee members will critically examine the student and his/her work. If the committee determines that the student has passed the thesis defense, they will designate the thesis as warranting the designation “with honors” or “with highest honors.”

Per departmental policy, highest honors can only be awarded to students who have met the most rigorous standards of scholarly excellence and who have a GPA of 3.50 or higher.

If a student or his/her thesis committee determines that the project does not warrant the designation of honors, the student will receive only course credit for the thesis work.

Electronic Submission

After successfully defending their theses, students must upload a scanned copy of their thesis cover page signed by their advisors and their entire thesis in PDF format to the Carolina Digital Repository . For detailed instructions, please visit the Honors Carolina website. Documents must be uploaded by the deadline as stated on the Honors Carolina website . Please contact the Student Services Assistant if you have any questions.

Recognition

Students who successfully complete a senior honors thesis project will have the designation “Honors” or “Highest Honors” printed beside their names in the Commencement bulletins and recorded on their diplomas and transcripts. At the Departmental Commencement Ceremony, students will be announced as “with honors” or “with highest honors” as they walk across the stage.

Students will also receive gold cords to wear at Commencement exercises. There is no charge for the cords, and students can pick them up from the Student Services Assistant.

Senior Honors Thesis Learning Contract Template (PDF)

Senior Honors Thesis Learning Contract Template (WORD)

Honors Carolina- Senior Honors Thesis – includes information on electronic submission, deadlines, and research grants

Office for Undergraduate Research

COMM Dept. Aggregate Policies: IS, Honors, Special Topics

• UNC Libraries
• Subject Research
• Finding Theses and Dissertations
• Finding UNC Theses & Dissertations

Finding Theses and Dissertations: Finding UNC Theses & Dissertations

Dissertations, master's papers, undergraduate honors theses.

• Finding Other Theses & Dissertations
• Borrowing & Purchasing

The North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library has paper copies of MOST UNC Chapel Hill theses and dissertations, including many of those from Health Affairs, and also the only copies of some pre-1930 dissertations and theses. The NCC's copies do not circulate and are not in an area open for browsing. You can assume that the NCC will probably have a copy of a UNC-Chapel Hill dissertation or thesis even if the catalogs do not reveal this.

Davis Library has circulating copies of many theses and dissertations completed at UNC-Chapel Hill. The Health Sciences Library has copies of the theses and dissertations completed in Health Affairs departments. Some dissertations and theses are also located in the Library Service Center and can be requested through the Carolina BLU Campus Delivery Service . Most UNC-Chapel Hill theses and dissertations can be found in the online catalog .

• Dissertation - Presents original research and is written as part of the requirements for obtaining a doctorate.
• Thesis - Presents original research and is written as part of the requirements for obtaining a master's degree.
• Master's Paper - Some master's programs at UNC do not have an official "thesis" but rather require a major paper or report.
• Undergraduate Honors Thesis - Written and defended by Honors Carolina undergraduate students in order to graduate with Honors or Highest Honors.

The Carolina Digital Repository also provides access to digital copies of theses and dissertations completed at UNC-Chapel Hill. It is an open-access source that houses user-submitted theses and dissertations and also other works by instructors and researchers affiliated with UND-Chapel Hill. However, as it houses works besides theses and dissertation and is relatively new, it may not pull up older works.

• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global Indexes US dissertations from 1861 with full text available from 1997; masters theses covered selectively including some full text. Citations for dissertations from 1980 include 350-word abstracts, while masters' theses from 1988 have 150-word abstracts. Selectively covers dissertations from Great Britain and other European universities for recent years. In addition to this database, the full text of the majority of UNC theses and dissertations from 2006, and all beginning in 2008, are freely available electronically from the UNC Library: Dissertations | Theses more... less... Access: Off Campus Access is available for: UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and staff; UNC Hospitals employees; UNC-Chapel Hill affiliated AHEC users. Coverage: 1861 to present
• Dissertations & Theses @ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dissertations & Theses@University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill provides indexing and some full text access to dissertations completed here at Chapel Hill and submitted to the Dissertations Abstracts database. more... less... Access: Off Campus Access is available for: UNC-Chapel Hill students, faculty, and staff; UNC Hospitals employees; UNC-Chapel Hill affiliated AHEC users. Coverage: 1920s to present

Most UNC dissertations are in the UNC-CH catalog. If searching for a known author or title, searching the  online catalog  is the most efficient way to search: A sample search: title =  "Chaucer's relative constructions"

You can also use the  Boolean Search  feature of the  Advanced UNC-CH Catalog  to perform Keyword Searches for UNC dissertations.

Conducting a Keyword Search for Dissertations

Although most dissertations are in the online catalog, dissertations before 1964 have no subject headings. Searching for key words in the titles will help get at "subjects" for these items. Do not use ONLY standard LC Subject Headings. Be creative with appropriate key words, synonyms, and variants as well.

You will be searching for "thesis phd or thesis ph d" , which will appear as a note in the catalog record. You can use subject headings, title words, an author's last name, etc., and add "and thesis phd or thesis ph d". It is advisable to enter the "phd" both ways because of spacing variations. A sample search:

shakespeare and (thesis phd or thesis ph d) and "north carolina"

However, as noted above, Dissertations & Theses is the most efficient way to search for dissertations on a topic. If you do search for dissertations in the online catalog, you should add  "and north carolina" to try and weed out dissertations from other schools, but this can lead to false drops and omissions.

Finding Theses

While some theses may be found in Dissertations & Theses , thesis coverage is not nearly as comprehensive as dissertation coverage in that database.

Most UNC theses are in the UNC-CH catalog. If searching for a known author or title, searching the online catalog is the most efficient way to search. A sample search: title = Spenser and the diction of allegory : some uses of wordplay in the Faerie Queene

The online catalog does not offer an easy way to limit a subject search to master's theses. There is no group subject heading or subheading like "theses" for them. You can also use the Boolean Search feature of the Advanced UNC-CH Catalog to perform Keyword Searches for UNC theses.

Conducting a Keyword Search for Theses

Although most theses are in the online catalog, theses both before 1967 and after around 1990 have no subject headings. Searching for key words in the titles will help get at "subjects" for these items. Do not use ONLY standard LC Subject Headings. Be creative with appropriate key words, synonyms, and variants as well.

You will be searching for "thesis ma" or "thesis m a," which will appear as a note in the catalog record. You can use subject headings, title words, an author's last name, etc., and add "and thesis ma or thesis m a". It is advisable to enter the "ma" both ways because of spacing variations. A sample search:

shakespeare and (thesis ma or thesis m a) and "north carolina"

Finding Master's Papers

Some departments do not have an official thesis but instead require a major paper or report. These papers and reports are not in Davis Library or, for the most part, in the North Carolina Collection or the Libraries' online catalog. Some departments and departmental libraries have online lists. Contact the department, or, if there is one, the departmental library for information.

Environmental Sciences and Engineering Master's level students in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering can opt for one of four tracks: a Master of Science degree, which requires a thesis; and the Master of Science in Public Health, Master of Public Health, and Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, which require a technical report. Theses are uploaded as digital copies to the Graduate School, and technical reports are uploaded to the Carolina Digital Repository.

Public Administration Copies of the Master of Public Administration papers from 1976-1994 are in the North Carolina Collection . For copies of papers completed since 1994, contact the Manager of the Master of Public Administration Program (Knapp-Sanders Bldg., CB# 3330, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3330, Phone: 919-966-5381, Fax: 919-962-0654, Email Contact Form ).

UNC-Chapel Hill Master's Paper Collection Full-text copies of master's papers can be found:

• UNC-Chapel Hill Master's Paper Collection more... less... Access: No restrictions.

This database contains papers completed for the following departments:

• City & Regional Planning: Coverage from May 2002 - present
• Information & Library Science: Coverage from May 1999 - present*
• Maternal & Child Health: Coverage from December 2010 - present
• Public Health & Public Health Leadership: Coverage from August 2011 - present

*Print copies from 1963 - present are available in the  SILS Library .

Finding Undergraduate Honors Theses

Undergraduate Honors Theses (through 2012) are in the North Carolina Collection. They can be found using the card catalog located in that collection or the online catalog. They do not have subject headings unless they are about North Carolina. They do not circulate. Some departmental libraries also have copies but these are also non-circulating. To determine if a copy of an honors thesis can be obtained, contact the North Carolina Collection .

Electronic Submission of Senior Honors Theses:

Beginning in Fall 2013, students will no longer submit paper copies of their senior honors theses for archiving in the North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library. Instead, they will submit theses electronically via the Carolina Digital Repository (CDR). Submissions are due by the last day of class in the semester in which students complete their theses. The University Library will catalog electronic theses and make them available to the public.

To find Undergraduate Honors Theses in the catalog you can also use the Boolean Search feature of the Advanced UNC-CH Catalog to perform Keyword Searches. Do a keyword search for "honors essay" (with quotation marks) and then limit your search results to "North Carolina Collection" using the "Location" category in the left-hand column. A sample search: shakespeare and "honors essay" – then limit to North Carolina Collection Remember that Honors Theses lack subject indexing, so Keyword principally searches title and author fields. A thesis about Shakespeare may not have Shakespeare in the title. You can also do a catalog search for a specific title or author if known. A sample search: title = Broken emblems : allusion, irony, and utility in David Jones' In parenthesis

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• Last Updated: May 16, 2023 12:44 PM
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Honors Program in Psychology and Neuroscience

The Senior Honors Program in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience has two components:

• Students conduct an independent research project in the laboratory of a faculty member who is affiliated either with the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience or with the Neuroscience major, and
• Students enroll in and complete PSYC/NSCI 693H (Fall) and PSYC/NSCI 694H (Spring), which meet once per week.

Enrollment in the Honors Program is not restricted to students who have participated in UNC Honors Carolina and Psychology majors and Neuroscience majors who have been in the UNC Honors Program do not necessarily complete Senior Honors.

In order to graduate with Honors in Psychology or Neuroscience, you must apply by April 16 of your Junior Year .

Apply for Honors Program

Eligibility for the Honors Program requires:

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3
• Prior research experience (e.g., volunteer or paid research experience that was not for course credit; in-process completion of PSYC 395 or NSCI 395
• Confirmation of a Psychology and Neuroscience faculty member or a faculty member affiliated with the Neuroscience major to serve as your Honors Advisor or Co-mentor (see FAQ section below: “What if my Research Mentor is not a Faculty Member in Psychology & Neuroscience?”)

Application form: https://forms.gle/6iLBdNcbmd9U553AA

Advisor reference form: https://forms.gle/KBGNEs88x6ncZ24J8

Have an additional question? Please check out our 2021 Senior Honors Program Information Session [Zoom] .

Frequently Asked Questions

• Apply yourself in your courses to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3, which is a requirement for admission into the program.
• Read about research and talk to professors, graduate students, and other undergraduates about your research interests. Think about the types of research you’d like to do. Keep a notebook of research ideas.
• Achieve a mastery of research skills. Take PSYC 210 and 270 as soon as this is feasible as these courses teach basic skills that are important for research. You must also obtain research experience by volunteering to work in a faculty lab or by taking PSYC/NSCI 395.
• Learn about the program by talking to faculty and students. Make an appointment or email questions to the Honors Program Director .
• Seek out research opportunities via research intensive courses, independent research experiences, paid research assistant positions, and volunteer positions. It is strongly advised that students take PSYC 210, PSYC 270, and PSYC/NSCI 395 before applying to develop necessary skills and research interests.
• Plan ahead. The Honors Program is designed to be completed during two semesters of the senior year (i.e., you must be on-campus and enrolled both fall and spring semesters). Thus, study abroad during senior year, December graduation, and other educational opportunities may preclude participation in the Honors Program. If you have questions about your eligibility, please make an appointment with the Honors Program Director .
• Identify a faculty member to serve as your Honors Advisor. Explore our faculty’s research interests and read research articles to see if a faculty member’s research reflects your interests. A potential Honors Advisor may be identified during PSYC/NSCI 395. If you have difficulty identifying a sponsor, contact the Honors Program Director .
• Apply on time. Applications should be submitted by April 16th of your junior year.
• The completed thesis must be distributed to all committee members at least one week prior to the oral defense meeting. The Oral Defense Form must be completed and provided to your Honors Advisor prior to the meeting.
• Students present their research in about 15 minutes during the oral defense meeting. The committee will ask questions and the meeting typically takes an hour. Any revisions recommended by the Honors Committee must be made before the deadline for thesis submission. The final copy of the thesis, after approval, should be submitted to the Carolina Digital Repository . All students must participate in the Honors Poster Session as a requirement of program completion.

Honors Theses

Past Honors Theses are listed below in PDF format.

• 2021-22 Honors Theses
• 2020-21 Honors Theses
• 2019-20 Honors Theses
• 2018-19 Honors Theses
• 2017-18 Honors Theses
• 2016-17 Honors Theses
• 2015-16 Honors Theses
• 2014-15 Honors Theses
• 2013-14 Honors Theses
• 2012-13 Honors Theses
• 2011-12 Honors Theses
• 2010-11 Honors Theses
• 2009-10 Honors Theses
• 2008-09 Honors Theses
• 2007-08 Honors Theses

Check out photos of our past Senior Honors Cohorts online !

Dr. Keely Muscatell Psychology and Neuroscience Honors Program Director, Fall 2023 – Spring 2024 328 Davie Hall [email protected]

Andrew Bresson Undergraduate Student Services Manager 206B Davie Hall 919-843-0174 [email protected]

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English Honors

Honors Program Director : Dr. Matthew Rowney

Honors Program Assistant Director : Dr. Juan Meneses

Mission Statement

The English Honors Program provides a structured and supportive environment for highly motivated students from a range of backgrounds, experiences, and interests to pursue accelerated academic work within a fostering intellectual community. Working closely with Honors faculty, students complete rigorous and original projects of their own design that prepare them to excel in their future academic, artistic, and career-oriented endeavors.

The English Honors program offers its outstanding undergraduate students the opportunity to conclude their degree with advanced coursework in a research-seminar setting; it also provides venues for the completion of a capstone project of their choosing under the direction of a faculty member. English Honors students are strongly encouraged to attend departmental talks and events in order to gain an appreciation of the discipline’s professional culture, and they are invited to optional English Honors outings at least once a year.

Recruitment

The Director and Assistant Director recruit students from among current English Majors. They use a variety of criteria in the recruitment process, including student GPA, credit hours completed, and feedback from instructors. Students with an interest in Honors should contact either the Director or Assistant Director at the email addresses above.

The English Honors Program has two required courses:

and ONE of the following two courses:

To graduate with Honors in English, undergraduate students are required to take one English Honors Seminar (ENGL 4750) and to complete an Honors capstone thesis (as part of either ENGL 4751 or ENGL 4752) while maintaining a 4.0 GPA in Honors courses. In the semester before graduation, candidates must either present their capstone thesis at an undergraduate colloquium or submit the thesis to an undergraduate journal.

Honors Retreat, March 2023 in Boone. With Professors Chancellor, Meneses, and Rowney.

English Honors outing to see Charlotte Symphony, November 2022.

Senior Honors Thesis

Each year, a select group of undergraduate students enroll in the History Senior Honors Thesis program that culminates in the writing of a substantial, original, and polished piece of historical research. If you plan to go to graduate school in history, attend law school, work in public history, or if you simply cannot get enough of historical research and writing, this is the program for you.

At the beginning of the spring semester, the department invites the application of rising seniors who have an overall academic average of 3.3 or better, an average of 3.4 or better in history courses, and will have successfully completed at least one Undergraduate Seminar in HIST 398. For the Spring 2024 application, click here . The deadline for applications is Friday, March 8th.

The basic structure for the senior honors program is provided by HIST 691H and 692H, an intensive, two-semester research and writing seminar conducted by the department’s honors director. In addition to weekly seminar meetings, each honors candidate holds regular meetings with an honors adviser, a faculty member with knowledge of the given field.

Click here to see the posters and abstracts of some of the excellent work done by past Senior Honors Thesis students.

At the end of the spring semester, the honors prize committee makes the final determinations for Highest Honors and awards the Frank Ryan Prize to the best essay of the year. Awards are normally announced at a year-ending honors lunch celebrating the achievements of the department’s distinguished undergraduates.

Funding in support of research may be available through Honors Carolina and the Department of History’s Boyatt and Kusa awards .

Questions about the History Senior Honors Thesis should be directed to the current program director, Brett Whalen .

Senior Honors Program in Economics

About the Senior Honors Thesis Program:

The Department of Economics Senior Honors Thesis program offers outstanding economics students the opportunity to work closely with an individual faculty member on a specialized research topic of the student’s choice during the senior year. Completing a successful honors thesis is the only way to graduate with honors or highest honors in economics at UNC.

Students writing an honors thesis are required to take ECON 691H in Fall and ECON 692H in Spring.

During the fall semester, students will find a thesis advisor, develop an economics-related research topic, collect data, and prepare a thesis proposal consisting of the review of literature and theoretical and/or empirical models.

In their spring semester, students whose research proposals are accepted will take ECON 692H. During this course, students will complete their thesis, receiving honors or highest honors status after an oral defense in front of a faculty board. Anyone can browse a list of past Honors theses at the Honors Thesis Archive .

How to apply to the Senior Honors Thesis Program:

The admission to the Senior Honors Thesis program in Economics is selective. We invite about 15 students per year. Students with a 3.5 grade point average in economics courses and 3.5 in all University course work are eligible to apply for this two-course program (ECON 691H and 692H). However, the selected students generally have a higher grade point average than 3.5.

We also consider previous economics courses students have taken. It is required to earn high grades in ECON 400 (or a substitute in statistics), ECON410, ECON420, ECON470, and in at least one 400- or 500-level field course in economics. If one of these courses is missing, students can still qualify for the Honors program by taking this course in the Fall of their senior year. Familiarity with and access to a statistical analysis program such as STATA and/or R is highly recommended.

During the application process, we will ask about your previous research experience. The lack of such experience does not disqualify students from writing a senior honors thesis. We encourage students from different backgrounds and experiences to apply.

If you would like to be considered for the Honors Program in your senior year, please fill out the application form.

APPLICATION FORM FOR 2024-2025 ACADEMIC YEAR: click here

The deadline for submission is April 30 (11:59 pm). For questions, contact Klara Peter .

DONATE EVENTS CONTACT

BIOL Senior Honors Thesis

To graduate with Highest Honors or Honors in Biology, Bio majors/2nd majors must meet the following requirements:

GPA requirement. Biology majors/2nd majors must be in the last semester of their senior year at UNC.  You don’t have to be a student in the honors program to take BIOL 692H. You must have an overall CUM GPA of at least 3.300   and a BIO GPA of at least 3.300 as posted by the end of the application semester (5:00 p.m. on the last day all grades are due as set by the Registrar).  GPAs must meet the minimum 3.300 and won’t be rounded up.  The Bio GPA must include all cross-listed BIOL courses and one semester of BIOL 395 (your most recent 395 grade); however, do NOT count BIOL 101 and BIOL 101L in calculating your Bio GPA.  All candidates must be approved by the Biology Honors Chair, Dr Amy Shaub Maddox ( [email protected] ).

bio-gpa-calculation-in-connect-carolina

gpa-manual-calculation

Research requirement. Students must have completed at least 3 credit hours of BIOL 395.

Thesis statement requirement.   On a separate sheet of paper to be submitted with your BIOL 692H application, answer ALL of the following (typewritten, please):

1. Proposed thesis title

2. Rationale for your research in the form of background on the subject and  “but it is not known whether . . .” (1-2 sentences)

3. Central hypothesis (1 sentence)

4. Methods including level of experience and availability of reagents and equipment (3-4 sentences)

5. Predicted relevance to ecology or human health or other broader impacts (1 sentence)

6. Relevance to long-term goals (1 sentence)

Senior Honors thesis expectations :  The honors thesis is the culmination of high quality research performed in the preceding semester(s) of undergraduate study.  The products of BIOL 692H are a written thesis (minimum of 10 pages) and an oral presentation.  Your BIOL 395 paper or poster will serve as a first draft for the honors thesis.  Beginning early in the semester, the class will work in teams to refine each written thesis and prepare oral presentations.  Thus, new results should not be counted on to go into the honors thesis.  Instead, the research findings that comprise the written and oral theses should be completed before the start of the last semester of undergraduate coursework.  However, extension of that research can and should be going on in parallel to the preparation of the written and oral presentations in BIOL 692H.  Research should continue in the same lab as for BIOL 395.

Senior Honors thesis course (BIOL 692H). BIOL majors/2nd majors can BIOL 692H in their final semester at UNC.  In addition to doing your research, presenting your research in an oral talk and writing a senior honors thesis paper, you also need to attend the BIOL 692H class.  Students receive a letter grade for BIOL 692H and also will get the designation of Highest Honors or Honors added to their transcript.

Enrollment. Only electronic applications will be accepted. Please go to this webpage for the link to the application: https://bio.unc.edu/undergraduate/research/honors-info/ If you are graduating in December, your application is due April 15 (usually around fall semester pre-registration).  If you are graduating in May, your application is due November 15 (usually around spring semester pre-registration). After your CUM & BIOL GPAs have been verified and your application has been approved, the Biology Registrar will register you. If your grades don’t make the minimums, you can continue doing research in BIOL 395 or 495.  If you decide  you want to drop BIOL 692H, please email Dr Maddox by the end of the first week of classes.

Written work. BIOL 692H students must write an Senior Honors Thesis (minimum of 10 pages) based on the independent research project.  Your thesis will be stored electronically in the Wilson Library repository.

Symposium presentation. BIOL 692H students must present and defend their thesis research during the John K. Koeppe Biology Undergraduate Research Symposium.  The exact day/time  you will give your presentation will be assigned within the first 4 weeks of class.  Two graders will independently evaluate the content and presentation of your work.

Koeppe Symposium

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Empowering global impact: Education and language as catalysts

Dedicated to fostering inclusive learning experiences, Britney Hong draws inspiration from her family and culture to inform her work to create a sustainable impact through language and education.  

Hong, a double major in the UNC School of Education’s Human Development and Family Science (HDFS) program and in American Studies, has maintained an interest in education, not just for its human-centered focus but for its overall impact.

“I’ve always been drawn to education,” Hong said. “School was a place I loved from a young age because I saw its power in uplifting underrepresented communities and serving as a tool for representation.”   

Hong’s family has remained a consistent factor in her passion for education. Growing up, she often heard stories from her parents about their limited access to education. As a first-generation college student, Hong’s parents emphasized the impact of education and instilled in her a deep gratitude for the opportunity to learn.   

“As an Asian American, I did not see many representations of teachers that looked like me in the classroom, which inspired me to tap into this field,” Hong said. “I believe that offering a multicultural perspective is key for today’s students in our evolving world.”  

In August 2024, Hong will begin her post-graduate career in Taiwan as part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational and cultural exchange initiative. The program empowers scholars to build sustainable connections between the people of the U.S. and other countries.   

As part of the Fulbright program, Hong will have the chance to hone her skills learned within the HDFS program and School to promote cultural diversity and storytelling through language immersion initiatives while making complex topics accessible and enjoyable for young learners.  

Discovery in action   

“From high school into college, I knew I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful impact and connect closely with others,” Hong said. “Initially, I thought politics was the avenue to achieve this, which led me to pursue political science. However, I realized that working within government didn’t align with my desire for a more direct and personal impact on people’s lives.”  

It was during her sophomore year that Hong explored education by taking EDUC 181 with Yuliana Rodriguez, Ph.D., a clinical associate professor and the School’s senior honors thesis program director.   

“I enjoyed having Dr. Rodriguez as my professor,” Hong said. “Her teaching style was intentional, and I appreciated how she incorporated her Latina heritage into her lessons. Seeing this inspired me to pursue HDFS, hoping that one day I could infuse my own heritage into my teaching approach in a similar way.”   

During her time at Carolina, Hong also has consistently pursued ventures that expanded her skill set through varied experiences. She was honored as an Eve Carson scholar for the 2023-24 academic year, interned with the School’s Diverse and Resilient Educators Advised through Mentorship (DREAM) program, and served as an Ignite Fellow with Teach For America, where she taught a multicultural and diverse curriculum that skillfully integrated social-emotional learning with literacy concepts.  

“I walk away with a profound appreciation for cultural preservation and global education,” Hong said. “During my time at Carolina, I have learned a lot of underrepresented stories in history and contemporary society, ranging from Asian American graphic novels to Black aesthetics. I hope to share these stories with my Taiwanese students, so they understand that the American identity isn’t linear while encouraging them to be critical.  

Commitment to international education and language   

In fall 2022, Hong put her passion for international education and dual-language immersion into action during a study abroad experience at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. Hong had the opportunity to gain insights within the university’s child and family studies, paralleling the curriculum within HDFS. She took courses ranging from topics on society and human behavior and international relations.   

Following her study abroad experience, Hong serves as Study Abroad Peer Ambassador through Carolina’s Study Abroad office where she engaged with fellow students on various programs and shared about her time abroad.  

These experiences were yet another testament to Hong’s commitment to exploring multicultural education and language on a global scale.   

“Hearing the perspectives from my classmates in South Korea was really fascinating,” Hong said. “There were two Americans in the class, and everyone else was from countries including France, Switzerland, Japan. We delved into quite a few challenging topics, but it was great to see how we connected even though we all came from different areas of the world.”  

Hong first learned about the Fulbright Program toward the end of her sophomore year through a friend who had received a Fulbright for research. Intrigued by the opportunity, Hong kept it in mind while she embarked on a study abroad experience.   

This immersive venture in South Korea deeply impacted her, sparking a desire to live abroad again.  

“I was drawn to Fulbright’s dedication to international and multicultural education, which I believe is crucial in our increasingly globalized world,” Hong said. “Taiwan’s unique blend of Chinese and Indigenous influences and its recent linguistic shifts towards Mandarin and English were interesting to me, making it an ideal destination for my Fulbright journey.”  

Vision for the future  

Discovering HDFS’s interdisciplinary structure also resonated deeply with Hong. The field’s focus on education while embracing diverse career paths beyond teaching appealed to her passion for working with young learners and creating lasting impact within education, policy, and dual-language immersion initiatives.   

As part of the program, students engage in a semester-long internship providing valuable real-world experience in their desired career field. During Hong’s internship experience with DREAM, she conducted three oral history interviews with the Asian American student teachers in the cohort, asking them questions at the intersection of education, community, culture, and representation.  

“For students entering the School of Education, I’d recommend staying open-minded and exploring diverse activities and internships,” Hong said. “You’ll be able gain so many skills along the way.”   

Looking ahead, Hong envisions applying the knowledge gained through her studies in HDFS into various facets of her community and career. Recognizing the complex interplay of the many factors that shape individuals and communities,   

“At UNC, especially in the School of Education, I’ve been able to learn more about being empathetic and an active listener,” Hong said. “These skills will allow me to connect with people from all areas of life.”  

While on the cusp of venturing aboard to foster educational impact in Taiwan, Hong’s extends her gratitude to her family and community for their support during her educational journey. To Hong, their collective effort behind her work motivates her to share this appreciation for life-long learning with her future students, while maintaining a commitment to exploring the intersections of society, language, and education.  

“One of the most valuable things I’ve learned is to take an intersectional approach,” Hong said. “It’s about recognizing that no single factor defines a person or situation. There are so many layers and experiences that come together to shape who we are and what we face. I’m committed to continuing this approach in everything I do.”  

May 10, 2024

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Related Topics

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• Human Development and Family Science (HDFS)