Honors work is intended to be primarily self-directed, but the Thesis Director will work with students to identify clear target goals and deadlines for what should be developed and delivered. Failure to meet these individualized milestones can result in withdrawal from Honors in the Major.
In addition to the individualized milestones determined with the Thesis Director, students also have standardized deadlines and deliverables for the College and the Honors Program, as outlined below.
BFA2 Spring
| Week 1 | The College Honors Liaison holds an information session, attendance at which is required for any students considering Honors in the Major. Following the information session, students work with the College Liaison to identify a topic and discuss potential Thesis Directors and Committee Members. Once a Thesis Director is identified, students should meet with them to begin work on the prospectus. |
| Week 5 Fri 4pm | The Honors Application Form must be completed and signatures obtained from: 1) your Thesis Director; 2) Dept. Chair or Area Coordinator (Andrew Syder); and 3) Honors Liaison (Lisa Tripp). Use one of the three electronic signature options. Note: Students do not need signatures from their other committee members on the application form. Once the application form is completed with all three signatures obtained, you must turn it in as a PDF via the HITM online portal. |
| Week 10 Fri 4pm | The Faculty Committee must be fully formed. Students must give the names of all of their committee members to the College Liaison, including contact information for the Outside Member. |
| April 1st 4pm | The Prospectus must be shared with the faculty committee and the College Liaison. Make necessary revisions and get approval from all members on the Prospectus Approval Form. |
| April 15th 4pm | The Prospectus Approval Form must be submitted to the Honors Program and the College Liaison. It is the responsibility of the student to get approval signatures with ample time to meet the deadline. Failure to meet this milestone will result in withdrawal from Honors in the Major. |
BFA2 Summer
| Week 1 | Students should schedule a meeting with their Thesis Director to begin work on their project and create a plan for project targets/goals for the summer and how often and when to meet with their Thesis Director. A weekly or bi-weekly meeting this semester is recommended. |
| Week 12 | Thesis Directors report if the student has met milestones and is making satisfactory progress as a requirement of continuing with Honors in the Major. |
BFA3 Fall
| Week 7 | Thesis Directors report if the student has met milestones and is making satisfactory progress as a requirement of continuing with Honors in the Major. |
| Week 16 | Thesis Directors report if the student has met milestones and is making satisfactory progress as a requirement of continuing with Honors in the Major. |
BFA3 Spring
| Week 4 Friday 4pm | The Defense Announcement Form must be submitted to the Collage Liaison and the Honors Program via the online portal here. Identify a date for the defense in or before Week 15. All committee members are expected to be present for the full defense. Virtual attendance by committee members is permitted in extenuating circumstances. Signatures are needed from all the members of the faculty committee. |
| Week 7 | Thesis Directors report if the student has met milestones and is making satisfactory progress as a requirement of continuing with Honors in the Major. |
| Two weeks before defense | The Honors Project must be submitted to all committee members, along with a reminder about the time and location of the defense. This is to give all of the committee members sufficient time to review the project before the defense. Students doing a Creative Project (defined as one that results in a performance or product rather than a research paper) must also submit a written report on the project at this time (minimum 10 pages in length). The report must include a title page and signature page in the traditional format for an honors thesis (refer to this Thesis Template). |
| Week 15 Friday 4pm | The Defense must take place before the end of Week 15, in order to allow some turnaround time if revisions are requested by the faculty committee. |
| Week 16 Friday 4pm | The Defense Certificate and Embargo Request Form are due to the Honors Program and the College Liaison, to signify the successful defense the project. If no revisions are requested at the defense, it’s easiest to get these documents signed at the end of the defense, while the full committee is in the room. |