The Honors Degree will allow outstanding undergraduates in the Department of Economics to perform research with an individual faculty member and to receive recognition for their exceptional performance. Students may either participate in faculty research projects or they may pursue independent research under faculty guidance.
Selection
Students should apply to the Department when they have completed at least 80 credit hours of work toward their undergraduate degree and at least 20 credit hours in Economics courses. Students are required to have a minimum GPA of 3.25 overall as well as in Economics courses. Upon selection to the Honors Degree Program, the student will choose a faculty advisor from the Department of Economics.
Requirements
Students will be required to take 2 credit hours per term of EC 403-Honors Thesis during the first two terms of their honors studies. They will be required to take 4 credit hours of EC 403-Honors Thesis during the third term of their honors studies. A written thesis is required and will be completed during the third term of honors studies. Students will present the results of their thesis in an Economics Department honors seminar.
Supervision
The student’s advisor will provide most supervision. Students not performing adequately can be dropped from the program at the request of the advisor. Students can request a change of advisor and/or can withdraw from the program. Any disputes between the student and the advisor will be dealt with by the departmental Undergraduate/Honors Committee. Coordination with the University Honors Program: It’s easy to coordinate this program with the University Honors Program. The Economics Department will accept enrollment in HON 403 in lieu of enrollment in EC 403, and share advising with Honors Program faculty.
Guidelines for the Applicants:
Submit the following for the Honors Research Program:
Your transcripts.
Names of 3 faculty members who can serve as your references. Two of these references must be from the Department of Economics.
A brief paragraph (approx. 250 words) about what you expect to gain from the Honors Program and the form(s) of guidance you think would be most appropriate from your advisors.
A list of the area(s) of research that you would be most interested in pursuing and the name(s) of any faculty members with whom you would be particularly interested in working.
An address, an email address, and a phone number where we can contact you.
