Students with an overall collegiate grade-point average of 3.25 or better and 3.50 or better in religious studies courses are eligible to submit a proposal for an honors thesis by the end of the second week of the fall Senior Seminar course. The proposal must include a thorough research plan, bibliography, a list of relevant coursework, and identify the primary sources and research methods used in the project. The religious studies faculty will read and evaluate the proposal before deciding whether a student may continue with the honors track. Should the faculty determine that a student cannot continue with the Honors track, the student will revert to the regular Senior Seminar process. Honors candidates will not write the Senior Paper, but a complete chapter of the Honors project, due in December, will substitute. Honors candidates will present this chapter in the Senior Capstone conference in February.
In the spring, honors students will enroll in RLST 498 Senior Honors and continue work on the thesis under the supervision of their faculty mentors(s). Research will culminate in a thesis of 60-100 pages (typically 2 or 3 chapters and an introduction). The finished thesis is due at the beginning of April. An outside examiner in the field of religious studies will read the thesis and will conduct an hour-long oral examination with the candidate for Honors, late in April or early in May. The outside examiner will determine whether the thesis is awarded the distinction of honors, high honors, highest honors or no honors. The criteria for evaluation is as follows:
- Highest Honors: Student demonstrates rigorous use of primary and secondary sources, notably strong analytical and interpretative skills, and demonstrates the exemplary crafting of a coherent and compelling argument. The writing is excellent.
- High Honors: Student makes more than competent use of primary and secondary sources, displays sound analytical and interpretative skills, and demonstrates the crafting of a coherent argument. The thesis is very well-written and of even quality.
- Honors: Student makes competent use of primary and secondary sources, displays adequate analytical and interpretative skills and shows some evidence of a coherent argument. The thesis is well-written but of uneven quality.
- No Honors: Student fails to use primary and secondary sources competently and does not construct and sustain a clear argument.
If you intend to propose Honors, please be in touch by the end of your junior year with both the chair and the faculty mentors(s) most likely to be overseeing your independent research. Students wishing to pursue Honors are advised to begin research over the summer. If interviews with human subjects are required, students must obtain IRB approval prior to conducting research.