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Congratulations on considering the Departmental Honors Thesis Project
as part of your academic endeavors at Greenville College! This is
a unique opportunity to engage upon concentrated research and writing
in your field of study, working in a mentoring relationship with
faculty members. Please read the "Instructions
for Preparation of Departmental Honors Theses" for a thorough
introduction to this project. It describes the two-semester sequence
of the main project. Please discuss the Project with the Departmental
Honors Coordinator and your major advisor if you are considering
this exciting opportunity.
The Junior Year Departmental Honors Research Semester is an optional
beginning part of the Departmental Honors Program. It may be undertaken
for one-two credits, or without credit, in the second semester of
the Junior Year. The student must have a 3.0 g.p.a. overall and
a 3.0 in the major field by the Senior Year. This project is open
to all students who meet these criteria.
This Junior Year Semester is designed to allow the student a substantial
amount of time to think through the organization and topic of the
Departmental Honors Project. Thus it includes conducting a preliminary
bibliographic search for sources related to the topic, and/or appropriate
preliminary laboratory work (to become familiar with the techniques
to be employed in the research, understand the line of inquiry of
the research, and identify potentially fruitful avenues of research).
The Course Objectives chart describes other aspects of the course,
including:
- The selection of the Committee;
- Refining research methodology by taking a research methods
course or demonstrating competency to the Committee and meeting
with a reference librarian;
- Preparing the report.
Course Description: Optional beginning
semester of the Departmental Honors Project, in which the topic
is chosen, the committee is selected, a preliminary bibliographic
search for sources related to the topic is conducted and/or appropriate
preliminary laboratory work is undertaken, with a written report
articulating the reasons for and goals of the project, the preliminary
bibliography, and/or the laboratory work, to be submitted to the
Committee and Departmental Honors Coordinator two weeks before the
end of the semester. One-two credits.
A Sign-up Sheet
and complete instructions for Junior Year Departmental Honors Research should be obtained
from the Departmental Honors Coordinator or the Web Site by the
student. It must be turned in to the Committee Chair, Vice-President
for Academic Affairs, and Departmental Honors Coordinator by March
1 (Spring Semester) or Oct. 1 (Fall Semester).
The Report Form
for Junior Semester Departmental Honors Research and the Written Report must be turned
in to the Committee Chair, Vice-President for Academic Affairs,
and Department Honors Coordinator by May 1 (Spring Semester) or
Dec. 1 (Fall Semester).
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Objectives
Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:
A. Name a committee chair and other committee members;
B. State a working title for their thesis project:
C. Conduct a preliminary bibliographic search for sources
related to their topic; and/or appropriate preliminary laboratory
work;
D. Articulate the need for and goals of their project in light
of the available research or literature.
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Enabling Activities
To meet the objectives, the student will:
A. Negotiate with members of their major department(s) to
select a committee chair and the other members of the committee;
B. Select, in consultation with the committee chair, a suitable
topic for the project.
C. Either enroll in a research methods course, take a course
in the major department with research methods as a significant
component, or demonstrate to the satisfaction of the committee
chair sufficient awareness of research methods to substantiate
such a project; and meet with a reference librarian.
D. Present to the chair a written report justifying the topic,
reviewing the relevant literature and anticipating what remains
to be done to complete the project.
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Evaluation
The student is evaluated on the quality, thoroughness, and
creativity of the following:
A. Met specific deadlines and selected an appropriate committee.
B. Gave evidence of understanding the general overview of
the field to be investigated and has selected an appropriate
topic.
C. Demonstrated competence in research skills applicable
to the field of study, met with a reference librarian, prepared
a preliminary bibliography and/or undertook preliminary laboratory
research.
D. Presented in proper form the completed body of written information,
reporting on the preliminary investigations and reasons and
goals of the project.
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For Additional Information contact:
Jane Hopkins , Departmental
Honors Coordinator and Director of Library
Email:
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Phone: 618-664-6601
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Academics 
