SMITH COLLEGE

COLLEGE-WIDE DEPARTMENTAL HONORS PROGRAM GUIDELINES and PROCEDURES

FOR STUDENTS COMPLETING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS IN 2014

The Departmental Honors Program allows a student with a strong academic background to complete an honors project in the department /program of the major (only one major if the student has a double major).Successful completion of work in the honors program (an honors project undertaken under the direction of a faculty member in the major department/program and at least one honors examination) leads to the awarding of the bachelor of arts degree with the added notation “Honors,” “High Honors,” or “Highest Honors” in the student’s major subject.Honors projects may only be undertaken by eligible seniors who are in residence in Northampton for the duration of the project.

Prospective applicants to the Departmental Honors Program should consult the director of honors in their major department/program as early as possible in the JUNIOR year.Guidelines, requirements and options for the Departmental Honors Program will be outlined on the webpage of each department/program as well as in the catalogue following the respective course offerings.

Deadlines are established by the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs (SHIP) of the Committee on Academic Priorities(CAP), which administers the Departmental Honors Program, see Questions should be directed to the Dean of the Senior Class/Chair of the S.H.I.P., College Hall 101, ext. 4920 or to .

Eligibility

Eligibility for admission to the Departmental Honors Program is determined by each department/program.A student applying to the DepartmentalHonors Program must have her thesis approved by her major department/program before the application can be forwarded to the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs.

A student applying to a Departmental Honors program must certify, as part of her Honors application, that she has not been sanctioned by the Honor Board at a serious level (1/3 step grade reduction or more). Sanctions imposed in the first yearare excluded;a studentis only debarred from Honors for serious violations in the sophomore, junior and senior year. Students already enrolled in an Honors project who incur a sanction during the senior year must convert their Honors project to a Special Studies. The certification letter should be submitted directly to the Senior Class Dean either in hard copy to College Hall 101 or by email attachment to . A template for this letter can be found here:

Options and Credits for Honors Project Courses

Each department/program determines which honors project course option/s will be available for credit:

a)One-semester course (431 for 8 credits)–fall semester onlyof the senior year;

b)Year-long course (430D for 8 credits – 4 credits in each semester of the senior year

c)Year-long course (432D for 12 credits)–6 credits in each semester of the senior year

Timing and Deadlines

A student may apply to enter the Departmental Honors Program no earlier than the end of the second semester of the junior year and no later than the beginning of the first semester of the senior year.

SPECIFIC DATESfor each year are listed separately on the honors webpage:

Spring applicationsfromsecond-semester juniors must reach the Director of Honors of the student's department/program before the lastdepartment/program meeting of the spring semester. Students should check by April 1stwith the Director of Honors of their department/program for the exact date for the submission. Applications should then be forwarded to SHIP by the Director of Honors by the Monday after commencement. Decisions about admission to the departmental honors program are made after grades from spring semester are recorded.

Fallapplicationsfrom first-semester seniorsmust reach the Director of Honors of the student's department/program before the firstdepartment/program meeting of the fall semester. Students should check by September 1stwith the Director of Honors of their department/program for the exact date for the fall submission. Applications should then be forwarded to SHIP by the Director of Honors by the last day for online add/drop of the semester (end of the second week).

Incomplete applications are not considered. Requests for funding (see below under Tomlinson Fund) should accompany the honors application.

Course/Credit Load

Candidates for departmental honors must carry a minimum course load (12 credits) in each semester of the senior year (Ada Comstock Scholars should see the Dean for Ada Comstock Scholars regarding credit load). Any variation in the credit distribution described above must be approved by the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs.

Application

A prospective applicant should consult,prior to the advising period in the second semester of the junior year, with a faculty member in the department/program of her major who is willing to serve as her adviser and direct her proposed project. The primary project adviser must be a member of the Smith faculty in the department/program of the student’s major; faculty at other Five College institutions mayserve only as second readers.

The application process consists of sixsteps on the student’s part:

  1. Request via email to or a “Calculation of GPA Requirements Form”. Please include your ID # and your major; if you have two majors indicate which major is for honors (can only honor in one major). The form will be returned via email.
  2. Use the "Calculation of GPA Requirements Form" to calculate, together with the project adviser, your grade point average(s) inside the major (and outside the major if required by your major department/program). The GPA(s) must be equal to or higher than that required by your major department/program.
  3. Submit to the Director of Honors in the major department/program (and subsequently to the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs) aproject proposal consisting of 500-1,000 words (2-4 pages) containing:
  • a description of the broader scholarly issue to be investigated or undertaken;
  • the specific question or hypothesis to be treated;
  • an explanation of the approach to be taken and evidence of experience using this approach;
  • documentation of relevant background, preparation, or skills necessary to undertake the proposed project (e.g., previous course work related to the project topic, quantitative skills, foreign language ability, etc.);
  • a bibliography
  • a copy of the completed and signed “Calculation of GPA Requirements” form.
  1. Obtain the signature of your project adviser.
  2. Submit the completed honors applicationAND any request for fundingfrom the Nancy Kershaw Tomlinson Memorial Fund (using budget request forms) to the Director of Honors in the major department/programby the deadlines noted above under "Timing and Deadlines".
  3. Submit your certification letter (see "eligibility" above for explanation) directly to the Chair of S.H.I.P./Senior Class Dean by mail to College Hall 101 or by email .
Nancy Kershaw Tomlinson Memorial Fund

The Tomlinson Fund assists in providing essential expenses of students in carrying out their honors projects. Guidelines, Reimbursement form, Travel Budget form and Supplies & Equipment Budget form are available at:

Required Project Research Appointment

Each student accepted into the Departmental Honors Program must arrange for a research appointment with a reference librarian or archivist at the Hillyer Art Library, Josten Performing Arts Library, William Allan Neilson Library, or Young Science Library. The purpose of this session is to prepare the student for locating, obtaining, evaluating, and correctly documenting all relevant sources needed for a successful project. These skills are necessary even if some research has already been conducted. The content of each meeting is tailored to the student’s topic and presents an opportunity for the student to ask specific questions about the proposed research process as well as a chance to develop expertise in using the most relevant databases, web sites, or other vital research tools.

This hour-long meeting must be scheduledas early as possible after acceptance but at the latest by the end of the 6th week of the semester so that the student can take full advantage of available print and electronic resources. Since the librarian or archivist will need some time to research each project topic, expect that the scheduling process will take a few days. To schedule a research appointment, make an online request at:

The final decision regarding admission to the Departmental HOnors Program

rests with the Subcommittee on Honors and Independent Programs.

06/2013