Honors in Research

Identify a mentor.

Identify a general area of research.

Begin to become familiar with common research tools, language, and processes through engagement in a research activity (such as reading, lab work, field work, etc).

There should be frequent interactions with the mentor or the research group associated with the mentor. If interests change, consult with an academic advisor or the Honors Dean about finding another research mentor.

Take INTER-AG 288 Introductory CALS Honors Seminar (only offered in spring).

Maintain a 3.25 GPA.

Submit the First-Year Requirements Form with required documentation to the Office of Academic Affairs by May 1st.

Conduct an introductory research project.

Take INTER-AG 388 CALS Honors Interdisciplinary Junior Seminar (only offered in spring).

Continue development of research skills. For experimental sciences, primary emphasis is on developing laboratory skills through interaction with the faculty & other scientists. In the social sciences, it might involve reading the literature, as well as developing data acquisition & analysis skills.

Interact frequently with the mentor or their research group. The mentoring arrangement can be documented by credits in a 299-like course, though this is not a requirement.

Near the end of the year, present the research results in an appropriate research forum to an informed audience such as a poster session at a local meeting or symposium, or an oral presentation to the mentor’s research group.

Maintain a 3.25 GPA

Submit the Second-Year Requirements Form with required documentation to the Office of Academic Affairs by May 1st.

Continue research and identify a specific problem or interest for the Senior Honors Thesis.

Prepare a thesis proposal suitable in content, length, and format to the field in which the research is being conducted.

Take INTER-AG 488 Honors Research Colloquium (only offered in spring).

Apply for funding to support the senior honors thesis research. CALS and campus deadlines are typically in mid-February of each year and are posted on the CALS Honors website along with application materials. Off-campus funding may be available in certain cases. Applications for funding are not strictly required, but are strongly recommended.

Maintain a 3.25 GPA

Submit the Third-Year Requirements Form with required documentation to the Office of Academic Affairs by May 1st. The Honors Dean and/or Committee will either accept the proposal or identify concerns that must be addressed by a specified date, if the student is to receive a degree with honors.

Continue research.

Take Senior Honors Thesis credits (681 and 682; or 699 in the mentor’s department) for two semesters at a minimum of two credits each semester.

Produce a thesis. The thesis should document the following: (i) The demonstration of a problem or question, with sufficient background about that problem to inform the reader; (ii) Evidence of demonstrated skill in research methods; (iii) The critical analysis of the proper interpretation of results or experiences; (iv) A summary of the impact and results of the research on the original question or issue that was analyzed; (v) Works cited.

Senior Honors Thesis example

Present the results in a public forum, such as the CALS Undergraduate Research Symposium, the University Undergraduate Symposium, a conference, or a professional meeting in their discipline.

Electronically submit the thesis signed by the mentor to CALS Academic Affairs along with the following documents:

• Cover Sheet — Complete one. Those choosing to make their theses public and give permission to post on Minds@UW, use Cover Sheet (with Permission). Those choosing not to make their theses public should use Cover Sheet (No Permission)
• Abstract Page — Requires an abstract of not more than 150 words and must be signed by both the student and mentor.
• Presentation Form — Requires student and mentor signatures with attached documentation of the presentation.

If the thesis is made available to the public, Steenbock Library uploads the thesis to the CALS Honors and Undergraduate Research Program section of Minds@UW. This is an excellent way to showcase work to employers, graduate schools, family, and friends, and to provide examples of Honors theses to future Honors students.

Students are encouraged to submit their written work from the introductory project and/or the senior thesis for publication in the UW-Madison Journal of Undergraduate Science and Technology after consultation with their mentor.

Upon successful completion of program requirements and graduation requirements, students are awarded the Bachelor of Science degree with Honors.

For more information contact Honors Program Manager, Heather Mialik at heather.mialik@wisc.edu.