In-Course Honors Project Guidelines

In-course honors should be viewed as an agreement. It is the student’s responsibility to:

• Professionally and respectfully initiate contact with the professor to discuss an in-course honors project and obtain the professor's approval for supervising the in-course honors project.
• Submit the In-Course Honors Project Application by the deadline and stay on task with project requirements
• Communicate frequently with the professor regarding project progress and challenges
• Communicate changes regarding the project (canceled project, dropped course, etc.) to the professor and to the Executive Director of the Honors College
• Maintain your own copy of the In-Course Honors Project Application

Any professor at CSU may choose to supervise an In-course Honors Project. The projects should provide a meaningful experience for the student, engaging in a one-on-one mentoring relationship with the professor. Professors are encouraged to:

• Meet with the student periodically to guide and review the student’s progress toward completing the project
• Challenge the student to approach the material from alternative perspectives and share relevant research, networks, and other resources with the student
• Provide opportunities for the student to develop research and practical skills
• Facilitate connections between the course and other relevant professional or disciplinary interests the student may have
• Where appropriate, involve the student in collaborative research or professional activities (co-authoring, co-producing, etc.)
• Be creative in thinking about the type of project that will help the student to grow and develop in a particular field, while completing a project that will be beneficial to them as they prepare for graduate or professional schools and/or a career field
• When practical, encourage students to complete projects that will benefit the CSU and broader communities

Honors projects may promote:

• deeper exploration of a course topic
• investigation of new or alternate ideas
• connection of course content and field experiences
• cultivation of multidisciplinary perspectives
• skill development – critical thinking, performance, professional practice
• figuring out how to use course content and principles to benefit the CSU and broader communities
• enhanced classroom instruction (student may develop materials, presentations, or resources for the professor to use in the course)

In-course honors projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Developing a product or program that benefits or uplifts others
• Writing a scholarly paper that expands upon a topic covered in the course
• Developing teaching materials such as a test, handouts, or presentation
• Gaining field experience – interview, site observation, field research
• Conducting interpretive or creative writing within the context of the course
• Researching a topic and presenting findings to the class
• Giving a musical or theatrical performance or participating in a public debate
• Any creative and worthwhile endeavor

Students involving human participants or animal subjects in their research projects are responsible for obtaining approval BEFORE beginning the project. If you are unsure if you need approval, contact the Office of Sponsored Programs and Research.

If a project is completed satisfactorily as indicated by the professor at the end of the semester, a notation will be added to the student’s official transcript indicating that the course was taken for honors credit.

Once you have reviewed the guidelines and have a professor who is willing to supervise a project in a course in which you are currently enrolled, please complete the In-Course Honors Project Application before the due date.