The Honors Program awards Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude) to qualified undergraduates in the College of Arts and Sciences who have successfully written and defended honors theses. Students can undertake a thesis project within their major (Departmental Honors) or choose an interdisciplinary option (General Honors).
In this video, Dr. David Sherwood explains the program and its requirements for both Departmental and General Honors. Honors are awarded based on GPA, thesis quality, and oral defense.
Enrollment in IPHY 4850 (Honors Thesis Seminar)
To support your thesis writing, IPHY 4850 is a 1-credit seminar offered each spring by an IPHY faculty member. This seminar provides weekly peer feedback on drafts and includes a mock defense session. Most thesis work is expected to be completed outside of the seminar, potentially as part of IPHY 4870. Students can self-enroll in IPHY 4850.
Enrollment in IPHY 4870 (Honors Thesis)
IPHY 4870 can be taken for 1-6 credits , depending on the number of hours you plan to dedicate to your thesis (1 credit = 25 hours). Your Faculty Sponsor will serve as the instructor and set the expectations for the work.
To enroll in IPHY 4870, first identify a Faculty Sponsor and Honors Thesis Council Representative, then email Angela Stansbury (angela.stansbury@colorado.edu) to initiate your application via DocuSign. Once completed, you'll receive a confirmation email.
Additional Information
For more details, visit the Arts and Sciences Honors Program website or contact the IPHY Honors Council Representatives, Tammy Maldonado (tammy.maldonado@colorado.edu) or Alena Grabowski (alena.grabowski@colorado.edu). Information regarding formatting requirements and deadlines can be found in the Student Guide for Honors.