Departmental Honors in WGST
WGST offers a departmental honors program for women and gender studies majors, designed to give students the opportunity to pursue rigorous interdisciplinary research and writing under the close supervision and mentorship of a WGST faculty member. In pursuing honors, students can be expected to gain a deeper understanding of the field and the critical thinking and writing skills needed to excel in a graduate or professional school or in management-level positions in the professional workforce. Students also receive public recognition at commencement and at the Honors Program convocation for successful completion and defense of their thesis, as well as overall academic record.
To Apply:
- Students should have at least a 3.3 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA in Women and Gender Studies.
- In the beginning of their junior year, students should make an appointment with the Honors Director to first discuss their ideas about joining the Honors Program and to find out about eligibility. Remember that early planning is vital. The deadline to apply with the honors office is early in the first semester of your Senior year.
- Find a Women and Gender Studies faculty member who will act as your advisor, and discuss your honors committee with your advisor.
- Your honors committee consists of three faculty members. Two of the three members must be in Women and Gender Studies. The first member is your advisor and chair of the committee, the second is a member of the Women and Gender Studies faculty, and the third is a faculty member from another department. One of these must be on the Honors Council. This committee will be present during the defense of your thesis and can also be used for advice during the writing of your thesis as deemed necessary by your chair.
- Fill out the Application for Honors in WGST with your faculty advisor and return it to the Hazel Gates Woodruff Cottage (this is recommended to be submitted by the second semester of your Junior year).
- Find out about eligibility for grants from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.
- Download the Honors Program Application from the Arts & Sciences Honors Program office. Work with your advisor to complete the required prospectus, bibliography, and timeline, and signatures from your committee members. This is submitted directly to the Honors Program on the 4th floor of Norlin Library, before their deadline.
About the Process:
- You will research and write a thesis (30-60+ pages) during two semesters under the direction of your advisor.
- You have the option to register for either WGST 4950-Honors Research or WGST 4999-Honors Thesis Hours. Students are to discuss this option with their faculty advisor.
- Students will defend the thesis after its completion at an agreed upon time and place with their three-member committee.
- Submit the thesis to the Honors Program by the deadline set by the Honors Program and provide each committee member with copies of their thesis.
- Attend the defense on the designated day. Upon completion of the defense, the committee will recommend one of the following to the Honors Council: (1) No Honors (2) Cum Laude (3) Magna Cum Laude (4) Summa Cum Laude.
- Find out your honors designation when it is posted at the Honors Program after the Honors Council makes the final designations.
- The Honors Program website has a lot of great information and is a great resource.
Recommended Timeline:
| 2nd Semester of your Junior year |
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| Summer between Junior & Senior Year |
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| 1st Semester of your Senior Year |
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| 2nd Semester of your Senior Year |
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