Exploratory Research
Two requirements that students must meet in order to graduate from the Honors College are the exploratory research project and senior thesis. These requirements exist in order to encourage students either to develop their own scholarly interests or to become more involved with the research pursuits of University faculty. The independent work done, particularly with the thesis, will set you apart from other university students. This distinction will benefit you as you apply for graduate/professional school or enter your chosen career. The most common experience for these two requirements is to do independent research with a faculty mentor in the junior year, and then write the results of that research as your thesis in the senior year.
You can fulfill the exploratory research requirement a number of ways:
- taking a research-based course in your major (see the list of some courses that work);
- developing an independent study course with a faculty mentor, using HON 301 or HON 302;
- having an internship, which may or may not earn academic hours;
- studying abroad at least a semester (or at least 10 weeks if during the summer).
Examples of research experiences include, but are not limited to, enrollment in an independent-study research course (which in the sciences would be lab-based); a paid or unpaid internship; participation in a clinical research project in areas such as pharmacy, communicative disorders, and psychology; independent research in a state or national archive; participation in an artistic project. While studying abroad fulfills the exploratory research project requirement, be aware that you will still need to do the research for your senior thesis, and that you may find those resources more available in the country in which you are studying.
You can fulfill the exploratory research requirement at various times during your college career. For example, you may have an internship the summer after your freshman year. Conversely, the required course sequence in your major may not allow independent research until the senior year. While most students will complete the research before beginning their senior year, if circumstances (such as required course sequencing in your major) prevent you from adhering to this deadline, you should discuss it with the Honors College administration and your research advisor. With the multiple options available, you can earn from zero to six hours of academic credit for this project.
It is helpful to start thinking about what type of research you would like to conduct before the beginning of the junior year. When you have an idea in mind, identify faculty members who have similar interests or ongoing research projects in similar areas. Departmental websites have links to faculty pages where you can learn about their research interests. Make an appointment to discuss your research ideas with them. You may find that you have to rethink your idea several times before you find one that is interesting, reasonable, and within the limits of available time and resources. You should also be sure to ask the faculty member about their availability to serve as your mentor. This is an especially important task because faculty members serving as research advisors generally also serve as thesis advisors. This translates into a 1-2 year commitment on the part of the faculty member. You want to make sure that you are working with someone who is willing and able to provide the time and guidance that you will need in completing the research and thesis. If you are having difficulty finding a research advisor, talk to your academic advisor, department chair, school dean, or the Honors College staff.
Before beginning the exploratory research project, you should discuss with your advisor what you expect to accomplish. This is especially important if you are planning to earn academic credit for the work that you are doing. Both you and your advisor need to be clear about the expected results of the research, the duration of the research, and how the research may translate into a senior thesis. You should also discuss grading criteria. For students in the sciences who may be conducting experimental research, discuss the possibilities of things not working out the way they should (lab results that disprove the hypothesis) and alternatives if that happens. While the research is intended to be independent work, students are still expected to meet with their advisors to discuss their progress. It is up to you and your advisor to determine how frequently you should meet.
*Be sure to fill out the Research Approval form and get the appropriate signatures. Obviously, having this form completed before you begin the research is the safest way to ensure that the project will fulfill the requirement.