Students with a cumulative average of 3.50 at the end of their first
three years of study are eligible and may be invited by the Department
of Religion to participate in the Honors Program.
Students will choose a thesis director from the faculty in the Department.
In consultation with this director, students will choose two additional
faculty members to serve on their Honors committee. The director will
guide the student's independent research on a topic of the student's
choosing. The student is encouraged to consult with the additional committee
members, especially during the final semester of the work. The entire
committee will judge the quality of the completed Honors Thesis and
the student's defense of the thesis in an oral examination. A minimum
of two successive semesters of Honors Directed Reading (REL 495R) is
required for the Honors degree. The Department strongly encourages the
student to find and take a graduate seminar related to the Honors topic.
The Honors committee must include one member from outside the Department
of Religion and, in the case of joint majors, the committee must include
one faculty member from each department and a third faculty member from
outside both departments.
Successful Honors candidates are awarded the degree with Honors, High
Honors, or Highest Honors. The degree of Honors is awarded for satisfactory
completion of the Honors Program while High Honors are given for an
outstanding achievement and Highest Honors for an exceptional performance
of a quality suitable for publication. Fourrageres signifying honors
are presented to qualifying graduating seniors to be worn at Commencement.