HONORS PROGRAM IN GEOLOGY

WINONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Eligibility:

• Geology or earth science major
• Completed Geology 101, 102, 250, 251 and 320
• Minimum of junior standing
• Minimum of 3.0 G.P.A., both overall and within major
• Secure approval and support of a Department of Geology research advisor proficient in the area of the proposed research
• Submit for approval a research proposal to the faculty of the Department of Geology, including:
  • statement of objectives
  • description of the research
  • importance of the research and significance of potential conclusions
  • list of selected references.

Participation and Completion

• Maintain a minimum 3.0 G.P.A., both overall and within the major
• Conduct diligent work on a project involving field and/or laboratory and library research for the equivalent of three quarters (may include summer work)
• Thesis may substitute for elective credit in the Geology or Earth Science majors, and additional departmental requirements may be waived as appropriate
• Write and successfully defend an Honors Thesis dealing with the research.
  • The research advisor shall serve as the primary reader of the manuscript, and other members of the Department of Geology will serve as secondary readers.
  • The thesis must be signed by the advisor and all members of the Department.
  • The defense shall consist of an oral presentation and question-and-answer session before the Faculty of the Department of Geology, the Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, and appropriate outside examiners.
• Give a short (20-minute) seminar describing the research to an audience of faculty and students
• Submit results of the research for presentation at a professional meeting or undergraduate research symposium

Graduation:

• Official transcripts will be stamped with the words "Graduated with Honors in Geology"
• Transcript will show the title of the honors thesis
• Graduation status (Honors in Geology) will be indicated on the graduation program and mentioned during the graduation ceremonies.

EXPECTATIONS

• Research Advisors:
  • Faculty directing student research must be willing to assume the responsibility of providing direction sufficient to allow a well-motivated and hard-working student the opportunity to succeed. Students will be encouraged to develop as much scientific independence as is possible during the research, but it is understood that some students will always require considerable direct supervision and faculty consultation.
  • The research advisor must provide close editorial scrutiny of the manuscript. Usually this means that the research advisor will have to edit several drafts of the thesis.
• Honors Students:
  • Participants will be expected to work diligently on their research problems. Some of this work will probably be during evenings and weekends. Field work may have to be conducted during the Summer. Much of the work will require considerable independence, and the student will be expected to be self-motivated.

Honors Theses:

• A minimum of three bound copies of an approved Honors Thesis will be provided by the student. One copy will go to the research advisor. One copy will be placed in the WSU Library, and the third copy will be for the student. The costs associated with the production of these copies is the responsibility of the student. The Geology Department will be responsible for binding the Honors Theses and for depositing the bound copies in Maxwell Library.
• The manuscript must follow the recommendations contained in the Department of Geology writing manual and should be of the quality appropriate to an Honors Student. It is expected that the student will write the manuscript on a word processor to facilitate efficient editing and rewriting.

Research costs:

• The costs associated with a research project can be carried, in part, by the Department. However, research advisors must receive approval from the Department of Geology prior to the expenditure of departmental funds for Honors Research.
• Research advisors are strongly encouraged to make every effort to attract their own funding from intramural and extramural sources.
• Students may apply for funding through the Department of Geology Alumni Fund.

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