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Honors Program


Students who are majoring in Environmental Sciences and maintain a 3.5 overall GPA are eligible to write an Honors thesis once they have identified a faculty mentor who has agreed to supervise that student's Honors thesis. 

The honors program is conducted over both semesters of the student's senior year. Students who are interested in the program should get in touch with prospective faculty advisors for their thesis, and also contact the faculty departmental Honors coordinator, in the second semester of their junior year.

Interested? But unsure how to get started with topics for an honors thesis? Please explore the resources available through the library and specifically the Environmental Sciences Librarian, Kristan Majors. Also, please explore the Environmental Honors Research Guide.

The Emory College Honors Program consists of the following requirements:

Complete one graduate level course (500 level or higher)

This course must be taken for a letter grade and must be must chosen in consultation with the Honors advisor - typically these courses are 3 or 4 credits, but must be at least 2 credits to be considered. The student must get approval from the departmental honors committee for permission to receive credit for a graduate course taken in another department.

Register for two semesters (eight hours) of ENVS 495 (Honors Research)

Generally, the first semester will be devoted to research and proposal writing. The second semester will involve completion of the thesis.

Select a committee of at least three faculty members

Two of the committee members must be Environmental Sciences faculty, we strongly encourage the third committee member be from outside ENVS.

Defend their thesis to committee

The student must defend their thesis to their committee in time for final submission to the College office. The thesis must be turned in by posted deadlines and conform to College guidelines. The award of Honors, High Honors and Highest Honors will be determined by the committee.