Honors
Summary
- 3.25 GPA KU overall & 3.5 GPA in the WS major
- A senior honors thesis related to WGSS written over two semesters (two three-credit courses)
- Double majors: earn Honors in both majors with one thesis that is relevant to both programs.
GPA Requirements
Students need a 3.25 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in their Women's Studies major.
Honors Thesis
Student write an honors thesis that is pertinent to Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. An honors thesis is a piece of original research or other project supervised by a faculty member of any department. In most cases, the result will be a written document of some length, but this could vary depending on the topic and what the student and thesis advisor agree on. A single thesis can be submitted to WGSS and to another department for Honors in both programs, if both programs agree.
The senior honors thesis or honors project must be approved by a three-member thesis committee (the thesis advisor and two other faculty members, at least one of whom must be either in WGSS or on the WGSS Advisory Board).
Students take 6 credit hours of honors thesis work (3 hours per semester for 2 semesters, earning a A or B in the first semester and a A the second. For these 6 hours, students can enroll in:
- WGSS 499—Honors in WGSS
- and/or
- WGSS 498—Independent Study in WGSS
- and/or
- two Honors Research courses or two Independent Studies in any department
The last option would be especially relevant if the student plans to submit one honors thesis to both WGSS and another department in order to receive honors in both programs, or if the student's research advisor is not a member of the WGSS core faculty.
Typical Timeline
Junior Year (or very early in the first semester of the student's last year): Select a topic for a thesis; talk to professors about ideas; find a professor willing to supervise the thesis. Inform the WGSS Honors Coordinator!
First Semester of the Last Year: Enroll in 3 credit hours of WGSS 498 or 499 or in an Independent Study of another department. Begin researching the thesis topic. The student and thesis advisor should form a three-person faculty committee (the thesis advisor and two other faculty members, at least one of whom must be either in WGSS or on the WGSS Advisory Board). Submit an Honors Intent Form by 1 March to College Student Academic Services, 109 Strong.
Second Semester of the Last Year: Enroll in 3 credit hours of WGSS 498 or 499 or in an Independent Study of another department. Finish the thesis. Have the thesis committee read the thesis and vote to award Honors (or not). If the thesis is passed, the thesis advisor needs to sign the Honors Certification Form, which can be obtained by the student in the College Student Academic Services officee, 109 Strong; after the advisor signs this form, it is then submitted back to the College Student Academic Services, 109 Strong, at least a week before the end of the graduation term. The thesis advisor should also notify the Honors Coordinator of the result.
Double Majors: Students who are satisfying double majors and pursuing Honors in both majors may use one honors thesis for both majors if they get approval from both departments. The thesis must be related to both majors, and the thesis committee must include faculty members from both departments. Students must fulfill both departments' requirements for honors.
