The Organizational Studies Honors Option
The Organizational Studies Honors option is designed to enable advanced undergraduate students to gain experience in the design, conduct, and analysis of research on organizations and organizational behavior. In the program, you will collaborate directly with a faculty mentor to complete an original research project. For students with strong academic records and an interest in research, the honors program can serve as a capstone for your undergraduate studies, and as important preparation for graduate studies or other future endeavors.
Organizational Studies majors are preparing for a wide variety of post-graduation activities, including both careers and graduate or professional school. The Organizational Studies Honors Option is focused solely on research skills and activities, and you should be certain that you have a serious interest in academic research, demonstrated in your proposal, and the capability and desire to complete a prolonged independent study project culminating in a major empirical research paper.
Overall Structure and Effort for Honors Option
During the junior year, students apply for the the Organizational Studies Honors Option.
The application includes a detailed research proposal, and must be supported and signed by a faculty mentor (Research Expectations and Faculty Advisor Responsibilities). The OS Honors Coordinator will meet with interested juniors in groups and individually to assist in the development of the honors project and in identifying a mentor.
If approved for honors, students enroll in the OS Senior Honors Research sequence in the senior year (OS 497 & 498).
Both of these course together will complete the Senior Research Capstone Experience requirement. These are independent study courses in which students will work on their research and thesis with their faculty mentor. Students also meet several times at designated intervals with the OS Honors Coordinator for ongoing assistance and support throughout the project. OS Honors students are also admitted to the Honors Program within LSA, and can receive additional support and academic advising through that office.
The Honors thesis will become the defining feature of the student's senior year. Completing an honors research project requires a commitment of at least two terms working in an independent study format and meeting on a regular basis with a faculty mentor.
Students submit their final thesis for evaluation by a faculty panel in early March of their senior year, participate in an oral defense/discussion of the thesis in late March, and will present their work at the OS Honors Symposium in early April.
If the thesis is approved and LSA cumulative GPA requirements are met, an Honors designation will be placed on the student's transcript and diploma upon graduation. It is important to note that a minimum gpa (both cumulative and major gpa) of 3.40 is required to receive an Honors designation.
Detailed information is available on the OS Portal. Further questions - please contact OS Honors Coordinator Lisa Fein.
