{"id":6492,"date":"2026-10-23T13:48:52","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T18:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/honors\/?page_id=6492"},"modified":"2026-10-23T14:55:28","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T19:55:28","slug":"research-in-honors-proposal-guidelines","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/honors\/research-in-honors-proposal-guidelines\/","title":{"rendered":"Research in Honors Proposal Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research in Honors 686: 3H or 6H credits
Prerequisite: Junior status; 9H credits
Students who complete 6H credits earn \u201cHonors with Distinction\u201d degree designation<\/em>
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What is Research in Honors?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research in Honors can be a rewarding academic experience. Students assist a faculty member with research and then design and complete an original and major research project under the supervision of an instructor. Before you can be enrolled in this course, however, you must define the research project and the role you will play in a formal proposal. The draft proposal must be completed by April 1 for fall semester and November 1 for spring semester. The entire process should be complete by December 1 (for spring) and May 1 (for fall).<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Develop Your Proposal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Select the research project you wish to work on. Select a research project in your major field based on both the researcher and the topic. Usually, undergraduate students do research with faculty whom they know from their classes, professional societies, or departmental advising.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Review the Non-Seminar Planning Sheet<\/a> and schedule a meeting with Dr. Sands to discuss. In this meeting you can expect to discuss your proposal ideas and to be given the opportunity to ask any questions. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sands, please email him directly (sands@uwm.edu<\/a>), or visit our front office in HON 154 for assistance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Consult your supervising instructor. Faculty members supervise independent student work on a voluntary but many will be pleased to assist a serious student with a course topic pertaining to their field of study or interest. A faculty member is most likely to participate if 1) they are familiar with the student\u2019s work and 2) the student wants to study a subject of expertise or interest for the faculty member. The supervising instructor advises and guides you, monitors your progress, evaluates your performance, and assigns your grade. The Honors College Director and your supervising instructor will help you determine a sufficient amount of work to satisfy the additional Honors component. You both must agree on the scope, length, and format of your work, the frequency of advising sessions, and a timetable for completion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Prepare a proposal. Prepare a one- to two-page proposal that outlines your study\u2019s purpose and scope as well as the course requirements. The proposal will outline the nature of your work and provide criteria for evaluation. In short, your proposal is a mutually agreed upon contract for the semester\u2019s work. Do not treat this stage of preparation lightly. Your success ultimately depends on the quality of your proposal.

    The proposal should include:

    PART A: Research Proposal (To be completed by supervising instructor in collaboration with the student)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n