Honors Research Project Proposal
Your Honors Research Project Proposal is an important component of your overall project. In particular it provides a guideline and timetable for the work to be accomplished and ensures that the expectations of the project sponsor and readers are clearly defined. When preparing your written description please include the following sections:
- Goals and Objectives
In the initial section of the proposal, describe the specific research questions to be addressed, as well as the goals and objectives of the project. What are the motivations for the work and the benefits if successful? This section should be written at a level that is readily accessible for non-experts in the field of study. - Methodology
Then, discuss the work to be undertaken including the methodology used. How will the goals and objectives be met and the questions described above be answered? Does this work build significantly on existing research and efforts? This section can be more in-depth than the previous section, but should still be understandable by someone in the field of study. Please include a tentative timeline for the efforts with projected intermediate project deadlines. While the timeline is subject to change as the research progresses, it provides an initial guide for the work to be undertaken and is an important part of the proposal. Proposals without a timeline will not be approved. - Outcomes
Describe the final output of this project, including the written report for the Honors College. If the project is to be performed or presented publicly, what will be the expected event and audience? - Academic Impact
Finally, please describe how you see your Honors Research Project building on and adding to your undergraduate experience and knowledge. How does this project serve as an enveloping experience for the undergraduate major? What is expected to be applied from the curriculum and learned from the outcomes.
Any references cited can be included in a final section when appropriate. The length of your written description is expected to be 3–5 pages. For projects involving more than one Honors student, please submit a single project description, and groups can either include a single approved cover sheet with all authors or a separate cover sheet for each student. In addition, please include a statement regarding the expected responsibilities for each Honors student.
Approval and Submission
Honors Research Project Proposals are to be submitted to the Honors College through IdeaExchange, which is the digital repository that holds UA research, and in particular the Honors Research Projects.
Provide copies of the completed proposal (cover sheet and project description) to your Project Sponsor, your Readers, and your Honors Faculty Advisor for their approval, and then submit your proposal. Electronic signatures from your committee are recommended. Both your proposal outline and approved cover sheet should be submitted online, where you will also provide additional information about your project. Once your project is complete later in the year, this will also be the location for the final submission of your project.
To create an account and submit your proposal:
- Open the webpage: http://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/
- On the left hand side of the webpage under the heading Author Corner, select Submit Research and you will be sent to the submission page. You may need to create an account on the system. Please use your UA email address (userid@uakron.edu).
- On the new webpage, please fill out the requested information and upload your approved project description and a scanned copy of your approved cover sheet. You may combine these into a single file, or you are given an option to upload additional files where the cover sheet may be included.
Note that you must submit your proposal to the Williams Honors College Collection in order to be received by the college. If everything is successful you should be taken to a page indicating your submission is completed, and you will be notified by email once your project proposal has been reviewed by the Williams Honors College. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Matt Wyszynski, Senior Associate Dean.