Program
For questions and additional information please contact:
Interim Director and Professor, Disaster Science and Emergency Services
Honors Project Course Information
EMHS:480—Emergency Management and Homeland Security Capstone (3 credits). This course will be used to meet the honors project course requirement.
Prerequisites: enrollment in the Honors Program, senior standing and major in emergency management and homeland security.
Description
The Honors Research Project is an integral part of the UA Honors experience, and every Honors College student must complete an acceptable Honors Research Project. Interdisciplinary, creative projects are encouraged, and your project could be any one of the following types:
- Research Thesis – original scholarship investigating a significant question
- Research Report – a formal written presentation of technical, laboratory, or investigative research
Students should begin planning for the Honors Research Project during the junior year. Serious work on the project should begin at least a year and a half prior to your graduation date. Please see the timetable and dates for completing the project. Be sure to keep your readers informed of progress on your project throughout the semester. Readers should be sent copies of your work at regular intervals. Expect revisions based on your readers' comments. Once you've incorporated changes from your readers, your sponsor needs to approve the final copy. It is your sponsor who gives you the grade for the formal coursework. You will earn your grade when the final copy is completed.
Beginning your project
- Meet with the EMHS faculty and the DSES School Advisor to discuss topics and project sponsors.
- Select a faculty sponsor, under whose direction you can plan, complete, and report on the project. Discuss your ideas about a research project with faculty you would like as a sponsor.
- With your sponsor's approval, plan the project and complete the Proposal Form. That form requires signatures from an evaluation committee that includes the sponsor and at least two other readers. The evaluation committee may include extramural readers.
- Complete and submit the Honors Research Project Proposal. Additional information is here.
Submitting your Honors Research Project
Please follow the Honors College guidelines to submit your final project.
Timeline and Schedule
The following schedule is for students graduating in the Spring semester, and other graduation semesters should adjust accordingly. Please note that the following is only a suggested timeline. Your project sponsor reserves the right to adjust these dates.
| Semester | Activity |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (September 1) |
Meet with the EMHS Faculty Advisor to discuss topics and project sponsors. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (September 10) |
Research your area of interest and determine three topics for your project. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (September 15) |
Meet with your faculty sponsor. Narrow your focus. Determine your project topic. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (September 25) |
Determine and secure Readers 1 & 2 for participation in the project. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (October 1) |
Submit draft of your proposal to your sponsor. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (October 10) |
Revise and complete proposal with sponsor approval. Submit proposal to the Honors College. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (October 10- November 15) | Complete and write the project. Meet with sponsor as needed. Please send monthly updates to your sponsor regarding your progress on the project. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (November 20) |
Submit initial draft to your research sponsor. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (November 25) |
Submit revised draft to your sponsor and two readers for final revisions and editing. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (December 1) |
Submit final project with all revisions and corrections to sponsor and readers. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (December 5) |
Obtain signatures of project sponsor and both readers. Obtain signature of EMHS faculty. Obtain signature of Honors Faculty Advisor. |
| Senior Year, Fall Semester (December 5) |
Submit final project to the Honors College. |
General Guidelines
- You must receive a grade of "B" or higher on your Honors Research Project to graduate as an Honors Scholar. If you do not achieve this grade you may still meet the requirements to graduate as an undergraduate student in your major. Please contact your Honors Advisor for more information.
- When there are multiple students involved in an Honors Research Project, each student should be included as authors on the final report, even if they are not part of the Williams Honors College. Every student should receive the proper recognition for thier contributions.
- Every committee must be composed of a Sponsor and two Readers. More information on these roles is available here.
- Students expecting to work on an honors project involving the use of human subjects should be aware that such projects may need to be evaluated by the University of Akron Institutional Review Board (IRB). The IRB reviews all proposals for research involving human participants to insure appropriate ethical and safety standards are observed. Depending on the nature of the proposed research, IRB review and approval may be required prior to moving forward with your study. In the same way, any research involving live animals will require review by the University of Akron Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC). Please communicate with your project sponsor regarding the need for IRB or ACUC consideration as it relates to your specific project. Information concerning research applications and review procedures can be obtained via the University of Akron Office of Research Administration (ORA).