There are two designation options for graduation within the Honors program at the University of New Hampshire.

University Honors Designation

Successful completion of the general education/discovery category and honors-in-major components of the University Honors Program entitles the student to graduate with University Honors in Selected Major on his or her diploma and academic record. A total of 32 credits in honors coursework is required.

• Four general education/discovery category honors courses, including a 444H (16 credits) AND
• At least 16 credits of honors-in-major coursework; 4-8 credits will be a senior thesis or other approved departmental option.

For a complete list of your Honors-in-Major requirements and your departmental liason's contact information click here.

Honors-In-Major Designation

Students with a qualifying GPA (GPA requirements vary by department), who may or may not be in the University Honors Program, but who meet the requirements for honors work in major, are entitled to graduate with Honors in Selected Major on their diploma and academic record. If you pursue this option, you must take at least 16 credits of Honors work in your major. Typically, these will not be general education/discovery category classes, and most departments have strict guidelines for what can count as Honors work. At least 4 credits of your major coursework will be a senior thesis.

For a complete list of your Honors-in-Major requirements and your departmental liason's contact information click here.

A major research project: the senior thesis

All honors students graduating with an honors designation complete a senior thesis. Nearly all agree that undertaking a senior thesis is the most rewarding experience of their college years. Whatever major you choose, you can develop a project - from English or studio arts to marine studies or environmental engineering. Begin your research in a laboratory or library, and then branch out to health care settings, government agencies, historical sites, or other research sites in the United States or abroad. The finished product can take many forms - a research paper, an experiment, a piece of computer software, a collection of short stories, or a music recital.

In the Honors Program Office, Rm 211 Hood House, we have a small sample of theses from all colleges for you to look at while the remainder are stored at Dimond Library, Special Collections & Archives.

You may contact the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research for support to begin your research during the summer before your senior year. This enables you to get a head start and do a more in-depth thesis. During the academic year when you are registered for thesis credit, you may apply for an Honors Theses Grant from the Hamel Center. These grants are for up to $150 and can be used to pay for expenses associated with your thesis.

To publish your research in Inquiry, UNH's undergraduate research journal or become a student editor of the journal, please visit: www.unh.edu/inquiryjournal

Thesis FAQS

Guidelines for writing your thesis

You've worked hard! You deserve recognition for all that hard work! In order to receive your honors designation, you must do the following:

Honors Certification Form

The Honors Program staff will send a certification form to you which you must complete and submit to our office by the designated deadline. You’ll need to document that you’ve taken 32 credits of Honors coursework, that you have met departmental Honors requirements where appropriate, and that you have your senior thesis well in hand.

After your final transcript has been checked to ensure that you have met prescribed honors requirements, your name will be sent to the Registrar's Office, they will then have the appropriate honors designation affixed to your transcript and diploma. Congratulations on your achievement!