Research Thesis Handbook

Veritas Via Vitae

Home		Prospective Students		Current Students		Community		Alumni		News and Events

Research Thesis Handbook

Campuswide Honors Program (CHP)
University of California, Irvine

Download [pdf] [doc]

Table of Contents

CHP Honors Research & Thesis Requirements - Description and Guidelines
General Overview and Minimum Requirements
Upper-division Honors Programs at UCI
School/Academic Unit Policies and Guidelines
Suggested Calendar (Junior/Senior Year)
Mandatory Meeting with Honors Advisor during junior year
Finding a Faculty Advisor
Thesis Proposal
Course Credit for the Research Experience
Quotes/Advice from recent CHP graduates
Supporting your Research and Thesis Efforts (UROP, SURP, etc.)

Campus Resources:
Presenting Your Research
Publishing Your Research
Wrapping up your Research/Thesis Experience

School/Academic Unit Guidelines for completing the CHP research/thesis requirements:

Senior Year
Introduction (August mailing, current resume; updated senior academic plan; thesis proposal due)
Campus Resources:
- UCI Career Center;
- The Search for Graduate Scholarships/Fellowships/Grants;
- Social Science Resource Center
Graduation:
Final Thesis Paperwork:

The Alumni Connection
UCI Alumni Association
CHP Alumni Chapter

Appendices (include sample formats, downloadable forms, relevant guidelines, and helpful online links).

CHP Honors Research & Thesis Requirements - Description & Guidelines
General Overview & Minimum Requirements.
We hope that you are consulting this handbook prior to your junior/senior year. In fact, you are encouraged to think about your interests, possible research topics, and faculty research advisors, from the day that you enter the university.

The capstone work you do for the Campuswide Honors Program will be a faculty-mentored, undergraduate research or creative experience, that culminates in the writing of your honors thesis. In this handbook, we refer to your final paper as a "thesis," but the terms "project" and "report" (used by some of the upper-division, major-specific honors programs), are interchangeable and acceptable.

For many students, "research" is the one CHP requirement with which they have the least experience; hence, it is often seen as the biggest hurdle and causes the most worry. This handbook is designed to clarify procedures, expectations and deadlines, explain your options, list the various campus resources available to you, and reduce some of the anxiety. Your research/thesis experience should prove to be one of the most rewarding parts of your education at UCI. It is for the majority of our graduates!

Opportunities exist to work with faculty from across the campus. Most commonly, the project will relate to the subject matter of your major field. Interdisciplinary areas of research may be desirable for the student who has an interest in more than one field and has developed the understanding and background at a depth needed to complete a worthwhile project.

Honors projects should address questions or issues for which no known or generally accepted answers exist. Students must think independently and creatively to design and carry out the exploration of their hypothesis/proposal. They work with primary materials, synthesize existing information and theory, and analyze the result of the experiment/study. The thesis should demonstrate the student's command of the research techniques, conceptual frameworks, and intellectual skills appropriate to the field or fields within which the topic falls. Significant individual effort may involve laboratory research, library research, or field research.

For most students, the honors project will require a minimum of two quarters of research, conducted under the direction/ advisement of an approved faculty advisor within their chosen discipline. Many students devote more than three quarters to their research project, and within some disciplines, we have had honors students participate in research over all four years at UCI! Before you graduate, you must complete a publication-quality paper, which we call your "honors thesis." Some majors (for example, those in Dance or Music), might elect to do a creative work for their honors project. You must submit written documentation of your creative process and summarize your final piece/work as your "honors thesis." It would be appropriate to include a video, audio cassette/disk, or photograph which physically captures the aspects of the final project. More often than not, students will finish their honors thesis during their senior year.

There are a few other questions you might want to consider, as they can impact how and when you will do your final honors project. For example, do you want to do research on/off-campus? While studying abroad? These options often require advanced planning and sometimes special approval from the Honors Program Director in order to meet the CHP graduation requirements.

Upper-Division Honors Programs at UCI
In addition to the CHP, UCI offers upper-division, major-specific honors programs for almost all majors. Some of these programs have early application processes and deadlines, minimum GPA requirements, and/or required coursework that could begin during the sophomore or junior year, so PLAN AHEAD and investigate these options as early as freshman year, when you put together your 4 year academic plan.

Most of them require a research experience and completion of an honors thesis/project/report prior to graduation. Individual program descriptions and requirements are included in the General Catalogue sections of each academic unit, and additional information is available through the appropriate Undergraduate Counseling Office. (See Appendix A for a list of these honors programs, their faculty directors, and staff contacts.

CHP students are strongly encouraged to consider completing the appropriate upper-division honors program in their school/major as well as the CHP. When you submit a copy of your final, approved thesis that you used to meet the research/thesis requirements for a major-specific program, it will automatically be accepted as meeting the research/thesis requirements for the CHP.

"When to begin" your research/thesis experience is a matter of judgement, determined not only by various deadlines and application processes, but also by the educational preparation and readiness of each student and the availability of an appropriate faculty advisor. But there are at least two advantages of starting early: 1) you can usually develop a close working relationship with your faculty research advisor, who is then able to provide a strong letter of reference for graduate/professional school and/or scholarship applications; and 2) if your research is well underway, or even nearing completion early in senior year, this strengthens those applications and may even turn out to be important topic during admission or job interviews.

School Guidelines and Policies
All schools/academic units have established guidelines and policies for their majors, pertaining to the honors research/thesis requirements. These are described later on in this handbook.

It is YOUR responsibility to know and understand the guidelines, processes, and deadlines established by your school, and to identify an appropriate faculty member to supervise your research/thesis experience.

When choosing a faculty advisor, you are encouraged to remember that the research arrangement must be mutually acceptable to both you and the faculty member. There is no guarantee that the first faculty member approached will say yes, so you should understand the research/thesis process and identify a faculty advisor and a topic before you begin your senior year.

Suggested Calendar (for Junior/Senior Year)
A suggested calendar (or timetable) for the research/thesis process is included in this handbook (Appendix B).

Mandatory meeting with Honors Advisor
During winter or spring quarter of your junior year, all CHP students MUST meet with an Honors Advisor to complete the CHP Graduation Survey (see Appendix C), update your final year course plan, verify completion of the CHP course and gpa requirements, and go over your plans for meeting the research/thesis requirements.

Finding a Faculty Advisor.
A good faculty advisor is very important to a successful research experience. You will want to find "a match" with someone you can talk to/work with over the next two or more quarters. Near the beginning of the CHP, several UCI faculty members participated in a workshop, and shared their perspectives, as faculty members, on this process (see Appendix D, "How to Identify and Cultivate a Faculty Mentor"). Their advice is still valid today.

Before you go looking for a faculty research advisor, find out something about their background and current research interests. Look them up on the various UCI websites. Three very useful URL's are: www.faculty.uci.edu (UCI Faculty Research Profiles); www.urop.uci.edu (the UROP Web site where you can explore the various research and creative on-campus opportunities with faculty or off-campus opportunities with industrial partners, national labs, and other universities; and www.bio.uci.edu/students/StudentAffairs/index.html , the Bio Sci site that posts open 199/ research positions for each quarter.

In addition, the UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) Web site, at www.urop.uci.edu/opportunities.html, includes a link to a "Researchers' Handbook," which has useful faculty information and helpful ideas on how and when to approach a potential faculty advisor, how to conduct yourself throughout this process, and how to work successfully with your advisor. In this handbook, see Appendix E ("Suggestions for Contacting a Prospective Faculty mentor," and "Suggestions for Meeting with a Prospective Faculty Mentor") and Appendix F ("Strategies for a Successful Undergraduate Research Experience") for further help and suggestions.

Finally, each school has it's own Web site, with information on each of their faculty members, the various areas of research conducted by them, and any Organized Research Units they might have.

If you have difficulty finding an appropriate faculty advisor, the chief academic advisors in each school, department chairs, school academic counselors, UROP counselors, and even other faculty members may be able to refer you to a potential faculty advisor. Also, talk to other students who are currently doing research, or to one of the Honors Advisors, to find out more about specific faculty and the kinds of research CHP students have done in the past.

When you go to talk to potential faculty advisors, be as clear as you can as to why you are interested in working with them and their particular area of research. Bring a copy of your transcript and resume with you, in case they ask to see them. If you have questions or concerns (for example, how many hours a week will you be expected to work in a lab, or whether you'll be getting a letter grade or P/NP for your work each quarter, or what deadlines will be used?), jot them down beforehand, and discuss them with potential faculty advisors before you make a final decision.

Acceptable faculty advisors need to hold a tenure-track position at UCI (assistant, associate, or full professor). If they are not tenure-track, and have not been previously approved (by working with a CHP student before you), you will need to submit documentation to the Honors Director for approval.

Send an email message to Roger McWilliams (mcw@uci.edu), and include information on your proposed faculty advisor (highest degree held and from what school, prior experience working with undergraduate research projects, interest/expertise in the area you plan to study, and anything else you think might be helpful in his review of your request). Encourage your potential faculty advisor to talk to the Honors Director if he/she has any questions or concerns of their own.

Some students may feel they need two faculty advisors from different departments/schools, and in certain cases, this might be very appropriate. Make sure both advisors are aware of this arrangement and agree to work "together" with you; talk about how grades will be given, who's responsible for what, and how they plan to review and approve your final honors thesis.

Thesis Proposal.
Students are encouraged to identify a faculty advisor and a thesis topic as soon as it is practical, given their major and interest area. Once you have identified a faculty advisor and a topic/area you plan to do your research on, the next step is to write up a thesis proposal for approval. Some academic units/upper-division honors programs have developed specific forms for this purpose. In those situations where no such form is available, a suggested format for the CHP thesis proposal has been developed (Appendix G).

Unless otherwise directed by your school or upper-division honors program, you should prepare your thesis proposal, submit it first to your faculty advisor for approval, and after it is approved, turn in a copy to the CHP Office. Remember to keep a copy for yourself.

The thesis proposal should be filed with the CHP Office as soon as an agreement has been made between the student and faculty member. You are encouraged to have your faculty advisor sign the thesis proposal. The student and faculty member should have discussed how often and when they will meet throughout the research/thesis process, as well as what the final expectations are (for both student and faculty advisor). The thesis proposal is, in essence, a plan or "contract" for the research/thesis experience.

Some of you will file your thesis proposal during spring quarter of your junior year. Individual schools/honors programs may have other deadlines and procedures, so it is the student's responsibility to clarify any questions or concerns. Your honors thesis proposal MUST be filed with the CHP Office approximately three quarters before you anticipate graduating. For June graduates, the deadline would be the end of 2nd week, fall quarter, in the year you plan to graduate. Exceptions to this deadline should be discussed promptly with an Honors Advisor.

Course Credit for the Research Experience.
Most schools offer research and thesis courses for their own majors to enroll in. For example, Bio 199 (Independant Study in Biological Sciences Research), is a 1-5 variable unit class set up for students who want to do research in the Biological Sciences. A partial list of campus courses is included in Appendix H. Most schools have also created at least one course in their upper-division honors program curriculum that will satisfy the upper-division writing requirement. However, there are a few exceptions (currently Earth System Sciences, ICS, Math, and some of the arts disciplines do NOT have a required research/thesis course that has been approved for upper-division writing). The current Guidelines for Upper Division Writing Courses (approved by the Writing Board, Academic Senate) are included in Appendix I. Students who wish to submit their final, approved honors thesis for review, in order to satisfy the upper-division writing requirement, should write their final paper with these guidelines in mind. In fact, before beginning their research and thesis writing process, they should notify and discuss their intent with the campus Writing Director.

Quotes/Advice from CHP graduates regarding their research/thesis experience, taken from research surveys (which are available to look at in the honors Peer Advisors' Office), and exit interviews:

"START EARLY!" (This is THE most often-expressed advice we hear from graduating CHPers!);

"Lot's of hard work, but so worth it!"

"Above all, I feel that the Honors Thesis process was the most valuable thing I did during my years at UCI. Doing an honors thesis has prepared me for grad school, beyond what my class work has done. It also gave me a paper that I could submit to various Ph.D. programs when I was applying. It was an invaluable experience."

"The thesis was the most valuable.it tested me mentally.(I) did something 'extra' that I could be really proud of. "

"I wish I had done more research before deciding on a project.I could be open to more possibilities."

"Research was by far the most beneficial experience I've had, as I've taken away a number of skills and experiences which I'll surely rely upon in my future career."

"Research was the most beneficial. I explored a subject that is not readily available to undergraduates.felt that I was able to contribute from my research as well."

"Stalk your professor."

"Doing research requires a serious commitment. The quality of your research is completely up to you - your dedication, patience, etc."

Describe your research experience overall.
"Imperative. Classes alone didn't cut it. THIS was interesting. I got to choose what to do. I knew that the blood sweat and tears that I put into it one quarter would carry over to the next, so there was much more incentive to do well."

"Phenomenal. It is important to realize that research has vicissitudes ranging from unavoidable failures to unimaginable successes. Embrace this reality and have a blast riding the rollercoaster that is research."

"Fabulous. My first research project was technically flawed but was a good learning effort. I was more comfortable with independent research by my 4th year."

Would you do anything different, if you had to do it over again?
"Take my time, spread it out over more time, instead of rushing so hard at the end.Also, don't ever be afraid to ask to talk with your professor. This includes quick check-ins, and even admitting that you haven't pulled your own weight this week. Get the problem fixed before it builds up and explodes."

"An amazing journey. It was hell at times. But I am glad to put myself through it. Honestly, if you told me two years ago that I would write a paper like this, I would have never believed you. Not only did we produce a paper, but it was accepted as-is for a usable security conference.and I was asked to present the paper at the conference."

Supporting Your Research/Thesis Efforts
UROP has two "Calls for Proposals" each year, with the goal of providing student funding support for research project-related expenses. These calls are sent to all faculty and students via e-mail, in early October (for the fall call), and in early April (for the spring call). The guidelines and proposal cover sheet are all online, and deadlines for submission are early November (for fall), and late April/early May (for spring).

UROP provides workshops on how to write an effective proposal, and has samples of previously funded proposals for your review. You are encouraged to investigate research opportunities on- and off-campus and to seek the financial assistance and support of UROP.

When putting together your itemized budget that is a required part of the UROP application, consider the entire research project, from beginning to end. Include all anticipated costs, which may include the cost of materials (such as chemicals, electrical components, or lab animals), postage, photocopying, photographs, colored charts, overheads, poster boards, and even a cover/binding for your final thesis. In addition, you may have the opportunity to present your research at one of the undergraduate research conferences offered in Southern California or elsewhere. Since these require registration fees, you should include these costs as part of your UROP proposal. In rare instances, UROP funds might be able to cover partial travel costs.

Many faculty have grants which support their research and related activities. You should discuss your budget with your faculty advisor and ask about the availability of their research support funds. You can talk with other students who have done or are currently engaged in research, or are in special research programs on campus. They may have information/knowledge of other sources of support. Some schools may have research money available for their undergraduate students. The bottom line -- if you need financial support for the costs of your research/thesis efforts, you should explore ALL your options.

UROP offers a Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). This program provides funding for UCI undergraduates from all disciplines who are conducting summer research projects or creative activities under the guidance of UCI faculty members. It offers students the opportunity to become immersed in a research topic full-time for a ten-week period, or the equivalence of 400 hours. Student applicants need to have been involved for at least one quarter of faculty-mentored undergraduate research/creative activity. SURP Fellows receive up to a $3,000 stipend for their time and efforts over the summer.

Campus Resources.
The UCI Center for Statistical Consulting serves the statistical needs of UCI's main campus, College of Medicine, and general community. The Center's primary function is to provide statistical design and analysis. They also offer education and consulting about a variety of statistical software including the use of statistical software. Their website is http://stats.uci.edu/ and the office is located in 4900 Berkeley Place; their phone number is (949) 824-1680. They do charge a consulting fee, and info regarding their fee structure is located on their Web site.

Human Subjects/Animal Subjects Research Review Boards.
If your research necessitates you doing research on/with human or animal subjects, you should see if you are subject to the regulations of these respective research review boards. You should talk with your faculty advisor about this, as well as look up the application and review process. Information on these Research Review Boards is online at (www.rgs.uci.edu/index.htm); see Research Protections - Animal Subjects and Human Subjects. If students join an already existing research group or project which has received approval for it's research protocol, a student can be covered by this as well, but MUST have his/her own name specifically added to the approved faculty research protocol. Failure to do so can result in difficulties and perhaps penalties later on in the research experience.

UCI Libraries' Research Consultation Service
Through this service, you may schedule a 30 minute consultation with a reference librarian to focus on your research needs. Appointments should be scheduled in advance by calling the Langson or Science Library references desks (for more details, check out the library website at http://www.lib.uci.edu/services/ask/ask.html#consult), and the "Consult with Librarian" link.

Library borrowing privileges
CHP students have extended borrowing privileges. This should come in handy during the research process, as it will allow you to spend extra time with the books that you'll need to reference. Do not abuse this privilege and please respond to any recall contacts you have from Library personnel.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)
This is an important campus resource. UROP offers several programs that can help you locate on- and off-campus research opportunities and help you secure research funding. This office also coordinates the UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium, the UCI Undergraduate Research Journal, the NSF Scholars Program, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). Director Said Shokair, and his team, are located in Student Services II, Suite 2300. Phone number is 824-4189, email is urop@uci.edu, and their website is http://www.urop.uci.edu.

Presenting Your Research.
UROP sponsors the annual campus Undergraduate Research Symposium each spring quarter (usually held in May, on the Saturday in the 6th or 7th week of the quarter). This annual event allows UCI undergraduates the opportunity to present their research results in a professional setting. Copies of research abstracts are printed in the Research Symposium Program and available online.

The day's activities include student research presentations, student performances, a keynote speaker, roundtable discussions, and an awards ceremony. Students present their in-progress work orally or in a poster format to invited faculty, students, and other guests. In-progress means that your research should be close to completion, but your final thesis does not have to be finished.

CHP students are expected to present their honors research at this Symposium, or via some other alternative. Unusual circumstances that prevent students from this experience should be discussed with an Honors Advisor.

Non-presenting CHP students are encouraged to attend and even volunteer to help that day. It's fun to see and hear what others are doing and helps prepare you for future presentations of your own. For more information, stop by the UROP Office in 2300 Student Services II Building, or call them at 824-4189.

There ARE other venues for students to present their research. Some of these include presenting your research to your school/department/lab (i.e., the Bio Sci Excellence in Research Symposium); presenting at regional/national/ international symposia relative to your discipline; presenting at other undergraduate research symposia (i.e., the UCLA Psychology Undergraduate Research Symposium in May, the National Collegiate Honors Council (NCHC) conferences, the Golden Key Annual conference in August, or the conferences sponsored by the Council for Undergraduate Research), to name a few options.

Publishing Your Research.
You are encouraged to submit your final approved honors thesis/report for publication. This is a great idea to talk to your faculty advisor about, and publishing your research by the time you complete your undergraduate degree is an accomplishment that can help you stand out when applying for graduate or professional schools.

There are several options available to you. The UCI Undergraduate Research Journal, produced by UROP, is an annual compilation of outstanding research papers completed by UCI undergraduate students. It showcases the high caliber of research being conducted at UCI and reflects the University's dedication to undergraduate education. Works from all schools and disciplines are included, and copies are on file in the Honors Office. The UROP Student Editorial Board handles the regulation, initial review of papers, and production of the Journal. Final research papers are judged and chosen by the UROP Faculty Advisory Board. All CHP students involved in faculty-mentored research are encouraged to submit their papers for possible publication, or apply to become part of the Journal Editorial Board. Papers are accepted during the Spring Quarter and the deadline is usually late June. Guidelines are available in the UROP Office.

There are also professional journals which publish research relative to your discipline, and quite a number of undergraduates have had papers published as 1st or 2nd author. There is also a website ( http://www.mercyhurst.edu/UPD) that lists a number of journals/publications which publish outstanding undergraduate work, regardless of a student's institutional affiliation.

Wrapping up your Research/Thesis Experience.
Students need to submit a copy of their final, approved thesis, together with a final abstract, and a signed Thesis Approval Form to the Honors Office by the specified deadline. This paperwork needs to be bound or secured in some type of cover. An electronic copy (on CD or disk) should also be filed at the same time.

For those planning to graduate in a Spring quarter, the deadline is usually June 30 (or the last working day in June). See an Honors Advisor for other deadlines if you plan to graduate at the end of some other quarter. In addition, students should give a copy of the completed thesis to their faculty advisor, and file other copies as directed by their school/major upper-division honors program.

Suggested format for the honors thesis ( Appendix J), abstract ( Appendix K), and the Honors Thesis Approval Form (Appendix L) are all available through this online Handbook. Copies of all completed theses filed by CHP graduates are kept in the Honors Office.

SCHOOL/ACADEMIC UNIT GUIDELINES for completing the CHP research/thesis requirements

THE CLAIRE TREVOR SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
School of the Arts students will engage in creative activity or research suitable to their major for a minimum of two quarters under faculty supervision culminating in an honors project. Projects will be completed during the third quarter.

Project proposals must be approved by the faculty member supervising the project, the department chair of the major, and Campuswide Honors Program director. If advice and assistance is needed in arranging the senior project, you may contact your Department Chair.

A copy of the final report or documentation of creative activity, a signed Thesis Approval form, and the abstract must be filed with the Campuswide Honors Program office before graduation.

SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Biological Sciences students can complete the Excellence in Research Program of the School of Biological Sciences to fulfill the CHP honors research and thesis requirements. The Excellence in Research Program is the vehicle in which the student produces a final project from research taken in Biological Sciences 199.

Participation in the Biological Sciences Excellence in Research program is a requirement for eligibility to the Bio Sci Honors Program. Sponsored by the faculties of the School of Biological Sciences and the College of Medicine, the Excellence in Research Program has approximately 220 faculty available from which students are able to select the faculty advisor.

Students are encouraged to consider the possibilities for research early in their college career. Although students must participate in at least three quarters of research on the same project under Biological Sciences 199 for the Excellence in Research Program, over the years the length of the average project has been almost two years. At the start of the year in which the student wishes to do Excellence in Research, s/he should pick up a packet at the Bio Sci Student Affairs Office describing the deadlines, formats and meetings required of each student for the project.

During the third quarter of research in one lab (or after that) the student writes a scientific paper, constructs a poster, and upon invitation gives a ten-minute talk at a research symposium held on campus sponsored by the School of Biological Sciences. The quality of the research, the presentations, and the paper are judged by the Honors Committee of the School of Biological Sciences. Most papers are published in the school's Journal of Undergraduate Research.

Students who would like advice and assistance in starting their research experience under Biological Sciences 199 (even those who are freshmen or sophomores) are invited to contact Biological Sciences Student Affairs Undergraduate Counseling Office. Further details about this research opportunity and the Excellence in Research Program also can be found in the Biological Sciences section of the UCI General Catalogue and on their website at http://www.bio.uci.edu/students/ (click on the "Student Affairs" link). Questions can be answered by Susan Schafer or Carolyn Willmann, the Biological Sciences Honors Counselors (824-5318).

A copy of the final paper, a signed Thesis Approval form, and the abstract must be filed with the Campuswide Honors Program Office before graduation.

HENRY SAMUELI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING
Engineering students conduct faculty-supervised, independent research during their junior or senior year. The CHP individual research is in addition to the senior project (group project) required for all engineering degrees - in most cases H199 research will count toward technical elective credit. Students are encouraged to consider the possibilities for research early in their college career. Review the department website and faculty research descriptions, then talk with faculty in the areas of your interest. Students are responsible for choosing a fcaculty advisor for the project whose reseach interests are similar to their own. By spring quarter of your junior year, you should have consulted with the faculty member you wish to work with and begin to develop a plan for the senior research and thesis.

Students will complete a minimum of 8 units on one project by enrollment in 4 units of H199 (Honors Research) and 4 units of H196W (Honors Thesis). In general, during the first quarter of the project, students will sign up for 4 units of H199 under the faculty who has agreed to serve as the research advisor for the project. During the second quarter of the project, the student will sign up for 4 units of H196W under the direction of the same research advisor.

You will need to go to the Engineering Undergraduate Studies Office to get the course code numbers for the H199 & H196W courses. The course codes for HONORS sections must be individually assigned once you have determined your faculty advisor. If you have any questions concerning the signup procedure for courses related to the project or the thesis, please contact Laurel Bartenstein at lbartens@uci.edu Engineering Honors Counselor or come by the office, ECT 101.

Upon completion of the project, students submit their research papers to their faculty advisors. If the faculty advisor chooses, the honors research paper can be submitted for review for the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Program. Successful candidates will present their work at the UROP sponsored UCI Campuswide Research Symposium and have their papers published in the School of Engineering Journal of Undergraduate Research.

The proposal for Individual Study form with a copy of the abstract must be submitted to Engineering Student Affairs. A copy of the final thesis report, a signed Thesis Approval form, and the abstract must be filed with the Campuswide Honors Program office before graduation.

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
The Humanities Honors Program invites CHP members to participate in their program beginning either in the junior year or the senior year. Under the first option, students will attend the three-quarter Honors Proseminar, whose purpose is to allow students to work closely in a personalized and stimulating learning environment with some of UCI's brightest undergraduates. It creates an opportunity for students to get to know their professors personally and to share the excitement of intellectual discovery with classmates. Under the second option, Humanities majors in the CHP will join Humanities Honors students in the spring quarter of their junior year to begin to plan for the senior thesis. Students meet with the Director of the Humanities Honors Program to discuss thesis topics and format, and the choice of a thesis advisor. In the senior year, CHP students will take, along with the Humanities Honors students, Humanities H140-H141-H142W, designed to culminate in the senior thesis.

Humanities H140 is directed by the Humanities Honors Thesis Advisor. It is designed to facilitate the exchange of ideas and research strategies and to begin the process of writing the senior honors thesis. Instructor will guide students in the initial stages of the thesis, bibliography, narrowing down the topic, prospectus, research, and outline.

Humanities H141 continues the work begun in H140. Students work closely with their faculty advisors to produce a first draft of the thesis by the end of the quarter.

Humanities H142 continues small group discussions as the students prepare the final draft of the 30-50 page thesis by the middle of the quarter.

If you want general advice and assistance in arranging for the project, you may contact the Humanities Honors Program Director and Thesis Advisor, Professor Victoria Silver (HIB 368; 824-1084; vasilver@uci.edu).

A copy of the final report, a signed Thesis Approval form, and the abstract must be filed with the Campuswide Honors Program Office before graduation. Another copy of the final thesis must be submitted to Cathy Smith in the Humanities Undergraduate Counseling Office by the end of the spring quarter.

Humanities CHP students who join the Humanities Honors Program and complete the junior year Honors Proseminars in addition to the senior year Honors Thesis classes will have the notation "Completed Humanities Honors Program" added to their transcripts.

THE DONALD BREN SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
CHP students majoring in ICS should first apply (May 1 of their sophomore year) to take the ICS Honors Seminar, ICS H197 (2 units), which provides an orientation to research in ICS. This is followed by a research project involving two or more quarters of independent research work supervised by a faculty research advisor; during which students enroll in ICS H198. Passing two quarters of ICS H198 counts for one of the project courses required for the ICS major, provided that the other project course taken is in a different area. Finally, a report describing the research is written by the student, approved and signed by the faculty research advisor and the ICS Honors Program advisor, and submitted to both the ICS Undergraduate Student Affairs office and the Campuswide Honors Program.

The ICS Honors Seminar, ICS H197, includes talks by ICS faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates about research in ICS. It provides various perspectives on the research process, an introduction to communicating research results through technical speaking and writing, and information about how honors students can participate in research at ICS. This class is taken by both ICS Honors Program (ICSHP) students and CHP students (several of whom are concurrently students in the ICS Honors Program).

Students are responsible for selecting a faculty advisor to supervise their honors research project, ICS H198. This should be done AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. Students should try to begin their research project in their junior year, and should plan to have the research completed and the thesis written by the end of winter quarter of their senior year (or one quarter before they graduate) Before beginning the research, students should submit an "Initial Plan" or project proposal, outlining the project and any course work that will be taken. The proposal must be signed by the faculty advisor and submitted both to the ICS Honors Program advisor and counselor (currently Richard Lathrop and Neha Rawal, respectively) and to the Campuswide Honors Program Office. (Students who are also in the ICS Honors Program should follow the policies for that program as well.) Following completion of the research, a copy of the final report, a signed "Thesis Approval Form," and an abstract must be filed with the Campuswide Honors Program Office before graduation.

Students are encouraged to seek advice or assistance from the ICS undergraduate counselors or from the ICS Honors Program Advisor. The ICS counseling office is in the Computer Science Trailer and their phone number is 824-5156.

The ICS Honors Program is currently being revised to address the CS, CSE & Informatics majors. Please check with the ICS Student Affairs Office for an update.

SCHOOL OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Physical Sciences will provide senior thesis opportunities in Chemistry, Mathematics, Earth System Science, and Physics. Projects undertaken under the Chemistry H180/H181, ESS 199, Mathematics 199 or H195A-B, or Physics H196 series of supervised theoretical or experimental research courses will lead to theses written in a form suitable for publication in a scientific journal. Many CHP students choose to participate in the Honors in Chemistry, Honors in Mathematics, or Honors in Physics programs, which require a slightly greater commitment.

The CHP student should initiate contact with suitable faculty members no later than the Spring Quarter of the junior year. Students should plan to propose a project which they and the faculty member are in agreement will lead to a thesis. The proposed project then should be approved by the department involved. Faculty contacts are: (for Chemistry), Prof. Robert Doedens ( rdoedens@uci.edu), 572 RH, 824-6605; (for Earth System Science) Prof. Keith Moore ( jkmoore@uci.edu) 3214 CH, 824-5391; (for Mathematics) Prof. Paul Eklof ( pceklof@uci.edu), 271 MSTB, 824-6595; and (for Physics), Prof. Roger McWilliams ( mcw@uci.edu), 4164 FRH, 824-4253 or 824-6228. A copy of the final report, a signed Thesis Approval form, and the abstract must be filed with the Campuswide Honors Program office before graduation.

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL ECOLOGY
Students majoring in one of the five majors in the School of Social Ecology are able to fulfill the senior thesis requirement through the Social Ecology Honors Program. CHP students need to apply for acceptance to the Program in the winter/spring of their junior year. They should be prepared to submit (by early April) a brief research proposal and a letter of support from a Social Ecology faculty member who agrees to serve as their mentor. In addition, by the time of application, students must have completed all lower-division Social Ecology courses required for the major, a minimum of five upper-division Social Ecology courses with a GPA of 3.5, and have achieved an overall GPA of 3.2 at UCI.

To meet the obligations of the Social Ecology Honors Program, a student must also commit to enroll in all the year-long seminar that is led by the coordinating faculty member during the senior year.

Students are encouraged to seek advice from Professor Valerie Jenness, Social Ecology Honors Faculty Coordinator (2003-2004). Dr. Jenness may be contacted directly by e-mail at jenness@uci.edu; her office is in 2340 SE II, and her phone number is (949) 824-1437.

A copy of the final report, a signed Thesis Approval form, and the abstract must be filed with the Campuswide Honors Program office before graduation.

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
CHP students in the School of Social Sciences who wish to fulfill the CHP honors research and thesis requirement should apply to the honors program in their major. The honors program may involve a slightly highter commitment in terms of course completion as well as faculty-supervised, independent research project to be conducted in the junior or senior year. Most honors program in the School involve a 4 quarter unit honors seminar and a 4-12 quarter unit senior thesis (excluding the major in Economics which requires more math and a one year sequene in Econometrics to satisfy the honors thesis requirement). Students are responsible for choosing a faculty advisor for the project whose interests are similar to their own.

Students should begin thingking about the honors program toward the end of the second year/beginning of their junior year since most applications will be due around this time. Students should think about a research project in the end of their junior year, and should plan to have the research completed and the thesis written by the end of the winter quarter of their senior year ( or one quarter before they graduate).

CHP students are welcome to direct any questions regarding completion of the research and thesis requirements in the School of Social Sciences to Helen Morgan, Director, Social Sciences Undergraduate Counseling Office at hmorgan@uci.edu

A copy of the final thesis, a signed Thesis Approval form, and an abstract must be filed with the CHP Office before graduation.

II. Senior Year

The CHP August mailing , which is sent to all honors students, always includes a special "senior" flyer for all students who are expected to graduate in the upcoming year. Another mailing is sent late in winter quarter, with more specific information regarding spring events.

Graduating CHP students should have met with an Honors Advisor the previous winter/spring quarter, to talk about their research/thesis & post graduation plans. A copy of their updated senior year academic plan and current resume need to be submitted to the Honors Office by the beginning of their senior year. The Honors Thesis Proposal should be filed by the end of the 2nd week of Fall quarter. Extensions should be requested promptly by talking with an Honors Advisor.

Fall quarter of your senior year is a very busy and important time. Deadlines for graduate and professional school applications, as well as those for fellowships and prestigious scholarships come quickly, some as early as October 1. These applications usually require standardized test scores, letters of reference, and personal essays/goal statements. Students should not wait until the last minute to start working on them. In fact, you should begin some of these application processes the year before you plan to graduate.

Campus Resources

The Career Center, academic units, and the CHP sponsor many activities designed to prepare you for whatever your "next step" (after graduation) will be. Note important deadlines on your calendar and take advantage of the information and help the various workshops/programs provide. We also have information and written resources in the CHP Peer Advisors' Office.

The UCI Career Center is a very valuable resource to students getting ready to graduate. Their website is http://www.career.uci.edu/. Some of the resources available to you through this office are: workshops (re: Applying to Graduate/Professional Schools, Conducting a successful job search, Preparing a resume), help searching out information on potential employers, practicing job interviewing techniques, test booklets for the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, CBEST (and other standardized tests); a list of companies/institutions that offer test preparation services; career/job fairs and career nights; on-campus job interviews; and access to Monstertrak (online jobs and internship listings).

For students who plan to work after graduation but think that maybe they might apply to a graduate or professional school at a later date, you should seriously consider attending the Career Center's workshop on Applying to Graduate and Professional Schools. Just being aware of the process is a good idea, and you'll get helpful handouts that you can refer to later on.

The Search for Graduate Scholarships/Fellowships/Grants
There are many ways to search for scholarships & fellowships. One, the most obvious, is to work with the graduate/professional schools that you apply to for admission. There are also some books available in the Honors Office, such as Peterson's Grants for Graduate and Postdoctoral Study, and The Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding Worldwide.

There is also the Scholarship Opportunities Program (SOP), directed by Audrey DeVore, which seeks to identify students interested in applying for prestigious scholarships (many of which apply to graduate education). The website for the SOP is www.scholars.uci.edu. Because these scholarships/fellowships are so prestigious, it takes a substantial effort to prepare a competitive application. The list of prestigious scholarships is in Appendix M, and students who want to apply for any of these should contact the CHP office by Spring of their junior year, to begin preparing their applications.

Social Sciences Resource Center
This is a great resource for Social Science majors on campus. Created over a decade ago, it helps students obtain the appropriate information to select a career and/or graduate school program, generate professional contacts, and learn how to gain a competitive edge during their undergraduate years. The website is http://hypatia.ss.uci.edu/ssrc/index.html, and there are links for Internships, a letters of recommendation service (for Social Science majors only), graduate school information, and scholarships and leadership opportunities. Located in SST 370A/C, they are open Monday-Friday, 9 am - 5 pm, have a wonderful professional and volunteer staff, and their phone number is 824-8322.

Graduation

Graduation is not automatic. You MUST file an Application for Graduation at least two quarters prior to the date you wish to graduate. This application is available online at http://www.reg.uci.edu/studentaccess/ and filing deadlines, which vary from school to school, are at http://www.reg.uci.edu/registrar/soc/gi.html. If you are completing double majors, you must submit an application to each school.

Applications may sometimes be accepted after these deadlines by academic units, but the penalties for being late can vary widely between academic units. Some of those possible penalties are: students might not be considered for Latin honors; they might not be included in the Honors Convocation/Commencement programs; or they might not be approved for graduation until the follow quarter! Our advice is: apply early!!!

There is an online Senior Survival Guide at http://www.yearbook.uci.edu/ssguide.html/. This Web site alse includes important information regarding senior portraits, cap & gown orders, a senior survey, graduation announcements, a senior calendar, etc. Another helpful websites for graduating seniors is: http://www.commencement.uci.edu/. It includes information on the campus Commencement ceremonies.

The Grad Expo (formerly known as Senior Information Days) are usually held mid- January. These events are schedule for graduating students, so they can take care of many of those items listed in the Senior Survival Guide mentioned above (for example, placing cap & gown orders; voting for a class gift; and ordering graduation announcements & class rings). The Career Center, Alumni Office, and Yearbook staff is also available to assist graduating seniors with any tasks they need to accomplish.

UCI Undergraduate Research Symposium.

UCI Undergraduate Research Journal.

CHP Graduating Seniors' Yearbook
Each spring, CHP students publish a Graduating Seniors' Yearbook. It includes all CHP students who graduated/are graduating during that academic year and is usually distributed at the CHP end-of-the-year banquet. A small fee is usually changed, to help with cost of printing. The deadline for students to submit their pictures and autobiographical information is mid- May.

Honors Convocation
This event is held each June, the evening before Commencement, and it recognizes outstanding students who are graduating with academic (Latin) honors, receive special school awards/prizes, completing Honors Programs, or are inducted into honors societies. The Web site is http://www.honorsconvocation.uci.edu/.

Honors recipients are individually recognized and the names of all student participants are listed in a printed program. Those awarded Latin honors receive gold cords, which they may wear to the Commencement ceremonies the following day. Those receiving other awards (but not Latin honors) are given a blue cord.

Each student is also offered the opportunity to identify and invite the faculty member whom they feel has made the most impact on their undergraduate career. There is a reception immediately following the ceremony where students and their families have the opportunity to meet those faculty members.

Each year, one undergraduate is selected to be the student speaker at Honors Convocation. All students graduating with academic honors (summa, magna, and cum laude) are eligible to apply and applications are available in late April.

Students are invited to participate in this ceremony if they have graduated during the previous summer, fall, or winter quarters, or are graduating at the end of the current spring quarter. Those who graduate in summer are eligible to walk in the Commencement ceremonies but will not be invited to the Honors Convocation until the following June.

Honors at Graduation
Students may graduate with academic/Latin honors regardless of whether or not they complete an honors program at UCI. Latin honors are summa cum laude (the top 1% of graduates); magna cum laude (the next 3%); and cum laude (the next 8%). Nominations are made once a year in spring quarter, based on what students have completed by the end of winter quarter.

The selection criteria used by each school are included in each academic unit's section of the General Catalogue. One general criterion is that students must have completed at least 72 units in residence at a University of California campus by the end of winter quarter of the academic year in which they graduate. Units completed and cumulative GPAs are always based on what has been earned at the end of winter quarter.

For the purpose of determining Latin Honors, the "academic year" has been defined by the Academic Senate as including the previous summer and fall graduates, as well as the current winter and anticipated spring graduates. Students who graduate in the following summer will be reviewed with the following year's group.

School Awards/Prizes and Honors Societies Other awards, prizes, and scholarships are given by various academic units on campus.

Undergraduate students may be nominated to Honors Societies (such as Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Lambda Upsilon - the Chemistry Honors Society, or Tau Beta Pi - the Engineering Honor Society). A list of the Honors Societies with chapters on this campus is included in Appendix N.

There are also School awards and prizes (such as the Social Sciences Order of Merit, the Humanities Scholastic Merit Awards, and the Bio Sci Excellence in Research Award). Many of the School awards and prizes are listed in the General Catalogue sections for each school. Students should consult their undergraduate counseling offices, usually in winter quarter, to see what they might be eligible for and which of the awards require an application.

Information on Phi Beta Kappa, one of the oldest and most prestigious Honors Societies in this country, and the UCI chapter, is available at http://www.due.uci.edu/PhiBetaKappa.html. Nomination to this honors society is considered a very prestigious award, one that is recognized through the U.S. and the world.

Commencement
The University sponsors several separate commencement exercises at the end of Spring quarter only. Faculty, campus staff and administrators, students and their families gather together to congratulate and recognize the graduates. Students may apply to be the student speaker or a singer of the National Anthem at their respective commencement ceremonies. An informational mailing is sent out in spring quarter to all prospective graduates and copies are also available from academic counselors at that time. Additional information is available from the Commencement Office. Their telephone number is (949) 824-6378, and Web site is htpp://www.commencement.uci.edu

FINAL PAPERWORK FOR CHP

Exit Interviews

CHP Exit interviews provide constructive feedback about our students' personal experiences in the Honors Program and at UCI. Students' candor and thoughtful comments are very much appreciated.

Exit interviews may be completed either in person (with an Honors Advisor), or by completing an exit interview questionnaire (see Appendix O) and returning it to the Honors Office. Spring graduates may set up appointment for in-person exit interviews between mid May and the end of June. Students graduating at the end of summer, fall, or winter quarters should make arrangements to take care of their exit interviews closer to the time that they plan to graduate.

CHP Research Survey
As you reach the end of your research/thesis experience, we ask each of you to share feedback via the CHP Research Survey ( Appendix P). This information will be shared with future CHP students who might be considering a specific research advisor or lab or area of research. You should complete and turn in this form when you submit your final honors thesis paperwork. Completion of the form IS optional and all previously filed forms are kept in the Honors Office.

Your Final Thesis
CHP students must submit the following to the Honors Office by a specific deadline: a hard copy of your final, approved thesis, together with an abstract (separate page or embedded in your thesis paper), and a signed Thesis Approval form. These three documents should be submitted in a protective cover, or you will be charged 50 cents toward the purchase of a cover. You should also submit an electronic copy (on CD, disk, or via an email attachment) at the same time. For those graduating in Spring quarter, the deadline is usually the last working day June. In addition, students usually give a copy of their final thesis to their faculty advisor; some schools also require that a final copy of the thesis be filed with their academic counseling office (see School/Academic Unit Policies and Guidelines earlier in this handbook).

Suggested formats for the abstract, the final thesis, and a copy of the Thesis Approval form are included as Appendices in this handbook. Copies are available to download from the CHP website or they can be picked up in the Honors Office.

Copies of all completed theses and abstracts are kept on file in the Honors Office.

Transcript and Diploma Notations and Certificate of Completion

All students who satisfactorily complete the requirements of the Campuswide Honors Program will have a notation placed on both their final UCI transcript and their diploma. Students must meet the campus filing deadlines published for the transcript and diploma notations, and those deadlines are available in the Honors Office. If a final honors thesis is received after a campus deadline, the transcript and diploma notations cannot be made, but the CHP (upon request) will be able to certify completion through the issuance of a formal letter.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

III. The Alumni Connection (or, "staying in touch.")

UCI Alumni Association
The UCI Alumni Association (UCIAA) was founded in 1968 as a separately incorporated nonprofit organization to advance and assist the interests of UCI and its graduates. The Association assists in recruitment and recognition of students and alumni, provides financial and moral support to the university, and disseminates information about the university and its objectives. Through its various chapters and in corporation with other campus organizations, the association seeks to provide alumni with a lasting bond to the university.

Membership in the UCI Alumni Association provides valuable benefits and services to all members. For recent graduates (within six months of graduation), an annual membership costs $25, or you can purchase a lifetime membership for $350. If you join later, the costs are $40 or $400, respectively. There is also an installment plan for purchasing a lifetime membership. For further details about the benefits of membership and how to join, see their website at http://www.alumni.uci.edu. The phone number for the UCI Alumni Association is (949) UCI-ALUM (824-2586). We encourage graduates to consider purchasing the lifetime membership, because it is a great way of staying in touch with and informed about their alma mater.

The UCI Career Center offers services to UCI Alumni, which include individual career counseling, Internet access, workshops, career assessment, career library materials, and career fairs. Recent UCI graduates have a six-month free period of continued use after graduation. UCI Alumni are charged $75.00 per year (and a discount does apply to those who are members of the UCI Alumni Association!).

CHP Alumni Chapter
The CHP Alumni chapter is a recognized chapter of the UCI AA. The current chair is Julia Emerson ('97) and she is assisted by an Executive Board of CHP alumni. For more information, you may contact her at whoolia@alumni.uci.edu or (714) 773-1946.

According to the chapter ByLaws, all students who participated in the CHP, even if they were unable to complete the CHP graduation requirements, may join this chapter.

The CHP maintains updated contact information on our alumni, and sends out occasional email messages about current events. In addition, we send a semi-annual newsletter through the regular postal service. We are planning to publish a few more newsletters our Web site in the near future.

We routinely ask for updates in all of these contacts (see Alumni Update Form, Appendix Q), because we want to know how our alums are doing, both professionally and personally. Updates may also be submitted online at http://www.honors.uci.edu/alumniupdate.php.

Alumni who wish to make a donation to support the activities and development of the CHP may do so online at www.honors.uci.edu.

Some CHP alumni, especially those who work or are enrolled in academic programs on-campus or live nearby, have asked to be added to the "chp-news" (our electronic newsletter for current students) subscribers list. That way, they can hear how things are going in the CHP and also about upcoming special campus events and activities (i.e., Bren Lectures or special arts events). Many have enjoyed attending coffee hours, special faculty lectures, Battle of the Brains, the camping retreat, and beach BBQs). Our CHP alumni are always welcome.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

APPENDICES (sample formats, downloadable forms, relevant guidelines, and helpful online links).