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March/April

Identify and contact candidates. Department chair sends updated faculty research areas to rising seniors and invites project proposals.

May

Preliminary project proposal due to department faculty. 1-page statement identifying a field of interest, outlining a summer research/reading plan and rudimentary bibliography.

Summer research report and updated project proposal due to department faculty
Review of proposals and committee assignment (1^st reader/advisor & 2^nd reader)

Classes begin: Department assigns advisor, 2^nd reader and initial meeting with advisor is scheduled
Add Advanced Independent Study

Prospectus and bibliography due to advisor

Prospectus (2-4 pages, double-spaced) should include an abstract or description of the subject and the question(s) to be explored; if possible, a working hypothesis; preliminary bibliography of primary and secondary sources (which helps in delineating the project further and strengthen its argumentative arch); preliminary outline of the essay; this working document will continually be updated as the research and analysis progresses.

Hypothesis paper (aka a draft introduction) due to advisor and 2^nd reader.
(6-8 pages, double-spaced) presents the subject, the working hypothesis, the relevant historical and theoretical context; describes the methodology; the hypothesis paper leads to a first thinking through of the introduction and demonstrates that the project’s scope is delineated.

Mid-year colloquium to introduce project to department
2^nd reader & remaining faculty lead discussion

1^st meeting with committee to discuss initial feedback
Committee determines whether project merits year-long study

2^nd chapter due to committee

Complete draft due to committee (Highly suggested: 1^st day back from break)

Levels of Honors due to the registrar by 12:00 noon

Final thesis due to the library by 5:00 pm