Honors

Consider getting honors in your Sustainability or Geography major! This involves independent research under the supervision of a faculty member. It is a great way to pursue your own research interests, get experience, and strengthen your application to graduate school in law, medicine, or a research-based academic career.

The Departmental Honors sequence consists of 6 hours of coursework across two semesters:

Geography Departmental Honors (no organized course, work with your advisor):

• GRG 679HA - Honors Tutorial Course (Fall/ Spring)
• GRG 679HB - Honors Tutorial Course (Spring/ Fall)

Sustainability Studies Departmental Honors: 

• SUS 679HA - Honors Tutorial Course -and-
• SUS 679HB - Honors Tutorial Course (Replaces "Capstone" requirement).

Typically, but not always, GRG/SUS 679HA is completed in the first semester of a student's senior year. This course consists of formulating the research problem through collaboration with a faculty member, beginning the literature search, and discussing appropriate methods for pursuing the topic with your faculty supervisor and selecting a second reader.

GRG/SUS 679HB is typically completed during the student's graduating semester, and consists of writing up and presenting a fifty or so page draft document to the faculty supervisor (and additional faculty readers, if applicable). The faculty member will edit and comment upon the paper and provide feedback in time for the student to complete a final copy, which will be catalogued by the University of Texas Library. Please see the suggested timeline in the Senior Thesis Model.

The entire Honors sequence consists of completing original research and writing an undergraduate honors thesis supervised by a faculty member of your choice. Please note that the Honors sequence courses CANNOT be completed concurrently.

In order to officially graduate with Departmental Honors on your UT transcript, you must have:

• A minimum 3.0 cumulative UT GPA
• A minimum 3.5 GPA in Geography or Sustainability Studies
• A grade of "A" in GRG or SUS 679HA
• A grade of "A" in GRG or SUS 679HB

Step 1: Meet with undergraduate advisor Justin Hayes to determine your eligibility 

Step 2: Meet with Dr. Faria to discuss your project and receive guidance on potential advisors. 

Step 3: Once you have secured your faculty thesis advisors, complete the Departmental Honors Permission Survey [Qualtrics]. Once completed, your listed (primary/1st reader) faculty will recieve additional instructions. Once the faculty member completes thier portion, you will be able to register for the thesis classes. [This process must be completed EACH semester you are completing Departmental Honors]

Step 4 (optional): Attend 1-2 meetings a semester with Dr. Faria and your honors peers to guide your research and writing process.

Please also visit the Liberal Arts Honors Programs Office in RLP 2.104. There you may obtain a list of Upper Division courses that contribute toward you graduating with Honors in the College of Liberal Arts (in addition to Departmental Honors in Geography). In addition to information about departmental honors, the Senior Thesis Manual also provides formatting templates that students should use when submitting their final draft. Read more about scholarships and other funding opportunities for departmental honors students.

We invite our honors students to present their research in our Spring Geography Undergraduate Symposium. This is a fun post-based session with tacos, coffee and treats. Advisors, friends and family are all welcome!