Eligibility Requirements:

• a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the five core courses (GEOL 201, 202, 215, 302, and 305) plus the two required 400-level courses
  
  
• at least six full-credit courses in mathematics, chemistry, physics, or biology
  
  
• satisfactory completion of an honors thesis
  
  An honors thesis represents the culmination of a year-long research project that typically begins during the summer before the senior year and continues during the fall and spring terms of the senior year. The thesis will be read by a faculty committee comprising the honors adviser and two other departmental faculty members chosen by the student in consultation with the honors adviser. Alternate arrangements may be made in consultation with the geology department chair. The written thesis must be completed and orally defended by the end of the spring semester.
  
  Following the defense, and with the recommendation of the thesis committee, the geology faculty will vote to award honors or not. Awarding the distinction of honors or not is based primarily on the quality of the written thesis but will also include an overall assessment of the student's academic record.