Document

Schreyer Honors College

MISSION

Achieving Academic Excellence with Integrity

• • •

Building a Global Perspective

• • •

Creating Opportunities for Leadership and Civic Engagement

VISION

To educate men and women who will have an important and ethical influence in the world,

affecting academic, professional, civic, social, and business outcomes

• • •

To improve educational practices and to be recognized

as a leading force in honors education nationwide

The mission and vision statements for the Schreyer Honors College drive strategic planning,

program development, and administrative decisions for the college.

They are the foundations upon which all Schreyer Honors College endeavors rest.

SHC DEFINITION OF DIVERSITY Diversity is defined broadly to include population differences in race, ethnicity,

socioeconomic background, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion,

abilities/disabilities, veteran status, international status, language, political

persuasion, and regional or geographic origins, as well as different talents,

interests, ideas, and creativity.

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During your time in the Schreyer Honors College, you will be faced with tremendous opportunities—once-

in-a-lifetime chances to study abroad; to participate in internships with leading organizations in business,

government, and public service; to apply for prestigious scholarships and fellowships to further your

research interests and academic pursuits.

But with those opportunities comes responsibilities. The Schreyer Honors College requires you to maintain

a 3.40 grade point average, to file Annual Academic Plans, and to complete your thesis requirements on

time. Consider this handbook your roadmap to get you started in the right direction from your first semester

in the college through the Medals Ceremony when you graduate with Honors upon completion of your

degree requirements.

As a companion to the SHC Web site and blog (shc.psu.edu and engage.psu.edu) and periodic SHC

listserv e-mails, this handbook should help you chart your coursework and activities semester by semester.

Periodic consultations with faculty, such as your honors adviser and eventually your thesis supervisor, will

also be very important. The staff of the SHC is eager to assist you if you have additional questions. Please

feel free to e-mail, call, or visit the SHC main office whenever the need arises (see the directory on page

38).

Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the entire contents of the Student Handbook now, and keep

it in a safe place where you can refer to it whenever questions arise later. If you misplace it, a copy of the

current Student Handbook can always be found on the SHC Web site under the Current Students section.

As always, let me know if you have suggestions on ways in which the SHC can provide you and your

fellow Scholars with the best honors education in the country.

Best wishes,

Christian M.M. Brady, D.Phil.

Dean, Schreyer Honors College

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Greetings From the Dean

Diversity

The SHC views diversity experiences in classroom pedagogy, in the curriculum, and in the community as essential to

a quality undergraduate education and central to the college‘s mission. The SHC definition of diversity is listed on

the inside cover of the handbook, along with the SHC vision and mission. The SHC believes that achieving academic

excellence, building a global perspective, and participating in leadership and civic engagement are impossible without

valuing and understanding diversity.

Undoubtedly one of the most important experiences you will have as an undergraduate is the opportunity to meet

other students whose culture, life experiences, leisure activities, family background, religion, ethnicity, or sexual ori-

entation are different from your own, and possibly different from that of the majority of students you have known in

the past. Encountering this diversity is a tremendous opportunity for personal growth. Research has shown that many

students meet their closest friends within their first week on campus.

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Meet the Schreyers

The Schreyer Honors College was founded in 1997, thanks to an historic $30 million gift to Penn State

University from Mr. and Mrs. William A. Schreyer. Mr. Schreyer, a 1948 graduate of Penn State and the

former head of Merrill Lynch, served as president of the University‘s Board of Trustees from 1993 through

1995. Joan L. Schreyer was made an honorary alumna in 1991. In the fall of 2006, the Schreyers pledged

an additional $25 million to continue their extraordinary support of the Honors College.

The majority of the Schreyers‘ original gift to the Honors College that bears their name is dedicated to

Academic Excellence Scholarships awarded to incoming first-year students. The gift also provides for

learning abroad opportunities and travel grants, mentorship programs, the development of new and

innovative honors courses, and a student research grant program.

An external review of the Schreyer Honors College was called for by the Provost. It was conducted in

October 2002 by two high-level academic administrators—the chancellor emeritus of Indiana University-

Bloomington and the former executive vice president and provost of the University of Minnesota—and one

outside businessperson. Their report, submitted in January 2003, states:

“The courses on leadership, service-learning courses, international opportunities, in

addition to research opportunities commented on by students, provide for a marvelous

undergraduate experience for students, certainly equal to that of Ivy League schools,

with the added benefit of being part of a large pluralistic community.”

Readers Digest‟s ―Best of America 2005‖ cited the Schreyer Honors College as the Best Honors Program

in the United States and one of the 100 best innovations in America for 2005. The Schreyer Honors

College today provides what has been called ―a patch of Ivy in a sea of blue,‖ combining the best of a small

-college, liberal arts experience inside a major research university with all of the clubs, organizations,

activities, and sports that Penn State offers.

During the 2008-09 school year alone, students from the Schreyer Honors College won a number of

prestigious scholarships, including one Fulbright Scholarship, two Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, one

National Institute of Standards and Technology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, one

Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) RISE Scholarship, and a Presidential Fellowship for

the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. The Schreyer Honors College—we are Penn

State!

Joan and William A. Schreyer

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Mission and Vision ...................................... i

SHC Definition of Diversity ........................ i

Greetings from the Dean ............................. ii

Diversity ...................................................... ii

Meet the Schreyers ..................................... iii

Year-by-Year Guide for All Scholars

First Year Scholars Guide ........................... 1

Sophomore Scholars Guide ......................... 2

Junior Scholars Guide ................................. 3

Senior Scholars Guide ................................. 4

General Academic Information

Academic Calendar .................................... 5

SHC Information Resources ....................... 5

Academic Integrity ...................................... 6

Academic Excellence Scholarship .............. 7

Honors Advisers .......................................... 8

Semester Standing vs.

Semester of Residence .............................. 8

Academic Requirements ............................. 9-10

Meeting Honors Credit Requirements ...... 11-13

Annual Academic Plan (AAP) .................. 14

Priority Registration .................................. 14

Course Waivers and Substitutions ............ 15

Graduation Requirements ......................... 16

Withdrawals and Dismissals ..................... 16

Tasks to Complete Each Semester ............ 17 Frequently Asked Questions ..................... 18

Information About Opportunities

Scholar Assistants ...................................... 19

Scholar Alumni Society. ............................ 19

Mentoring Programs .................................. 20

Internships ................................................. 21

International Education.............................. 22

Travel and Research Support ..................... 23

Thesis

Thesis—The Keystone .............................. 24

Thesis Web Information & Deadlines ....... 25

A Scholar‘s Area of Honors ...................... 26-27

Identifying Your Area of Honors .............. 28

Thesis Proposal Report (TPR) ................... 29

Thesis FAQ ................................................ 30-32

Deferring Graduation to Complete

Your Thesis ............................................ 33

Undergraduate Exhibition.......................... 33

Graduate Programs

Undergraduate/Graduate Programs ........... 34

Graduate & Professional Studies ............... 35

Glossary of Terms………………………..36-37


Administrative Directory…….……….....38

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Table of Contents

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To contact members of the SHC staff please see the University Park directory information on page 38.

First-Year Scholars Guide

Selected Index for First-Year Scholars:

Meet with your adviser .................................................................................... 8

Locate and register for your classes during Priority Registration .................... 14

Get your AAP approved ................................................................................... 14

Familarize yourself with your academic requirements .................................... 9-10

Consider finding a mentor ............................................................................... 20

Start considering international study abroad .................................................... 22-23

Think about possible internships ..................................................................... 21

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS (FIRST-YEAR SCHREYER SCHOLARS) Requirements for remaining in good standing and retaining the benefits of the SHC:

A. Enroll in and pass English 030 or LA 101H during your first year. Students who are not native

speakers of English may have this requirement modified based on formal evaluation results.

B. Schedule a First-Year Seminar (FYS), preferably during your first semester; it does not need to

be an honors seminar.

C. Maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.40 and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 (see page 9 for

details).

D. Submit, on time, your adviser-approved AAPs. Your first-year AAP is due at the end of the third

week of classes. Your AAP for your sophomore year is due in the spring semester of your first

year.

E. Complete at least three (3) honors courses during this academic year (fall/spring/summer) for a

minimum of nine (9) honors credits.

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Sophomore Scholars Guide

Selected Index for Sophomore Scholars:

Locate and register for your classes during Priority Registration…………….14

Get your AAP approved………………………………………………………14

Familarize yourself with your academic requirements………………………. 9-10

Begin thinking about your honors thesis…………………………………… 24-32

If planning to go abroad, file all necessary paperwork ……………………... 22-23

Get involved with the mentoring programs………………………………….. 20

Obtain an internship…………………………………………………………. 21

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS (SOPHOMORE YEAR) Requirements for remaining in good standing and retaining the benefits of the SHC:

A. Maintain both semester and cumulative GPAs of at least 3.40 (see page 9 for details).

B. Submit your adviser-approved AAP on time. Sophomore Gateway entrants to the SHC must file an

AAP by the third week of classes during the fall semester. Your AAP for your junior year is due in

the spring semester of your sophomore year.

C. Complete a four-semester total of six (6) honors courses for a cumulative total of eighteen (18)

honors credits (counting honors courses taken in the first year). Remember: You can count all

honors courses taken during your first four semesters, including English 030 or LA 101H. For in-

stance, if you took four (4) honors courses for twelve (12) honors credits during your first year, you

would only need to take two (2) honors courses for six credits during your sophomore year to fulfill

the cumulative honors course and credits requirement.

For sophomore Gateway Scholars: Complete at least three (3) honors courses for nine (9) or more

credits.

D. Start planning for your thesis. Your Thesis Proposal Report (TPR) must be approved by the

faculty thesis supervisor and the appropriate honors adviser. It is required to be submitted one year

prior to your intended graduation.

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Junior Scholars Guide

Selected Index for Junior Scholars:

Locate and register for your classes during Priority Registration……………14


Familarize yourself with your academic requirements………………………. 9-10

Begin planning, conducting your Thesis Research………………………… ..24-32

Prepare your Thesis Proposal Report………………………………………... 29

If planning to go abroad, file all necessary paperwork………………………. 22-23

Consider an internship if you have not already done so……………………... 21

Share your research at the Undergraduate Exhibition……………….………. 33


Consider applying to graduate and professional schools…………………….. 35

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS (JUNIOR YEAR) Requirements for remaining in good standing and retaining the benefits of the SHC:

A. Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 (see page 9 for details).

B. Junior entrants to the SHC must file an AAP by the third week of classes during the fall

semester. Continuing juniors should have submitted their adviser-approved AAP the previous

spring. The adviser-approved AAP for all juniors for your senior year is due in the spring

semester of the junior year.

C. Begin the completion of at least fourteen (14) honors credits required during the junior/senior

block (see page 10 for details).

D. Submit a Thesis Proposal Report (TPR), approved by your faculty thesis supervisor and the

appropriate honors adviser, one year prior to your intended semester of graduation.

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Senior Scholars Guide

Selected Index for Senior Scholars:

Locate and register for your classes during Priority Registration…………….14


Familarize yourself with your academic requirements……………………… 9-10

Begin/continue conducting your Thesis Research…………………………... 24-32

If planning to go abroad, file all necessary paperwork………………………. 22-23

Consider an internship if you have not already done so……………………... 21

Share your research at the Undergraduate Exhibition……………………….. 33


Consider applying to graduate and professional schools…………………….. 35

Be sure you meet all graduation requirements………………………………. 16

Consider being part of the Scholar Alumni Society………………………… 19

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS (SENIOR YEAR) Requirements for remaining in good standing and retaining the benefits of the SHC:

A. Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of at least 3.40 (see page 9 for details).

B. Have on file with the Honors College a current, adviser-approved AAP. File a new AAP in April,

for your fifth year, if you do not intend to graduate after your eighth semester.

C. Have on file with the Honors College an up-to-date TPR approved by your thesis supervisor and the

appropriate honors adviser.

D. Complete at least fourteen (14) honors credits during the junior/senior block.

E. Submit completed honors thesis, with original signatures of all readers by the deadline of your

graduation semester.

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Academic Calendar You can find specific deadlines on the SHC Web site:

shc.psu.edu/students/dates.cfm

FALL SEMESTER

Mid-September: Priority registration for the spring semester

End of third week: Annual Academic Plans for new Scholars and Honors Option forms due

End of fifth week: Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Program applications due for third-, fourth-,

and fifth-semester Scholars

End of sixth week: Honors Independent Study forms due

Second week of October: Scholars Day

Mid-October: Thesis proposals due for Phi Beta Kappa awards

Approximately the Monday of the twelfth (12th) week of classes: Theses due for fall graduating seniors

Last day of finals week: Medals Ceremony (4:00 p.m., Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel)

SPRING SEMESTER

End of January: Honors Option forms due

First week of February: Entries for the Undergraduate Exhibition due

End of fifth week: Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Program applications due for third-, fourth-,

and fifth-semester Scholars

End of sixth week: Honors Independent Study forms due

First week of March: Priority registration for the fall semester

First week of April: Annual Academic Plans due for all continuing Scholars

April: Undergraduate Research Exhibition

Approximately the Monday of the eleventh (11th) week of classes: Theses due for spring graduating seniors

Beginning of May: Thesis Proposal Reports due for juniors

Friday before graduation weekend: Medals Ceremony (5:00 p.m., Eisenhower Auditorium)

Other SHC Information Resources

Schreyer Honors College New Scholars Guidebook: This guidebook assists Scholars new to University Park Campus

in understanding some of the basics of the Living-Learning Community and the Schreyer Honors College ―first steps.‖ Schreyer Honors College Web Site: The Schreyer Honors College Web site includes information for prospective

Scholars, current Scholars, Scholar alumni, and faculty. The mission statement, history, and anything else you want or

need to know about the Honors College can be found on this site. Please visit and explore the Web site at shc.psu.edu.

SHC Listserv Announcements: Two times per week, Scholars receive electronic listserv announcements sharing vital

information regarding opportunities for scholarships, research, study abroad, and internships. The announcements also

serve as a venue to remind Scholars of important dates, approaching deadlines, upcoming events sponsored by the SHC,

and special opportunities within and outside the university.

Scholar Assistant Team: Selected Scholars provide important, interactive resources to members of the honors commu-

nity and serve as liaisons to the SHC administration (see page 19).

SHC Administrative Offices: A variety of student-related assistance is available at the main office in C-4 Atherton

Hall. Please refer to page 38 for a list of contacts in the SHC administration.

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Academic Integrity Academic integrity is essential for remaining in the Schreyer Honors College. It is defined by the

University Faculty Senate (Senate Policy 49-20, www.psu.edu/ufs/policies/separate_policy/49-20.htm) as:

The pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner. Academic

integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania State

University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accor-

dance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University‟s Code of Con-

duct states that all students should act with personal integrity; respect other students‟ dig-

nity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can

succeed through the fruits of their efforts.

Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsifica-

tion,

misrepresentation, or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical

principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by

others.

Any member of the Schreyer Honors College who either is found to have committed an act of aca-

demic dishonesty by an academic college academic integrity committee or who did not contest accu-

sations of academic dishonesty made by an academic college and waived in writing a review or hear-

ing within the academic college may be subject to immediate dismissal from the Schreyer Honors

College.

The Schreyer Honors College may revoke an honors medal and the honors diploma if a graduate is later

found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty while enrolled in the Schreyer Honors College.

Social and Personal Responsibility As described in the Penn State Principles (www.psu.edu/ur/principles.html):

The University is a community that promotes learning; any behaviors that are inconsistent with that goal

are unacceptable. Irresponsible behaviors, including alcohol or drug abuse and the use of violence against

people or property, undermine the educational climate by threatening the physical and mental health of

members of the community.

A Scholar is expected to maintain a high standard of behavior by adhering to the Code of Conduct

(www.sa.psu.edu/ja/conduct.shtml) and respecting the rights of others.

Any member of the Schreyer Honors College who is found to have committed an act of behavioral

misconduct that results in a transcript notation may be subject to immediate dismissal from the

Schreyer Honors College.

Academic Integrity and

Conduct Becoming a Scholar

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Academic Excellence Scholarship

The Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES) is awarded to all incoming freshman First-Year Scholars.

1. As long you remain in good academic standing in the Schreyer Honors College, the AES is renewed

for eight semesters. Scholars in good academic standing, who start and remain in required five-year

programs, such as Architecture, Architectural Engineering, and Landscape Architecture, are eligible

to receive the AES for ten (10)semesters. You must satisfy all requirements listed on pages 9 and 10

to remain in good academic standing.

2. The AES is awarded for full-time study. Your AES will be withheld any semester you are not

enrolled as a full-time student (under 12 credits). If you find it necessary to drop below a full-time

credit load during the semester, you should inform the SHC‘s associate dean and file a Part Time

Status Form. Non-traditional students should contact the SHC‘s associate dean‘s office with regard to

variances in this requirement (see page 38 for contact information).

3. Scholars who take a leave of absence to pursue full-time study abroad through a non-Penn State-

related program may choose to draw their AES during the term of their absence; however, this

will use up a semester of eligibility. If you have questions about the usage of your AES, please send

e-mail to the SHC‘s business manager (see page 38 for contact information). Inquiries about any

special circumstances may be brought to the associate dean of the Schreyer Honors College (see page

38 for contact information).

If you interrupt your resident study at the University for a leave of absence, a co-op, or an internship,

you must:

Inform the SHC‘s coordinator of student records of your intent.

Notify Penn State‘s Office of Student Aid.

The Academic Excellence Scholarship will be reinstated when you resume full-time study after

approved leaves of absence, co-ops, or internships, provided the interruption of resident study does

not exceed the expected return date. To re-activate your AES after an interruption of your resident

study, please send e-mail to the SHC‘s business manager (see page 38 for contact information).

Scholar Perspective:

“I think that it‟s so important to just allow yourself to have little imperfections. A lot of

people coming into the Honors College are very demanding of themselves. Obviously, that‟s

what got them in here so it‟s a good trait in a lot of ways, but it can make things a lot harder

so give yourself time, and be patient with yourself, and support yourself and the people

around you. Realize that we‟re all in it together, and it‟s not that easy for any of us.”

Eliza Zimmerer ‟11, Psychology, Rehabilitation and Human Services

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Honors Advisers Your honors adviser is a critical resource as you plan your academic course of study. The honors adviser‘s role is to

guide you as you make choices about degree requirements, honors requirements, thesis requirements, as well as many

other decisions you will face while you are in college.

A comprehensive list of honors advisers is available on the SHC Web site in the Current Students section:

shc.psu.edu/students/advising/advisers/index.cfm

eLion identifies your primary honors adviser. If you have more than one major, or if your thesis work is being done out-

side of your major, then you will have multiple honors advisers, even though eLion will still only list one adviser.

Your honors advisers are given the responsibility and the authority to work closely with you to design your degree pro-

gram and your honors credentials.

Each year, your primary honors adviser must approve an advising report, called the Annual Academic Plan (see

page 14). The AAP confirms your adviser‘s approval of your planned course of study and your schedule. The

Schreyer Honors College must receive an Annual Academic Plan each year approved by your honors adviser for

you to remain in good standing.

Your honors adviser will also review and approve honors option (see page 12) and honors independent study

(see page 12) work prior to you being able to receive honors credit for that work. Honors Option and Honors

Independent Study/Research forms must indicate the approval of your honors adviser before the Schreyer Hon-

ors College will process your request.

Your honors adviser must determine and confirm that any exceptions or waivers entered into your student record

for the purposes of completing graduation requirements meet the spirit of the requirement (see page 15). Talk to

your honors adviser about any substitutions you plan to request. This is a judgment call; different advisers will

interpret the requirements differently, so confirm any substitution approval in writing with your adviser before

assuming that it will be allowed.

Semester Standing vs. Full-Time Semesters Semester Standing Semester standing is determined by the number of credits earned. Semester standing is used by most offices of the

University to determine student responsibilities and privileges, such as tuition, housing preferences, registration, football

seating, etc. To find out what your semester standing is, please refer to the University Undergraduate Advising

Handbook Web site www.psu.edu/dept/dus/handbook under ―Semester Clarification.‖

Full-Time Semesters The Schreyer Honors College does not use semester standing to determine its students‘ requirements and privileges.

Instead it counts the number of semesters of full-time enrollment at Penn State.

The SHC considers any student who is in their first or second full-time semester to be a first-year student, regardless of

how many credits the student has earned. Sophomores are students in their third and fourth full-time semesters. Juniors

are students in their fourth and fifth full-time semesters. Seniors are students in their seventh full-time semester or more.

This method of counting is typically an advantage to Scholars. For example, AES eligibility is available to Scholars who

enter as first-year students for eight (8) full-time semesters. Also, even if a Scholar has sixth-semester standing during

the first four full-time semesters, a 400-level course will still count toward sophomore honors requirement. (See page

16, if you plan to graduate in less than four years.)

You are welcome to discuss the timing of your specific SHC requirements and privileges with the SHC‘s coordinator of

student records (see page 38 for contact information).

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Academic Requirements 1. Requirements for remaining in good standing and retaining your Academic

Excellence Scholarship and other benefits of the SHC include:

A. Enroll in and pass English 030 or LA 101H during your first year. Students who are not native

speakers of English may have this requirement modified based on test results.

B. Schedule a First-Year Seminar (FYS), preferably during your first semester; it does not

need to be an honors course.

C. Maintain a grade point average of at least 3.40 (see below for details).

D. Submit your Annual Academic Plan (AAP) each year, on time, for your adviser‘s approval.

Your adviser-approved AAP is due at the end of the third week of classes.

E. First-year Admits: Complete six (6) honors courses for at least eighteen (18) honors

credits during your first four semesters, of which at least half are completed in your first

academic year (fall/spring/summer). Complete an additional fourteen (14) honors credits

or more during the remainder of your undergraduate career.

Gateway Admits: Junior-admits must complete fourteen (14) honors credits or more

during the remainder of your undergraduate career. Sophomore-admits must complete

three (3) honors courses for at least nine (9) honors credits during the sophomore year,

then an additional fourteen (14) honors credits or more during the remainder of their

undergraduate careers.

F. Submit a Thesis Proposal Report (TPR) one year before your intended graduation.

G. Submit all other required forms, such as Honors Option, Honors Independent Study, or Honors

Research requests, in a timely fashion.

2. Grade Point Average Policy for Schreyer Honors College

A. All students admitted to the Schreyer Honors College beginning with the fall 2009 semester

must attain both semester and cumulative grade point averages (GPAs) of at least a 3.40 while

maintaining full-time enrollment (a minimum of 12 credits) in the fall and spring semesters to

remain in good academic standing. Most Scholars obtain much higher GPAs. We set this modest

minimum to encourage exploration of courses and majors across the curriculum, as well as

participation and leadership in co-curricular activities.

B. Failure to attain a GPA of at least a 3.40 in one semester places a student in warning

status for the following semester and removes them from good academic standing in the SHC.

C. Scholars in warning status must attain both a semester and cumulative GPA of at least a

3.40 at the end of their warning semester. Failure to do so will result in the dismissal

of the student from the Schreyer Honors College, the removal of the Academic Excellence

Scholarship (if applicable), and the termination of all other benefits and privileges of the SHC.

This dismissal is independent of the student‘s continued status as a Penn State student.

D. For students entering the Schreyer Honors College prior to the Fall 2009 semester, all of the above

policies apply, except the minimum GPA is a 3.33.

E. Students graduating in less than four years, see page 16. Adult learners and part-time Scholars, see

page 10.

If you are placed in warning status, you have only one semester to get your semester and cumulative grade

point averages back to 3.40. If you are “on warning,” you should consider carefully the number of credits

you schedule and which non-academic commitments you should remain involved with.

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3. Honors Requirements on a Timeline

In the First Year: ● Submit your approved Annual Academic Plan to the Schreyer Honors College.

Complete a minimum of three (3) honors courses for at least nine (9) honors credits.

English 030 does count as an honors course. Either English 030 or LA 101H is required of all

firs-year Scholars.

Achieve the semester and cumulative minimum GPAs as indicated on the previous page.

In the First-Year/Sophomore Block:

● Complete six (6) honors courses for at least eighteen (18) honors credits during your first

four semesters (including those counted toward the first-year requirement). We anticipate that

Scholars will balance these credits evenly between the first and second years, however there is

some flexibility built in. For instance, if a Scholar takes four (4) honors courses for twelve

(12) honors credits during his first year, he only needs to take two (2) honors courses for six

(6) credits during his sophomore year to meet his cumulative honors coursework requirement

of six (6) courses for eighteen (18) honors credits.

● Submit your Annual Academic Plan online and get approval for it from your adviser.

● Achieve the semester and cumulative minimum GPAs as indicated on the previous page.

In the Junior/Senior Block:

● Submit a Thesis Proposal Report in your sixth semester or one year prior to your intended

graduation.

● Submit your Annual Academic Plans online and get approval for them from your adviser.

● Take a minimum of fourteen (14) honors credits. Up to six (6) of these honors credits may

be devoted to thesis research and writing. In no case may Scholars count more than six (6)

honors credits for preparation of a single thesis. While there is no annual honors credit

requirement, most Scholars try to split the credits evenly throughout both years, 7-7. Other

combinations are also possible, provided they total at least fourteen (14) honors credits by the

end of the semester of graduation.

NOTE: All Scholars are subject to the fourteen (14) honors credit requirement for Junior/

Senior Block. Additional honors credits are not required if your junior/senior block lasts

longer than two years. If you plan to graduate in less than four years, see details on page 16.

● Complete and submit an Honors Thesis, supervised by a Penn State faculty member and

approved by at least two Penn State faculty members: your thesis supervisor and the honors

adviser in your area of honors (see pages 26-28) must approve your thesis.

● Achieve the minimum semester and cumulative GPAs as indicated on the previous page.

Adult and Non-traditional Learners as Part-Time Scholars:

Adult and non-traditional Scholars may be part-time students. Part-time Scholars can plan

extended time to meet honors credit requirements. These Scholars must work closely with their

honors adviser and the SHC associate dean to get appropriate requirement variances approved.

See page 38 to contact the SHC associate dean‘s office if you have questions concerning your

honors credits.

The Junior/Senior Block begins at the start of your fifth full-time semester at PSU and ends

with the semester in which you graduate.

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The First Year is represented by your first two full-time semesters at PSU.

The First-Year/Sophomore Block is represented by your first four full-time semesters at PSU.

Meeting Your Honors Course and

Credit Requirements

1. Honors Courses The honors course is central to the honors experience. It is intended is to provide a rigorous

examination of the subject matter, to engage the student fully in active scholarship, and to provide a

stimulating atmosphere in which to work.

Honors courses are designated by the following suffixes: H, M, T, or U.

Honors courses:

Have enrollment limits (usually of 20-25 students).

Are generally taught by full-time members of the Penn State faculty with professorial

appointments.

Some honors courses have no counterparts in the regular curriculum, while others are honors sections

of regular University courses. A general description of honors courses is provided in a document

called ―What is an Honors Course?‖ found on the SHC Web site at:

shc.psu.edu/students/courses/honorscourse.cfm

There are five ways to satisfy your honors credit requirements:

1. Honors Courses

2. Honors Option Courses

3. Honors Independent Study or Research

4. Advanced- or Graduate-level Courses

5. International Study or Research

Honors Courses, Honors Options, and Honors Independent Study or Research are all designated by an

H or another honors suffix (M, T, U) on your undergraduate transcript.

No ―H‖ will appear on your transcript for advanced or graduate-level work or for international study,

but these will still count as long as they appear on your undergraduate transcript.

A passing quality grade (A, A-, B+, etc.) must be issued for a course in order for it to be eligible to

meet honors requirements. Therefore, if a student drops or fails a course, or takes a course using the

―Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory‖ Grading System, it will not count toward the completion of the student‘s

honors requirements.

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2. Honors Option Courses The honors option permits a Schreyer Scholar enrolled in a regular University course to make it an

honors experience and to receive honors credit. Honors option courses are recommended primarily for

work in your major. The course instructor/honors option supervisor must be a member of the Penn State

faculty with a professorial appointment (i.e., an assistant professor, associate professor, or professor),

not a graduate student, lecturer, or instructor. The course may not revert to non-honors status

without the permission of the instructor.

To create an honors option course, you must:

Register for the course in the usual way.

Meet with the instructor in advance or early in the semester in which the course is offered.

Arrange for a portion of the coursework to be done as a project of honors caliber or plan

significant alternative work.

Submit an approved honors option course form containing a description of the proposed

work at the Schreyer Honors College office by the end of the third week of the semester in

which the course is taken. This form can be found online at forms.shc.psu.edu/.

In an honors option course, work should not be simply an add-on but should be done within the course

syllabus or as an alternative to what is required of regular students. Your grade in an honors option

course will reflect an evaluation of all your work in the course. A general description of an honors

option is provided in a document called ―What is an Honors Option?‖ found on the SHC Web site:

shc.psu.edu/students/courses/honorsoption.cfm

Students working together on a project or students in a course with a common honors option description

can submit the honors option request using the Cohort Honors Option form. Scholars and faculty

members may also collaborate in creating a service learning project as part of an honors option for a

course.

3. Honors Independent Study or Research Ordinarily, honors independent study or research should represent inquiry, study, or research on a topic

in which you have acquired some background. It should not duplicate the material covered by an

existing course. It frequently forms the basis for an honors thesis (NOTE: The SHC allows a student to

earn up to 6 total honors credits for honors independent study related directly to thesis research and

writing).

To schedule honors independent study or honors research, you must:

Secure a member of the regular faculty to supervise your honors independent study or honors

research. Graduate students and part-time faculty will not be approved to supervise Honors

Independent Study work.

Register for academic credit using course numbers for Research (294 or 494), Independent

Study (296 or 496), or other appropriate course numbers.

Unless the course already has an “H” suffix, you must submit the Honors Independent

Study/Research form to the Schreyer Honors College office to request honors credit for the

course. The form is due before the end of the sixth week of the semester in which the

course is scheduled and is available online at forms.shc.psu.edu

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Looking for Honors Research Projects? Visit the Research Opportunities Databases at

undergradresearch.psu.edu

http://www.undergradresearch.psu.edu/

4. Advanced-Level Courses In some cases, it is appropriate for Schreyer Scholars whose progress is very rapid or whose

background is particularly rich to satisfy honors requirements by taking advanced-level courses. Two

routes of undergraduate acceleration are available:

Courses at the 400-level may be counted toward the First-Year/Sophomore Block requirements

(see page 10). Even Scholars whose semester standing shows them as accelerated may use 400-

level courses to count toward honors credit in the first four full-time semesters. An ―H‖ suffix

need not be added to the course number under these circumstances. Scholars who plan to

graduate in three years may only count 400-level courses taken in their first year (see page 16).

Graduate courses (500-level) are recommended to Schreyer Scholars who are prepared for them.

Normally, a student will have completed the preliminary undergraduate courses, but

occasionally a student‘s progress and maturity make a 500-level course preferable to its

undergraduate-level counterpart. Careful evaluation of your eligibility by your adviser and the

course instructor is important. You will need to obtain the permission of the course instructor to

take a 500-level course. No other permissions are required. Schreyer Scholars may count 500-

level courses as honors study although the "H" suffix is not added, provided the course appears

on the student‘s undergraduate transcript.

Note: 600-level courses cannot be counted on the Undergraduate transcript.

5. International Study or Research Either directly or through various consortia, Penn State offers more than 100 programs of

international study for regular Penn State credit. Study abroad can make a significant contribution to

an honors curriculum, and all Scholars, regardless of major, are encouraged to pursue learning abroad.

Because the SHC values international education, we provide an honors credit waiver for Scholars who

go abroad according to the following schedule:

One semester (fall or spring): 3 credits

Full-year: 6 credits

Summer or other short-term trips: 1 credit for 10 days to 4 weeks abroad

2 credits for more than 4 weeks abroad

The Schreyer Honors College offers special international study tours, which are usually short (three

weeks or less) and directly generate honors credit. Timely notices about these special programs

appear on the SHC Web site and on the SHC listserv. Some honors courses include international

travel as a requirement or option. These H-courses will not count again for abroad credit. Contact the

coordinator of international programs if you have questions (see page 38 for contact information).

If international study is done through another institution, transfer information placed on your

transcript may or may not reflect as study abroad. If it does not, please alert the SHC coordinator of

student records, so you can receive appropriate honors credit for that international study (see page 38

for contact information).

Scholar Perspective: “For me, based on the lab research I was doing, I couldn‟t afford to be gone for a whole semester, so

it‟s really cool that Penn State offers what are called „embedded courses‟ that take place over spring

break or winter break or over the first part of the summer. If you don‟t have the time or money to be

gone a whole semester, it‟s really cool that you can still have that opportunity.”

Megan Krench „09, Science

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Annual Academic Plan (AAP)

Priority registration is given to Schreyer Scholars for three reasons:

1. To allow completion of a complex and challenging program of study combining multiple majors and

minors.

2. To allow for scheduling of blocks of time to conduct research and thesis work.

3. To make it easier to implement plans described in the Annual Academic Plan (AAP).

Check the student listservs and the SHC Web site for special announcements regarding Scholar pre-

registration. Consult the University Registrar Schedule of Courses at soc.our.psu.edu/soc and the SHC‘s

searchable list of honors courses at shc.psu.edu/students/courses for available courses.

Priority Registration

The AAP is a yearly academic plan, recounting important advising conference information and

identifying courses that you plan to take the following academic year. The plan is designed to capture

important information passed between you and your honors adviser as you discuss various issues and

opportunities. An annual plan is required to get students to look strategically ahead to future semesters

and to organize a challenging and well thought-out program of study. The plan is a ―plan‖ not a promise.

Plans can change. If you change your scheduling plans after submitting the AAP, discuss the changes

with your honors adviser and make sure that you are still meeting your honors requirements, major/minor

requirements, general education requirements, and other University requirements; however, you need not

file a revised AAP.

Where do I find the AAP form? Forms are available online at the SHC Web site (forms.shc.psu.edu).

Due Dates: New Scholars must complete an AAP for their current academic year of study at the beginning of

their first semester in the SHC. The first AAP must be submitted and approved by the end of

the third week of classes.

All continuing Scholars submit an AAP for the upcoming academic year in the spring. It must

be submitted and approved by early April. Due dates will be announced in the student listserv

and posted on the SHC Web site.

Commonwealth campus students may have later deadlines. For more information, check with

your campus honors coordinator for the exact deadline for your location.

Timely submission of the approved AAP is required for continued membership and good standing in the

Schreyer Honors College. Your AAP must be approved by your faculty honors adviser or, in the cases of

Scholars at Commonwealth campuses, the campus honors coordinator. Plans that are submitted by a

student online but are not approved by the honors adviser are not considered complete. Students with

unapproved or disapproved AAPs will be put on warning status in the SHC, until such time as the AAP is

approved, and may be dismissed.

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Honors advisers may approve course waivers and substitutions for Schreyer Scholars in accordance with

Faculty Senate Policy 65-00, which states:

For students in the Schreyer Honors College, any requirement for graduation other than

the total number of credits and those that are external (non-University) in origin may be

waived by the faculty of the major.

However, it is the responsibility of the honors adviser to make certain the intents of both

General Education and major requirements are satisfied.

A course chosen for either purpose while a student is in the college will satisfy the

corresponding graduation requirement if a student leaves the college.

It is important to note that this policy does not allow the waiver of the intent of the General Education and

major requirements. It also does not allow for a reduction of the overall credits a Scholar must earn to

graduate. It does, however, allow for substitutions of advanced level or specialized courses that meet the

intent and spirit of the General Education and major requirements.

If a Scholar has multiple majors, the Schreyer Honors College requires that any waiver or substitution be

signed and approved by the Scholar's honors advisers in all of the Scholar's majors. For example, a Scholar

majoring in both English and political science who seeks to substitute a course for a major

requirement in English must have that substitution signed and approved by both the English and

political science honors advisers.

The senate policy puts a great amount of power and flexibility in the hands of an honors adviser. It is

important that both Scholar and adviser are aware of the consequences of making waivers and

substitutions that tailor or focus a program of study too much. A Scholar can be disadvantaged by not

having a well-rounded academic record when applying for major national-level scholarships or seeking

some employment opportunities or post-baccalaureate graduate or professional opportunities.

Therefore, caution is always necessary when judging whether a waiver or substitution meets the spirit of

General Education or major requirements.

On the searchable list of honors courses on the SHC Web site (shc.psu.edu/students/courses), there are

suggestions for how special topics courses might be applied to General Education course requirements.

Recording course waivers and substitutions does not, however, happen automatically. The Honors College

cannot adjust student audits to reflect waivers and substitutions. Each academic unit has its own procedures

for how the honors adviser should record approval for a course waiver or substitution. Any course waivers

and substitutions must be recorded directly through the student‘s academic college‘s associate dean‘s office

(see E-10 implementation of policy) so that the degree audit indicates an accurate record of progress toward

meeting major and General Education requirements.

Course Waivers and Substitutions

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Graduation Requirements At the start of your senior year, please be sure to do the following:

● Make sure that your Thesis Proposal Report (TPR) is on file with the Schreyer Honors College office. If you do

not have a TPR on file with the SHC, you will be dismissed from the Honors College. The TPR form is online

at forms.shc.psu.edu (see page 29). If you have made changes in your area of honors, the faculty supervising or

advising you, or the semester of your graduation, make sure to report updated information to the SHC‘s

coordinator of student records (see page 38 for contact information). The TPR form articulates the approved

agreement between you and the faculty, so it is critical to have it on file in the SHC records office.

● Make sure that you submit Honors Independent Study/Research form(s) if you intend to earn honors credits for

any thesis research or writing courses with course numbers of 494 or 496. (See page 12.)

● Review your transcript and your final semester schedule to ensure that you have met or will meet your 14 honors

credits requirement for your junior/senior years.

● Find information on the graduation Web site (shc.psu.edu/students/graduation/):

- Activating your intent to graduate at the beginning of the appropriate semester.

- Making sure that both your local and home addresses are up to date so that you

receive all Penn State and Schreyer Honors College graduation information. You

can update your address at any time via eLion at elion.oas.psu.edu.

- The graduation checklist on the SHC Thesis Guide at shc.psu.edu/students/thesis/guide.cfm.

- The thesis submission deadline for your intended semester of graduation.

- The date, time, and location for the Medals Ceremony for your intended semester of graduation.

Students with questions regarding graduation requirements should contact the SHC‘s coordinator of student records

(see page 38 for contact information).

Graduating in less than 4 years? If you intend to graduate in 3 years, the Honors College counts back two years from your intended semester of

graduation, essentially eliminating your sophomore year and beginning the junior and senior block in the third

semester. Scholars are still required to complete a minimum of 14 honors credits in the junior/senior block.

While 400-level courses do count as honors credits for students in their first or second year, these credits do not

count toward the junior/senior block if you are graduating in three years.

If you intend to graduate in 3½ years, you are required to complete 14 honors credits in your junior/senior block.

The SHC does not count any courses taken in the sophomore year toward the 14 credits, unless you meet all your

first-year and sophomore requirements by the end of your third semester.

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Students may voluntarily withdraw from the Schreyer Honors College by notifying the dean in writing. A withdrawal

from the Schreyer Honors College will result in all Schreyer Honors College notations being removed from your

transcript. Students who fail to meet the Honors College requirements previously outlined will be notified in writing of

any dismissal action taken regarding their status as a Schreyer Scholar (see pages 6, 9, and 10). Students will be

dismissed from the Schreyer Honors College for not completing specified requirements in a timely fashion. All Schreyer

Honors College notations will be removed from the transcript.

Scholars holding an Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES): must continue to meet all requirements of the Schreyer Honors College in order to retain the

AES.

will lose their AES if they withdraw or are dismissed from the SHC.

are not required to repay the previously allocated portion of the AES if they withdraw or

are dismissed.

Withdrawals and Dismissals

Scholar Perspective: “Try new things. You don‟t want to have regrets. You don‟t want to say, „Oh, I should have

done that,‟ or „Oh, I should have gone to see that speaker when I had the opportunity,‟ or „I

should have gotten involved in that organization.‟ You have to take your destiny into your

own hands and just go for it.”

Matt Harrop ‟11, Business and International Politics

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Tasks to Complete Each Semester The Schreyer Honors College recommends that you do eight things each semester in order to help

retain good academic standing in the SHC:

1. Make sure that all necessary SHC documents (Annual Academic Plan, Honors Option/Independent

Study forms, Thesis Proposal Report, Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant Application, etc.) have

been completed (submitted and approved) on time.

2. Review your current transcript and schedule (on eLion) to ensure that all of your honors credits are

recorded and identified properly. This is especially important if you have filed Honors Option or

Honors Independent Study forms.

3. Make sure that your semester GPA is correct. Sometimes students receive a deferred grade or an

―NG‖ (no grade) if work in a particular class will continue into the next semester. Please be aware

that students typically only have six weeks into the next semester to complete work for a deferred

grade. If a grade has not been assigned by that time, that grade may turn to an ―F.‖ It is very

important to make sure that all grades have been assigned correctly.

4. Check your adviser assignment on eLion (elion.oas.psu.edu) to ensure that you are assigned to an

honors adviser. Only honors advisers have access to the SHC Online Forms System. If you are not

assigned an honors adviser or if the adviser listed is incorrect, contact your academic department.

5. Meet with your honors adviser to review your academic progress, discuss issues and opportunities,

consider how you can best satisfy your honors credit requirements, and plan your course of study

for the following semester. Take the opportunity to discuss various plans, ideas, or progress,

including study abroad, internships, and your thesis.

6. Notify the Schreyer Honors College office if you plan to take a leave of absence, study abroad, or

participate in an off-campus co-op or internship activity.

7. Make sure that both your local and home addresses are up-to-date. You can update this information

at any time via eLion.

8. Have fun! Join a club, participate in a service project, make new friends, challenge yourself, and

most importantly… keep growing! Balancing academics and your personal life is key.

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Frequently Asked Questions How do I find out the name of my honors adviser?

View your adviser assignment on eLion (elion.oas.psu.edu) and click on the ―Adviser Information‖

link. If the adviser listed is incorrect, or you are not assigned to an honors adviser, please contact a

staff assistant in your department or college to get it corrected.

NOTE: The SHC does not assign advisers, but SHC staff may be able to help if you encounter

difficulty with the above instructions.

Can I get a new honors adviser?

It may be possible. To review the list of all honors advisers online, locate the appropriate adviser list

on the SHC Academic Information page in the SHC‘s Current Scholars section: shc.psu.edu/

students/advising/advisers/index.cfm. If there is more than one honors adviser for your major,

contact your major department and ask if it is possible to be reassigned to a new honors adviser. It is

important that you find the honors adviser who best matches your academic needs. However, keep in

mind that some departments do structure their advising assignments in a way that prevents your being

able to change to a new adviser even if the department has more than one. The SHC does not assign

honors advisers.

What do I do about my AAP and my TPR if I will be away when they are due?

If you plan to study abroad, take a leave of absence, or participate in an internship or co-op

experience, please submit your Annual Academic Plan (see page 14) or Thesis Proposal Report

(see page 29) prior to your departure from campus, if possible.

You can submit your Annual Academic Plan while you are away from campus by logging into the

SHC online forms page (forms.shc.psu.edu). Your honors adviser may have questions for you

prior to approving your AAP. It may be possible to settle those questions via e-mail or telephone.

You may complete the online Thesis Proposal Report (forms.shc.psu.edu), but you will then need

to print the form or save it as a pdf and send it to the faculty. It must be signed by both the honors

adviser in the department granting your honors and your thesis supervisor. It may be possible to

send the Thesis Proposal Report by mail, e-mail or fax to the faculty while you are away from

campus. Contact the SHC‘s associate dean if you have questions (see page 38 for contact

information).

How do I find an honors adviser in an area that is not my major?

The SHC has a Web page that lists the contact information of all the honors advisers by their campus,

college and department: shc.psu.edu/students/advising/advisers/index.cfm. If this list does not

include an adviser in the area you are looking for, contact the SHC associate dean‘s office (see page

38 for contact information).

How do I learn the specific deadline for the submission of a form or document to the SHC?

Check the following links on the SHC Web site to look up important deadlines: for form submission

deadlines for upcoming semesters: shc.psu.edu/students/dates.cfm; for the Schreyer Ambassador

Travel Grants application deadlines for upcoming travel: shc.psu.edu/students/programs/

international/travelgrants.cfm The SHC listserv will alert Scholars to specific upcoming deadlines

for AAP, HO, and HIS forms (see page 5). Use the ―Search‖ function on the SHC Web site for other

deadlines, or contact the SHC main office.

Scholar Assistants (SAs) in the Schreyer Honors College are Schreyer Scholars whose role is to help

their fellow Scholars learn about the Honors College‘s wide-range of benefits. The SAs provide

excellent resources and opportunities to everyone in the Schreyer Honors College community. They

can help students locate academic advising resources and answer questions about class scheduling.

Scholar Assistants also design a variety of special co-curricular activities and programs on diverse out-

of-classroom subjects, including fun and relaxing social programs and interactive panel discussions with

faculty and Scholar alumni. Announcements of these programs can be found in the weekly listserv

announcements and on posters and flyers available in Atherton and Simmons Halls.

The SAs are available to help all students in the Schreyer Honors College explore and network. While

the Scholar Assistants do live in Atherton and Simmons Halls and are asked to foster a supportive sense

of community among the residents in the Living Learning Community, they also support the non-

resident Schreyer Scholars as well. So, even if you are a non-resident, please feel free to contact a

Scholar Assistant if you have ideas about new programs or interesting events.

Each year a new set of Scholar Assistants are selected. All Scholars in good standing at University Park

are eligible to apply. Applications are available early in the spring semester. If you think you might be

interested, please contact the coordinator of student programs for more information (see page 38 for

contact information).

Schreyer Scholar Assistants

The Scholar Alumni Society was formed to reconnect, reunite, and recognize alumni of the Schreyer

Honors College. In general, the society provides a means for alumni to join together to enhance the in-

terests and reputation of the college and create meaningful life-long relationships among alumni, faculty,

staff, and students.

The Society supports faculty and staff in achieving the academic mission of the Honors College and sup-

ports the development and growth of student scholarship and endowments. The Society promotes the

professional development of students directly through mentoring, networking, and other career develop-

ment programs; publicly recognizes the varied accomplishments of SHC alumni; encourages active com-

munity service among alumni, faculty, staff, and students in the SHC community; and fosters a sense of

pride in and a commitment to Penn State. For more information about the Scholar Alumni Society, visit

shc.psu.edu/alumni or contact the Advancement Office (see page 38 for contact information).

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Mentoring Programs

Orientation Mentoring Program The Orientation Mentoring program is a peer mentoring program in which returning Schreyer Scholars

serve as mentors for all the new Scholars accepted into the Schreyer Honors College.

This mentoring program provides students new to the Schreyer Honors College with an enthusiastic collec-

tion of continuing Scholars to turn to during orientation for incoming Scholars and throughout the first few

weeks in the SHC.

Orientation mentors earn one (1) honors credit for participating in the planning, organization, and imple-

mentation of Schreyer First-Year, Testing, Consulting, and Advising Program (FTCAP) activities held in

May and/or SHO TIME, the Schreyer Honors Orientation program for incoming Scholars held at the begin-

ning of the fall semester. Scholars may apply to be Orientation Mentors for future incoming classes of

Schreyer Scholars. Applications will be available in the fall.

Mentoring with Honors (MWH) - matches current Scholars with Scholar Alumni The Scholar Alumni Society Board established the Mentoring with Honors program to help connect

Scholar alumni with current Scholars. Scholars have an opportunity to be matched with Scholar alumni in

a variety of professional and educational careers, while the alumni can benefit from the experiences of the

Scholar. The program is designed to offer flexible levels of involvement for the convenience of alumni and

the needs of students. Applications are due in September. Matches are made in October.

Society of Distinguished Alumni (SDA) Mentoring Program—matches Scholars with

Penn State Distinguished Alumni The Schreyer Honors College and Society of Distinguished Alumni Mentoring Program facilitates recipro-

cal, one-on-one relationships in which a Schreyer Scholar gains a role model, an adviser, a guide, and a

friend. Distinguished Alumni gain a fresh, personal connection to Penn State, tangible evidence of their

impact on the future, and satisfaction in nurturing the potential of a talented, committed young leader. Dis-

tinguished Alumni volunteering for this partnership with Schreyer Scholars have successful careers in

fields such as law, business, education, media, public service, science, and engineering. Recognition as

Distinguished Alumni is given by the Board of Trustees and is the highest honor presented to Penn State‘s

outstanding alumni. The mentoring relationships are active for one year but many develop friendships that

last indefinitely. Applications are available in October. The program matches are made in February.

For additional information regarding all mentoring programs and application deadlines, please visit

shc.psu.edu/students/programs/mentoring/index.cfm or contact the coordinator of student programs (see

page 38 for contact information).

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Internships Two of the most important things employers look for in job candidates are educational and professional

experience. The best way to gain professional experience is through internships. When searching for full-

time work, you are competing with many other college students. An important way to make yourself stand

out is to gain as much relevant experience as you can.

Start by seeking experience early in your college career. The most prestigious internships go to students who

have already had competitive internships. It is very true that one internship can be a stepping-stone to

another. These are all steps towards securing desirable employment in the future.

To become aware of the particular opportunities in your field of interest, contact your honors adviser, your

department, related academic or professional societies, your academic college‘s intership/co-op office, or the

SHC coordinator of career development (see page 38 for contact information).

Good sources for internship information include:

SHC Career Development Web site, listserv, or Facebook page

Penn State Career Services Center: www.sa.psu.edu/career/

College Career Offices

Academic departments

Friends, family, and mentors

Online search engines using the keyword ―internships‖

Funding: The SHC offers a limited number of Summer Internship Grants for students. Grants are for unpaid

internships in high-cost cities such as New York City or Washington, D.C.

Scholar Alumni Perspective: “Schreyer Scholars should begin planning their summer internships in their first year so that they

will be able to complete three internships before they graduate. One internship is not enough since

internships build on one another and the best internships go to students who already have experi-

ence. Students from Ivy League schools with whom Scholars will be competing for the best jobs,

virtually always have three internships before they graduate; Schreyer Scholars should expect the

same. Before coming to Penn State, I did manual labor jobs every summer. After I enrolled in col-

lege, however, I spent each of my summers doing internships with the Vice President of the United

States in Washington, with the Department of Commerce in Harrisburg, and with Merrill Lynch in

New York City. Scholars who complete three internships before their senior years will be in a great

position to embark on a very desirable career after they graduate from Penn State.”

—Donald Lamuth II ‗05 Bus

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International Education The SHC believes that international education is an important part of your academic and personal development,

and Penn State offers an enormous variety of programs and other opportunities for study, research, internship/co-

op, and service abroad.

For study abroad, Penn State offers semester-length, year-long, and summer (four- to nine-week) programs in

all parts of the world. Some of these programs are direct exchanges with foreign universities, where you take

classes and enjoy extracurricular opportunities on the same basis as local college students; other programs (for

instance, for students who are not fluent in the local language) are specifically designed for U.S. students. Some

Penn State summer programs are designed around a particular theme, with a cluster of courses taught by Penn

State faculty who accompany students throughout the program. In addition, an increasing number of honors

courses offer an ―embedded‖ one- to three-week international experience, related to the context of the course.

For more information on Penn State-affiliated study abroad programs, visit the Education Abroad (EA) office

on the fourth floor of the Boucke Building, or visit their Web site: www.international.psu.edu. Peer advisers

are available most afternoons in the EA office to assist you in reviewing available programs. In addition, the

SHC‘s coordinator of international programs is always available to meet with you about choosing a study abroad

program that goes with your curricular needs and your geographical/cultural interests. The coordinator can also

orient you to appropriate non-PSU-related programs, in case your interests are not served by the University‘s

extensive list of programs. In certain situations, a non-PSU-related program may also make sense for financial

reasons, especially for out-of-state students. A Web resource such as www.studyabroad.com is a good starting

point for inquiries.

Study abroad applications should be done well in advance of the expected date of departure. The current

priority due dates for applications for PSU-related programs are listed below. These deadlines will only be

extended for programs that do not fill by the priority dates. Since study abroad is, first and foremost, an academic

decision, it should be discussed extensively with your honors adviser. You should raise the issue as early as

possible in your Penn State education, because your pre-departure course selection may be influenced by your

study abroad goals.

For internship or co-op opportunities abroad, the usual starting point is your college or department‘s internship

coordinator, rather than the EA office. For research or service abroad, you can start with your honors adviser, or

with the SHC‘s coordinator of international programs, who can also provide information and suggestions.

Honors credit requirement reduction for international education: Because the SHC values international

education, we provide waiver of honors credit for Scholars engaging in study, research, internship/co-op, or

service abroad according to the schedule (see details on page 13).

Deadlines for PSU-Related Programs (subject to change by the Education Abroad Office)

December 1 PSU-related programs for the fall and full-year programs

April 1 PSU-related programs for the following spring

Mid-March PSU-related programs for the summer

Deadlines for Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant Applications (subject to change by the Schreyer Honors College — see page 23)

August 1 For fall and full-year travel

November 1 For spring travel

April 1 For summer travel

23

Travel and Research Support

Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant (SATG) The Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant Program has provided support to over 2,000 Schreyer Scholars since

its creation in 1997. Our goal is to provide financial support to all Scholars in good standing going abroad for

study, research, internship/co-op, or service. Complete information about the SATG is available on the application

itself, which can be found on the SHC Web site at shc.psu.edu/students/programs/international/index.cfm.

Here are a few important things to keep in mind:

Because our budgets are limited, we cannot guarantee specific funding levels—in other words, we will make

the funding fit the budget, which is determined by semester (fall, spring, summer) so as to guarantee equal access

for Scholars throughout the year. While our goal is to fully fund all requests according to the amounts listed by

destination and program duration on the back of the SATG application, we reserve the right to fund at lower levels,

across the board, to keep within the program‘s budget.

The program has strict deadlines (see page 22). Applications received after the deadlines may not be funded.

Scholars must pursue all available avenues for funding their international education, including their academic

department and college, other Penn State offices (as appropriate), and external scholarship opportunities via the

Undergraduate Fellowships Office. In addition, if your study abroad expenses substantially change your Penn

State cost of attendance for a given year, you should contact the Office of Student Aid to make sure this is taken

into account in your financial aid package, if you receive financial aid.

Applicants must be Scholars in good standing at the time of application, and for the entire period of proposed

travel. If you are on warning (for example, for GPA reasons) at the time of your application, you may apply but

we reserve the right to withhold or delay funding, in accordance with this policy.

International Thesis Research Grant For Scholars proposing long-term research abroad toward the honors thesis, the International Thesis Research

Grant is a competitive grant program offering the possibility of support in the $2,000-4,000 range for selected

projects. Information about this program is published in January of each year, with a late-February application

deadline and the expectation of research abroad during the summer before the final year of study. This program is

made possible through a generous gift by Dr. Howard Kulin.

Thesis Research Grant The Thesis Research Grant is a long-established SHC program that provides up to $300 in support for

documented and receipted thesis-related expenses, including presentation expenses for performance theses. The

SHC will fund one-third of your expenses up to that amount, in the hope that your department and college will

contribute towards the other two thirds; however, we cannot guarantee their funding shares. If you are doing your

thesis research in an area outside of your major college, it is unlikely that your major college will be willing to fund

your research. In such instances, it may be possible to get support from the department where your thesis

supervisor is a faculty member.

The thesis research grant form is always available in our office or online at forms.shc.psu.edu/pdfs/

thesis_research.pdf ; it is currently a rolling application process with no deadlines.

Info

rma

tion

Ab

ou

t Op

po

rtun

ities

https://forms.shc.psu.edu/pdfs/thesis_research.pdf

https://forms.shc.psu.edu/pdfs/thesis_research.pdf

24

Thesis —The Keystone

of a Schreyer Scholar Dear Schreyer Scholar,

The dean of a prominent medical school was speaking about the challenges facing one of their research programs. ―Research is a

little like cremation,‖ he joked, ―it‘s amazing how little you seem to get for what you put in.‖ His sentiments were correct;

research is deceptively time consuming, but it will be your most important academic experience at Penn State. Your research

will take the form of a thesis. While we describe the thesis using impressive euphemisms such as ―culminating experience‖ and

―capstone activity,‖ the simple fact is that your thesis should be new knowledge and created by you!

Approach your thesis the same way I guided my actions as an astronaut; use the ―five P‘s‖: Proper planning prevents poor

performance. There's no set formula for how this should occur, but here are some rules of thumb that should help optimize the

process for you:

Start yesterday. No Schreyer Scholar will tell you that their theses took less time than they originally thought.

Be unrealistic (for a while). I have a simple description for a Schreyer Scholar: ―Boundless enthusiasm unfettered by reality.‖ Sometimes that ―outside the

box‖ thinking produces a breakthrough; other times it leads to a dead end. ―Test drive‖ your thoughts on your mentor and

colleagues. It is a critical part of your education, and you can never be sure what might emerge!

Refine your idea before you start.

It‘s common for students to visit me and say, ―I need an idea for my thesis.‖ They never get exactly what they came for, because

I believe that students should develop their own research ideas with directed help from a mentor. More than any other, this point

stymies students. If I can offer any word of advice, it is this: Give it time. Start early with a general area of interest and begin

talking with related faculty as soon as possible. Expect your first ideas to be clear as mud; many you‘ll probably discard. But

with perseverance and lots of thinking, reading, and discussion, the waters will still, and a focused project will emerge.

Sometimes this happens in an hour, but don‘t be surprised (or frustrated!) if it takes a semester or two.

Mentors are discovered, not chosen.

As an undergraduate, I first met my research mentor at the university natatorium. That chance encounter introduced me to the

professional domain I chose as a career, and to this day we remain friends and colleagues. Don‘t be satisfied with a mentoring

relationship that is any less.

Happy Valley is a year-round experience.

Summers in Happy Valley are a well-kept secret. Plan on spending one (or more) here. There is no better opportunity to get

―focus time‖ working with your mentor, and to work in the lab or studio without interruption. A variety of opportunities exist for

summer funding. Your honors adviser, thesis adviser, or the SHC can help you with these.

“The work’s not done. ...”

My undergraduate mentor always said, ―The work‘s not done until the paper‘s in press.‖ Today, I say the same to my students

and advisees. The point is simple: new knowledge needs to be shared to have any utility. Studies have shown that in some

disciplines, an average thesis is checked out of a library no more than two times in ten years! A paper in a professional journal,

or an original performance, is likely to have far more impact on the community of scholars you would like to reach.

When your thesis is finally completed and the work is done, you will have contributed something new and unique. And at that

time, you‘ll understand the cremation anecdote better than ever. It‘s our hope and belief that you will find that every moment

spent was productive and worthwhile.

Dr. James Pawelczyk

Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Physiology

Payload Specialist, Space Shuttle Columbia 1998

Former Atherton Hall Faculty Residential Mentor

25

Thesis Web Information Thesis Web Site

It is never too early to begin thinking about your honors thesis. It is a good idea to take some time to

check out the SHC Thesis Web Guide at shc.psu.edu/students/thesis/guide.cfm. This site is intended to

provide helpful general information. Keep this Web site bookmarked, as it can guide you through the

whole process – from getting started to submitting your honors thesis. This Web site can help you:

Introduction: What is an honors thesis?

Planning an Honors Thesis

Goal-setting and Time Management

Writing

Revising

Formatting and Final Touches

Deadlines

Getting Answers to Questions

If you have questions about your honors thesis, or your thesis requirements, please talk to your honors

adviser, or contact the SHC‘s associate dean (see page 38 for contact information).

Finding Honors Theses in the Libraries To find information about honors theses catalogued in Penn State‘s libraries, go to ―The Cat‖ Web site at

cat.libraries.psu.edu/uhtbin/guestcat.exe and select ―Advanced Search.‖ Identify any appropriate

keyword or author, choose Material Type: ―Bachelor‘s Thesis and Papers‖ then request a search.

Visit the Research Opportunities Database

The Web site www.undergradresearch.psu.edu provides a central location where some Penn State

faculty post information about research and creative projects on which they are seeking assistance from

Schreyer Scholars. This database is designed to facilitate and enhance connections between Schreyer

Scholars and Penn State faculty on research and creative projects.

Thesis Deadlines

The deadline for thesis submission for the current semester can be found on the Important Dates page

on the SHC Web site at: shc.psu.edu/students/dates.cfm.

Check shc.psu.edu/students/graduation/step4.cfm for the published thesis deadline date for up to a year

in advance of your intended semester of graduation.

This is a serious deadline. Graduating Schreyer Scholars who have not submitted their faculty-approved

honors thesis by the published thesis deadline will be dismissed from the Schreyer Honors College for

failure to meet the honors thesis requirement in a timely fashion. Voluntary withdrawal from the Schreyer

Honors College is only permitted before the final thesis deadline (see page 16 for details on withdrawal

and dismissal).

Th

es

is

A Scholar’s Area of Honors:

the Thesis is the Key

The SHC uses the term ―Area of Honors‖ to identify the academic area in which a Schreyer Scholar‘s honors thesis work

is done. The honors thesis is supposed to be extensive work culminating from in-depth study in a specific area, therefore

the honors notation on the transcript and diploma are in this Area of Honors. The Area of Honors must be the name of a

minor, major, or graduate degree offered at Penn State.

Requirements Because of the connection between the Area of Honors and the student‘s honors thesis, the honors advisers in a specific

area of honors must assure that a student completing a thesis in that area has demonstrated appropriate academic exper-

tise in that area, possibly including specific coursework and/or specific majors or minors earned. The honors adviser will

also discuss any specific coursework or degree requirements you might need for your intended Area of Honors. These

requirements are program-specific and vary from department to department. You are responsible for learning what they

are and making appropriate arrangements to complete them.

Before and during the planning of your Thesis Proposal Report, you and your faculty thesis team will need to discuss all

associated requirements for earning honors in your selected Area of Honors. If you choose an Area of Honors outside

your major, your academic adviser will not be required to read or approve your thesis. Instead, an honors adviser in the

area of honors will be enlisted to approve the project (by signing the Thesis Proposal Report) and approve the final hon-

ors thesis.

Area of Honors In Major A majority of Scholars do their thesis work in their major. In these instances, the Area of Honors will be the same as the

major.

For example: Schreyer Scholar Sarah Blake graduated in spring 2009 with a B.A. degree in Political Science. Sarah‘s

adviser-approved honors thesis is written in Political Science and is approved by her thesis supervisor and the honors

adviser in Political Science. The Political Science honors adviser‘s signature on the honors thesis carries with it an im-

plicit certification that Sarah has demonstrated appropriate expertise in the study of Political Science to earn honors in

Political Science.

In this case, Sarah‘s Area of Honors is Political Science. Sarah‘s diploma looks like this:

The special note at the bottom of Sarah's transcript looks like this:

------SPECIAL ACTIONS AND NOTES--------------------------

05-09 BACHELOR OF ARTS CONFERRED, POLITICAL SCIENCE,

COLLEGE OF THE LIBERAL ARTS

HONORS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE

The Pennsylvania State University confers upon

Sarah Blake

the degree of

Bachelor of Arts

College of the Liberal Arts

In recognition of the completion of the Major in

Political Science

With Honors in Political Science


26

Area of Honors Out of Major If a student‘s honors thesis is completed and approved in an academic area outside of the student‘s major(s), the student

will have an Area of Honors indicated by the degree earned in the area in which their thesis work is done.

For example: Schreyer Scholar Robert Rizzo graduated in spring 2009 with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology; however, he

did his adviser-approved honors thesis in Meteorology. The Meteorology honors adviser‘s signature on the honors thesis

carries with it an implicit certification that Robert has demonstrated appropriate expertise in the study of Meteorology to

earn honors in Meteorology.

In this example, Robert‘s Area of Honors is Meteorology. Robert‘s diploma looks like this:

The special note at the bottom of Robert's transcript looks like this: ------SPECIAL ACTIONS AND NOTES--------------------------

05-09 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE CONFERRED, KINESIOLOGY,

COLLEGE OF HEALTH & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

HONORS IN METEOROLOGY


Interdisciplinary Area of Honors Sometimes a student‘s work spans more than one Area of Honors. In this case, the student‘s Area of Honors is best de-

scribed as interdisciplinary between two or more academic areas. The interdisciplinary honors thesis requires approval

from honors advisers in each Area of Honors.

For example: Schreyer Scholar Matthew Hardy graduated in spring 2009 with a B.S. degree in Engineering Science.

His adviser-approved interdisciplinary honors thesis is in Engineering Science and Mathematics. The signatures from

the honors advisers on the thesis carry with them an implicit certification that Matthew has demonstrated appropriate

expertise in the study of both Engineering Science and Mathematics to earn interdisciplinary honors.

Matthew‘s diploma reads:

The special note at the bottom of Matthew's transcript looks like this: ------SPECIAL ACTIONS AND NOTES--------------------------

05-09 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE CONFERRED, ENGINEERING SCIENCE,

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

INTERDISCIPLINARY HONORS IN ENGINEERING SCIENCE

AND MATHEMATICS



Robert Rizzo

the degree of

Bachelor of Science

College of Health and Human Development


Kinesiology

With Honors in Meteorology



Matthew Hardy

the degree of

Bachelor of Science

College of Engineering


Engineering Science

With Interdisciplinary Honors in Engineering Science and Mathematics


27

Th

es

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Identifying Your Area of Honors

Who signs my Thesis Proposal Report, reads my thesis, and signs my Thesis Title Page?

AREA OF HONORS is

―with honors in your major‖

AREA OF HONORS is

―with honors in thesis supervisor‟s program major‖

thesis supervisor thesis supervisor

your honors advisor honors advisor in thesis supervisor‟s program area

additional reader, as needed* additional reader, as needed*

*Note: The department may require other readers.

Can I

find

another

thesis

supervisor?‖

―Can my thesis

project and my

thesis supervisor

be approved for

honors in my

major?‖

―Can I earn honors

in my thesis

supervisor’s

program area?‖

A. Is my thesis supervisor a faculty member in my major?

B. Ask these three questions

(in any order)

You identify a faculty member to be your thesis supervisor.

Your area of honors

is your major.

1 2

QUESTION 1 is

answered by your

honors advisor.

Yes

Yes

No

QUESTION 2 is answered by an

honors advisor

from your thesis

supervisor‟s

program area.

No

Yes

No

Your area of honors is the major in your thesis

supervisor’s program area.

Yes

3

No

Leave SHC. No area of

honors.

28

Note: If the answers to Questions 1 and 2 are both “Yes,” you may choose to earn interdisciplinary

honors in your major and in the major in your thesis supervisor’s program area.

29

Thesis Proposal Report (TPR) Timely submission of your Thesis Proposal Report (TPR) is a requirement for membership in the college.

It is a form that supplies evidence of sufficient progress toward the completion of your required honors

thesis. A Web form that produces your formatted Thesis Proposal Report is available online at

forms.shc.psu.edu.

The Thesis Proposal Report notifies the SHC of your intended semester of graduation and is used to

create the graduation list for the college.

The TPR also notifies the SHC of your intended area of honors and identifies the faculty with whom you

plan to conduct your research.

Both the thesis supervisor and honors adviser from the department in which you plan to earn honors must

sign the Thesis Proposal Report.

Two or more different people are required to read your thesis from the department granting your honors

credentials. If your thesis supervisor is your honors adviser, you must find a second eligible faculty

reader from your area of honors.

If you plan to earn ―interdisciplinary honors,‖ three or more people must read your thesis from the

departments granting your honors credentials: one (or more) thesis supervisor(s) and an honors adviser in

each of your areas of honors.

You can only earn honors in an existing major, minor, or graduate program.

Always check with an honors adviser in the department in which you want to earn honors to find out if

the department has any requirements beyond the thesis in order to earn honors. For example, some

departments have required courses for students who want to earn honors; others require a minor or major.

An honors independent study/research form for thesis research credit will not be processed after your

sixth semester unless you have a TPR on file.

Important Notes on Completing a Thesis Outside Your Own Major

▪ Several departments — for instance, English, history, psychology, and nursing — have special

honors course requirements that must be fulfilled by any students seeking to earn honors and

complete a thesis in those academic disciplines. Thus, if you are considering earning honors

outside of your major, you must consult an honors adviser in that outside department before

beginning research to find if you will be able to meet the requirements. For example, the English

Department requires that all students doing honors in English complete nine (9) credits of English

300-level honors seminars. It is not sufficient to complete a thesis in English under the supervision

of an English department faculty member; you must also complete the required courses.

▪ If you conduct thesis research in a department other than your major, be certain to find out from

the departmental honors adviser if there other departmental requirements you must meet in order to

be eligible to receive honors in the other academic area. Some departments require that you

complete the equivalent of a major or a minor before you are permitted to graduate with honors in

that area. It is important to check on this very early! Requirements vary from department to

department and change from year to year, so plan ahead (see pages 26-27 for details).

Students must complete the Thesis Proposal Report by the begin-

ning of May of their sixth semester, or one year prior to graduation.

Th

es

is

30

Frequently Asked

Thesis Questions How do I choose a thesis supervisor?

Full-time, tenured, and tenure-line faculty with professorial rank (assistant, associate, or full professors)

and all members of the graduate faculty may serve as thesis supervisors. Students are encouraged to talk

to faculty who have taught courses in their major. Departmental Web sites can also be extremely useful

resources. Most departmental Web sites, especially Web sites designed for graduate programs, list

faculty and their research interests. Individual faculty pages often list recent publications. Review the

lists of research interests and publications prior to making an exploratory appointment with a faculty

member. Honors advisers can also direct you to possible thesis supervisors. Sometimes your thesis

supervisor will be found outside your major or outside your academic college. Expect to learn a lot more

about the University in your search for a thesis supervisor. Begin early and remain open to unexpected

possibilities in the process.

My thesis supervisor is not in my major department. What is my area of honors?

This is an important question and one that should be resolved while you are still in the beginning stages

of planning your thesis research. Your honors adviser in your major and the honors adviser in your thesis

supervisor‘s academic area can also be very helpful resources in answering this question. Finally, you

can also consult with the SHC‘s associate dean if questions remain (see page 38 for contact information).

In cases where your thesis supervisor is in a different academic area, you must ask certain questions to

establish your area of honors. For example, some students‘ major is their area of honors, and others earn

honors in the area represented by the academic area of their thesis supervisor. The chart on page 28

shows those options graphically. Some examples are provided below.

Option 1: If the honors adviser or an academic administrator in your major believes your thesis

project and supervisor are appropriate for honors research in your major field even though the

supervisor is located in another department, then your major department can approve the thesis

supervisor and you will earn honors in your major department. For example, the Biology

Department honors adviser has approved a faculty member in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences to

supervise a thesis for a student who will graduate with a degree and honors in Biology. Similarly,

in the past, the Sociology Department Head approved a History faculty member to supervise an

honors thesis in social history for which the Sociology major graduated with honors in Sociology.

If this is the option you prefer, you must include a letter with your TPR from your honors adviser

or an academic administrator in the department confirming that the thesis project and supervisor

are appropriate for honors research in your major.

Option 2: It may be most appropriate for you to graduate with honors in your thesis supervisor‘s

academic area. This is most common when you are conducting research in a different academic

college. For example, a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) major graduated with

honors in Music by composing a symphony supervised by a faculty member in Music and

approved by the Music honors adviser.

NOTE: If you conduct thesis research in a department other than your major, you may be required to take

courses or meet other requirements in order to be eligible to receive honors in the other field (see pages

26, 27 and 29). One purpose of the Thesis Proposal Report is to provide a vehicle for you, your thesis

supervisor, and relevant honors advisers to discuss your area of honors and report the conclusion to the

SHC. This is the most important reason why the Thesis Proposal Report must be submitted in a timely

fashion at the beginning of May of your junior year (see page 29).

Can a graduate student or part-time faculty member be my thesis supervisor?

No.

If I started a research project while on an internship or co-op, can I complete it for my honors

thesis?

It may be possible, but not guaranteed. To do this, you must find a Penn State faculty member willing to

work with you as your thesis supervisor and support the use of the research for your honors thesis. The

honors adviser in the same department must also agree that the research project can be an honors thesis

project. In addition, you must determine whether you can get the necessary approvals to put the results of

your research into a public document. In particular, if you do internship or co-op work for a government

agency or a private company with product or process regulations, it is necessary to carefully learn the

rules and restrictions with regard to disclosure of classified and proprietary information before you draft a

thesis from your research. Beware: Declassification and necessary negotiation for required intellectual

property rights can take a lot of time. Contact the SHC associate dean for further advice on this question.

I have two majors. Do I need to earn honors in both majors? Can I combine my work into a single

thesis?

You do not need to earn honors in both majors. However, if your honors project spans more than one

academic area you may elect to earn interdisciplinary honors. This option is specifically designed for

students whose work integrates methods and concepts from two or more fields into a single research

effort. Students seeking ―interdisciplinary honors‖ will need an honors adviser in each academic area to

read and sign the thesis, in addition to the thesis supervisors. Consequently, students seeking

―interdisciplinary honors‖ will have a minimum of three signatures on their theses compared to the usual

minimum of two signatures (see page 27). Scholars may also write two separate honors theses and

thereby earn separate honors in each field. Contact the SHC associate dean for further advice on this

question.

Can my honors adviser serve as my thesis supervisor?

Yes, but in the cases of honors advisers who serve as thesis supervisors, you must have a second tenure-

line faculty member read your thesis. This person is identified as a ―faculty reader‖ (see page 29).

My honors adviser recommended a wonderful thesis supervisor who is a senior research associate

with a Ph.D. but who is not a tenure-line faculty member. May this person serve as my thesis

supervisor?

It is possible, but not guaranteed. Find out if the potential thesis supervisor is a member of the Graduate

Faculty. If so, he or she may also supervise your honors theses. If the senior research associate is not a

member of the Graduate Faculty, you might consider having thesis co-supervisors. You may still work

with the research associate but have a tenure-line faculty member agree to serve as a co-supervisor of the

thesis. This co-supervisor serves as a thesis reader in addition to the honors adviser who serves as second

reader of your thesis. Your honors adviser cannot serve both in the capacity of co-supervisor and second

reader. Contact the SHC associate dean for further advice on this question.

31

Th

es

is

Frequently Asked Thesis

Questions (continued)

May I be paid and receive academic credit while working on my honors thesis? May I use research

conducted outside the University for my honors thesis?

The SHC encourages students to take advantage of a wide variety of research opportunities. Some of these

opportunities may be working on a faculty research grant during the summer, some may be on a co-op or

internship working for government or private industry, for example, at the National Institutes of Health or

Walter Reed Hospital, and others may be entirely independent. Students may or may not receive monetary

compensation in any of these situations. The thesis supervisor has discretion whether to permit

compensated or non-compensated research conducted in any of these settings to count toward thesis

research. In most cases, the Penn State faculty thesis supervisors will need to agree to oversee the project

in advance if thesis credit is sought. In addition, Scholars should have the approval of their honors advisers

before commencing these projects. In other words, students ordinarily cannot claim academic work done

toward a thesis in retrospect. Academic departments may have additional policies and guidelines; check

with the honor adviser in your area of honors.

May I graduate with my undergraduate degree then finish my honors thesis in the summer after

graduation?

No. To earn an undergraduate diploma that says you have graduated ―with honors,” you must complete all

your honors requirements before graduation — including the submission of an approved honors thesis.

Your honors credential is part of your undergraduate diploma and transcript and, as such, cannot be ―added‖

to these documents after you graduate. If your thesis is not done at the end of the semester in which you

intend to graduate, you have two choices: graduate without honors or defer your graduation (see page 33

for details).

32

―Dear <name>

Thanks for all of your help. Obviously, I'm disappointed with the way <student‟s name, omitted>

handled this, but I recall that the pressures of <student‟s degree program> can be quite overwhelm-

ing, so a bit of panic is understandable.

“I'll have to leave it to <student‟s name> to tell me what the problems are. As I mentioned before,

so far, she hasn't expressed any specific issue other than the general time period (and even then she

never suggested she would have trouble finishing), so I don‟t know what else I can do at this

point. I'll certainly be willing to work with her in whatever way I can, as the successful completion

of a quality thesis is the ultimate goal.

“Best,

<thesis supervisor‟s name, omitted>”

—an e-mail to the SHC Associate Dean

Undergraduate Research Exhibition

33

Deferring Graduation

To Complete Your Thesis

If your thesis is not complete at the end of the semester in which you intend to graduate, you have two choices:

graduate without honors or defer your graduation. Some students choose to defer their undergraduate graduation to

the next semester, so they can find the time to complete their thesis. This can be done without registering for any

new courses and without paying any more tuition. To defer, it is very important that you do all three of these things:

1. Contact your academic college to have your name removed from the current graduation list

www.registrar.psu.edu/graduationcollege_contracts.cfm

2. Contact the coordinator of student records (see page 38 for contact information) to update your SHC

records.

3. Activate your intent to graduate (for the purposes of graduation only) at the beginning of your new semester

of graduation.

The Undergraduate Research Exhibition gives students a chance each year to either create posters or give an original

performance to present their research and creative accomplishments to the public. In the past, undergraduates have

showcased their work in one or more of the seven areas of entry: arts & humanities (including visual arts),

engineering, health and life sciences, physical sciences, public scholarship, social and behavioral science (including

business), and course-based projects.

The poster judging is based on content, display, and an oral presentation—how well the researcher explains the

project to the public. Performances, including arias, poetry readings, instrumental solos, and dance, are evaluated on

artistry, technique, and how well the works fit the student or venue.

Monetary prizes totaling $2,500 are awarded to the top entries in each category. The Gerard A. Hauser Research

Prize goes to the student with the best overall presentation of unique research at the exhibition.

The Undergraduate Research Exhibition is co-sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Education and the Schreyer

Honors College. For more information about how to participate in the Undergraduate Research Exhibition, visit the

URE Web site at www.undergraduateresearch.psu.edu/exhibition for more information.

Applications are submitted online at the beginning of each spring semester,

www.undergradresearch.psu.edu/exhibition/index.cfm. Th

es

is

Integrated Undergraduate/

Graduate & Professional Studies

34

Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Program The Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) program provides Schreyer Scholars who have well-defined

academic and research plans, as well as outstanding records of achievement in the classroom and accelerated progress toward

graduation, the opportunity to combine undergraduate and graduate courses of study into a single, continuous program with

dual undergraduate and graduate enrollment. The application process is very rigorous. The IUG program offers students a

number of advantages: 1) The coherence of a single planned undergraduate/graduate program, 2) advising informed by the

longer-range goals of the graduate degree, 3) immediate involvement in the longer-range academic and professional goals, 4)

the opportunity to double count up to twelve (12) credits toward both degrees, 5) the opportunity to pay the lower undergradu-

ate tuition rate while pursuing a Master‘s degree, and 6) the opportunity to write a combined honors and Master‘s thesis.

Courses at the 500-level that are taken as part of the graduate program may be used to meet your undergraduate honors require-

ments as long as those courses are listed on your undergraduate transcript. NOTE: Not all graduate programs permit IUG Mas-

ter‘s degrees; check with the graduate program office before making extensive plans.

Integrated Undergraduate/Medical Doctorate Program The Integrated Undergraduate/Medical Doctorate (IUMD) Program is the result of a partnership between the Schreyer Honors

College (SHC) and the Penn State College of Medicine (COM). It allows a Schreyer Scholar the opportunity to integrate any

appropriate Penn State baccalaureate degree—a bachelor of science (BS) or a bachelor of arts (BA)—with a professional pro-

gram in medicine leading to a doctorate in medicine (MD). The IUMD Program is designed exclusively for Schreyer Scholars

who have definite plans for a career in medical practice. A student is encouraged to apply for IUMD status if she/he has a par-

ticularly outstanding academic record and would be planning to take advanced-level courses in later semesters or consider

early admission to medical school even without IUMD status. Successful applicants are students whose general education pro-

gress and academic plans indicate a readiness to forge ahead toward the goal of practicing medicine; and who are ready for the

particular challenges of medical education, medical research, and the advancement of knowledge in health care. Applications

must be completed during the fourth semester of study. Up to ten qualified Scholars per year can be approved by the SHC and

by the COM for the opportunity.

Integrated Undergraduate/Juris Doctorate Program

The Schreyer Honors College offers an integrated program that allows honors students in their third year of an undergraduate

program to apply for early matriculation to the Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in order to begin law

school classes the following year. Applicants to this IUJD program must, among other things, anticipate completing three-

fourths of their undergraduate degree requirements by the end of their third year; take the LSAT in October, December, or Feb-

ruary of their third year of undergraduate study; and have letters of recommendation from the dean of the Honors College, their

undergraduate faculty honors adviser, and two other members of the Penn State faculty who are familiar with their academic

work. Students who are admitted to and enter the Dickinson School of Law as early matriculants through this program and who

also are completing their undergraduate honors theses on a law-related topic will have the opportunity to meet with and to seek

the advice of law school faculty members with expertise in the particular law-related topic of the thesis.

All three programs requires approval at three levels. The relevant academic administrative unit, the Schreyer Hon-

ors College, and, as appropriate, the Graduate School (for IUG), the Hershey Medical School (for IUMD), or the

Dickinson School of Law (for IUJD).

IUG and IUMD guidelines are available online at: shc.psu.edu/students/iug/index.cfm. Visit the SHC‘s associate

dean for guidelines for the IUJD. An integrated program is also available under an agreement with the University

of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Graduate & Professional Studies

Applying to Graduate and Professional Schools

Many Schreyer Scholars continue their education by enrolling in graduate school, law school, or medical

school, or other post-baccalaureate program upon graduation. The application process for each type of

postgraduate program is different, so we strongly encourage you to seek specific information early in your

undergraduate career. The SHC coordinator of career development is a good resource as you start to

consider your options (see page 38 for contact information).

Penn State Resources (current as of FA09): Graduate school: 114 Kern Graduate Building, 814-865-1795, www.gradsch.psu.edu/

Medical school: See the Eberly College of Science Premedicine Program Web page at

www.science.psu.edu/premed Law school: Contact Barbara Rayman, Pre-Law Advising, 121 Grange Building, 814-865-7576 or

[email protected].

Veterinary school: Contact Lester Griel, 115 Henning Building, 814-865-7696 or [email protected]

Career Services Center: 101 Bank of America, 814-865-2377, www.sa.psu.edu/career

University Fellowships Office (www.ufo.psu.edu, 212 Boucke Building, 814-863-8199) has

information about graduation fellowships and scholarships that may be helpful.

Regardless of the form that your postgraduate education takes, there will undoubtedly be some common

elements to the application process, including:

a relevant exam (GRE, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, etc.)

an essay or personal statement

faculty letters of reference

a sample of your written work

Seek faculty advice as soon as possible regarding each of these important elements. Taking the exams at

the proper time can allow you to target your applications much more effectively to those schools where you

have the best chance for admission. Similarly, planning your courses in advance to ensure that three

different professorial faculty are familiar with your written work can be extremely important. If the

application requires a letter of support from the dean of the Honors College, please allow a two-week

turn-around for your request.

35

Seek Advice!!! As always, your honors adviser and the staff of the Schreyer Honors College can help you chart your postgraduate course

and find the resources you need for effective planning.

Gra

du

ate

Pro

gra

ms

Glossary Academic Excellence Scholarship (AES) – a scholarship awarded to all incoming First-Year students in the Schreyer

Honors College. It will be renewed for eight full-time semesters contingent on continued enrollment in the Schreyer

Honors College.

Academic Integrity – the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest, and responsible manner, including a

commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception; any Scholar who is

found to have committed an act of academic dishonesty may be subject to immediate dismissal from the Schreyer

Honors College.

Academic Requirements – course and credit obligations, minimum GPAs, timely form submissions, and thesis work

that must be completed in order to graduate from the Schreyer Honors College.

Annual Academic Plan (AAP) – a yearly academic plan submitted to the Schreyer Honors College, identifying is-

sues, plans, and courses that a student plans to take. It is designed to capture the information passed between student

and honors adviser when discussing and organizing a challenging and comprehensive program of study.

Area of Honors – the academic area in which a Scholar writes his or her thesis; this often also includes the bulk of

the student‘s

upper-level coursework. A Scholar‘s area of honors can be described by a Penn State major, minor, or graduate de-

gree.

Blog – Scholars are expected to create a blog and regularly post reflections on their academic experiences.

Cumulative GPA – the average grade point average for a student over the course of his or her career at Penn State.

Dismissal – mandatory removal from the Schreyer Honors College due to failure to meet Schreyer Honors College

academic requirements.

Diversity – Diversity is defined broadly by the Schreyer Honors College to include population differences in race,

ethnicity,

socioeconomic background, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, abilities/disabilities, veteran status, international

status, language, political persuasion, and regional or geographic origins, as well as different talents, interests, ideas,

and creativity.

English 30 – a course in Honors First-Year English Composition that meets a requirement; it counts for 3 honors

credits. All incoming first-year Scholars must take English 30 or LA 101H in their first year at Penn State.

First-year/Sophomore Block – A time period represented by the Scholar‘s first four full-time semesters.

Full-time Semester—A semester in which a student is scheduled for 12 or more Penn State credits.

Gateway Scholars – Scholars who are accepted into the Honors program for the beginning of their sophomore or jun-

ior year.

Grandfather Clock Lounge (GFC) – A meeting room on the first floor of Atherton Hall commonly used for SHC

events.

Good Standing – the maintenance of both semester and cumulative grade point averages of at least a 3.33 (B+) and

the timely completion of honors credit and course requirements, and the timely submission of all required forms.

36

Glossary Honors Adviser – a specially trained faculty member assigned by the major department to advise Scholars; this ad-

viser typically has a reduced advising load and can also assist with longer-term planning and special opportunities.

Honors Course – a course designed to provide a rigorous examination of the subject matter, to engage the student

fully in active scholarship, and to provide a stimulating atmosphere in which to work; devised primarily for honors

students.

Honors Credits – course credits that fulfill honors requirements.

Honors Independent Study/Research – individual inquiry, study, or research on a topic that a Scholar has acquired

some background; may be registered as honors credits.

Honors Option – an option that permits a Scholar enrolled in a regular University course to make it an honors experi-

ence and to receive honors credit.

Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Program (IUG) – provides selected Scholars with the opportunity to combine

undergraduate and graduate courses into a continuous program with dual undergraduate and graduate enrollment to-

wards the completion of a master‘s degree along with the baccalaureate degree.

International Thesis Research Grant – a competitive program that offers the transportation funding of the Schreyer

Ambassador Travel Grant, plus other expenses (room and board, research costs, etc.) up to $2000-3000 for selected

Scholars who wish to pursue full-time thesis research abroad for a period of at least six weeks.

Internships & Co-ops – professional experiences in either part-time or full-time positions.

Junior/Senior Block – the time period between the beginning of the 5th semester and the end of the semester of

graduation

LA 101H - LA 197H — Liberal Arts 101H: Rhetoric and Civic Life is a four-credit honors course that fulfills the

English 30 honors course requirement and the CAS 100 general education requirement.

Living-Learning Community – the facilities and amenities of Atherton and Simmons Halls that provide not only a

place to live, but also an environment in which to create relationships with other Scholars and faculty.

Priority Registration – a privilege that allows Scholars to schedule courses before other Penn State students.

Schreyer Ambassador Travel Grant (SATG) – a grant program for study, research, service, or internships abroad,

offering grants of $300 to $1,500 according to destination and duration of the program.

SHO TIME — Schreyer Honors Orientation or SHO TIME introduces incoming freshmen and Gateway Scholars to

the Schreyer Honors College before the start of the fall semester.

Semester GPA – the GPA of a student for a single semester.

Semester Standing – a number based on the number of credits earned by a student, often used to determine student

privileges in academic colleges.

Signature Lecture – annual lecture sponsored by the Schreyer Honors College that brings a high-profile speaker to

University Park.

37

Glo

ss

ary

Study Abroad – an international experience in the form of study, service, research, or internship.

Substitution – a course approved to replace a required course that meets the intent and spirit of the General Education

and major requirements, subject to restrictions according to senate policy.

Thesis – a document describing a major piece of original research or scholarly accomplishment rendered in publishable

form; in some majors, the thesis describes a piece of original creative work. A thesis is required of all Scholars.

Thesis Proposal Report (TPR) – a report that declares a student‘s intended semester of graduation, as well as notifies the

Honors College office about the student‘s intended area of honors and thesis/research adviser.

Thesis Research – experiments conducted or evidence found by a Scholar to support a thesis.

Thesis Supervisor – a full-time, tenured or tenure-line faculty member who agrees to oversee a Scholar‘s thesis work.

Thesis Supervisor’s Program Area – the ―program area‖ can be a minor program, a major department, or a graduate

program in the Penn State department/school/division where a thesis supervisor works. If more than one is possible, se-

lect the one that comes closest to that professor‘s expert credentials.

Waiver – a requirement that is waived by a faculty member within a major, subject to restrictions according to Penn

State Faculty Senate policy.

Warning Status – a designation that removes a Scholar from good standing in the Schreyer Honors College. Warning

status may be initiated due to academic deficiencies or a failure to comply with required SHC processes. Scholars who

remain out of compliance with Schreyer Honors College requirements after being placed in warning status may jeopard-

ize their SHC privileges, scholarship, and/or membership in the Schreyer Honors College.

Withdrawal – voluntary self-removal from the Schreyer Honors College.

SHC Administrative Directory


Telephone Numbers:

Main Office C-4 Atherton Hall 814-863-2635

Dean‘s Office C-101 Atherton Hall 814-865-2631

Associate Dean‘s Office C-4 Atherton Hall 814-865-4257

Advancement Office C-5 Atherton Hall 814-865-4258

E-mail Addresses:

General [email protected]

Dean, Dr. Christian Brady [email protected]

Associate Dean, Dr. Judy Ozment [email protected]

Director of Administrative Operations, Dr. Michele ―Mitch‖ Kirsch [email protected]

Director of Development, Mr. Marc McMullin [email protected]

Coordinator of Selection and International Programs, Dr. Richard Stoller [email protected]

Coordinator of Student Programs, Ms. Donna Meyer [email protected]

Coordinator of Career Development, Ms. Lisa Kerchinski [email protected]

Coordinator of Student Records, Ms. Roberta Hardin [email protected]

Coordinator of College Relations, Ms. Chris Arbutina [email protected]

Administrative Support Assistant, Ashlee Klinger [email protected]

Administrative Support Assistant, Rosanna Mersinger [email protected] This publication is available in alternative media on request. Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce. U.Ed. SHC 10-13

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mailto:[email protected]

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