Departmental Honors
The Departmental Honors Program provides special opportunities for intellectual stimulation and development through independent study. Students complete a significant independent research project, which can be one of the most academically rewarding experiences of a student's undergraduate career and can enhance career opportunities and graduate school applications.
Honors projects
- extend over two semesters, and are worth a total of six credit hours,
- are performed under the supervision of a faculty advisor, and
- culminate in a written thesis and an oral defense before an examining committee.
See the Undergraduate Catalog for the rules and procedures that structure this program.
Check out our collection of completed Honors projects.
How to complete an Honors project
- Start here: check qualifications, know your topic, find an advisor, apply for admission
- Honors 495: registration, working with your advisor, finding funding
- Honors 496: examining committee, thesis, oral defense
- Wrap-up: reporting of Honors level, archiving thesis
A Note on Latin Honors
To recognize outstanding academic achievement, William & Mary awards degrees summa cum laude (overall grade point average >3.80), magna cum laude (>3.65), and cum laude (>3.50). This honor is noted on the student’s diploma and on the academic transcript, and is not related to completion of a departmental Honors project.
