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The Commonwealth Honors College thesis or project is intended to provide students with the opportunity to work closely with faculty members to define and carry out in-depth research or creative endeavors. It provides excellent preparation for students who intend to continue their education through graduate study or begin their professional careers. The student works closely with their 499Y Honors Research sponsor to pursue research on a topic or question of special interest to them in preparation for writing a 499T Honors Thesis or completing a 499P Honors Project.

Honors Thesis expectations are high. The intended end-product is a traditional research manuscript with accompanying artifact(s), all theses:
- are 6 credits or more of sustained research on a single topic, typically conducted over two semesters.
- begin with creative inquiry and systematic research.
- include documentation of substantive scholarly endeavor.
- culminate in an oral defense or other form of public presentation.

Honors Project expectations are high. The intended end-product is a traditional project manuscript with accompanying artifact(s), all projects:
- are 6 credits or more of sustained research on a single topic, typically conducted over two semesters.
- begin with creative inquiry and systematic research.
- include documentation of substantive scholarly endeavor.
- culminate in an oral defense or other form of public presentation.

Students complete 120 hours or more in an organization of their choice, and engage in critical reflection on their experience. Fieldwork placements identified and arranged by student, and must be approved by department. Fulfills STPEC internship requirement.

Not available at this time

Not available at this time

Students hone skills necessary to write in the genres that STPEC majors encounter most often in the course of their academic and professional careers. Contact department for details.

Ecosystems are defined by the interactions among the plants, animals, microorganisms and abiotic, environmental features that affect them. This course will cover the flows of energy, carbon, and nutrients within ecosystems, tracing the key processes that define ecosystem function. Through the course, we will develop the connections between organisms, abiotic factors and ecosystem processes. This analysis will include a consideration of plot-level, regional and global scales. The effects of environmental change on ecosystem processes will be highlighted.