Honors Program

If you are interested in pursuing research during your senior year, the honors program provides a diploma designation for students who meet the requirements. The honors program in Earth and Planetary Sciences provides an opportunity for independent study and research on a topic of special interest and culminates in a written report and oral presentation.

Who Is Eligible?

The honors program is open to seniors majoring in EPS with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.5 in earth and environmental science courses and a minimum of 3.0 in all University course work.

How Do I Apply?

Students intending to pursue honors in Earth and Planetary Sciences should discuss potential research projects with their advisor during their junior year. Students must submit:

•     The EPS Honors Application AND
•     A 2-3 page research proposal prepared by the student in consultation with the faculty advisor to the department by the end of their junior year, usually spring quarter. Students are encouraged to apply to the program during the winter quarter of their junior year and to begin research during the spring quarter of their junior year and the summer prior to their senior year.

After Acceptance

Upon approval of the Honors Program Application and formal entrance to the program, students will indicate their enrollment in the EPS Honors Program in Axess.

Course credit for the honors research project and report preparation is assigned by the student’s faculty advisor as EPS 199. You must complete nine units by the end of the year, but those nine units may be distributed however works best over the senior year.

Requirements For Completion

To receive a Bachelor of Science with honors designation, students must

1. Submit a formal written report to both your research advisor and second faculty member no later than the fourth week of your final quarter or by a date preferred by your research advisor.
2. Obtain approval on the report from your advisor (first reader) and a second faculty member (second reader). Submit the Bachelor of Science with Honors Completion Verification Signature Form to the department before graduation, ideally by the University’s thesis submission deadline for the quarter.
3. You may choose to submit your paper to the Stanford Digital Repository—please contact the EPS Student Services Office for more information.
4. Present a public seminar on your research. EPS typically hosts an Undergraduate Symposium (jointly with Geophysics) at the end of May, and you are welcome to participate in that event.

The decision whether a given research project merits an award of honors will be made jointly by the student’s faculty advisor, second reader, and the Undergraduate Program Director, and will be based on the quality of both the honors work and the student’s other work in earth sciences.