Distinction Guidelines

Finding a Project Advisor

Students should begin by identifying a faculty member with whom to conduct the research. The faculty member must have graduate (masters level or higher) advising status in the College of Engineering. Students conducting research that is interdisciplinary in nature may select a co-advisor from outside the College of Engineering.

Proposal Submission

Students who wish to complete an undergraduate research thesis must first submit a proposal. Your proposal for undergraduate research must include a recommendation letter from the Project Advisor who will supervise it. The proposal will also identify the planned research course credits and projected schedule.

Submission Deadlines

Autumn = 6th Friday

Spring = 6th Friday

Summer = 3rd Friday

Please submit your proposal no later than three terms prior to your graduation term to ensure that you have enough time to complete your project and the distinction requirements, while having a worthwhile and beneficial experience. For example, students graduating during Spring Semester should submit their proposal no later than the previous Summer Term. You should talk to your faculty advisor or Honors Committee Representative if you require special permission to submit a proposal later than this.

Preparing a Project Proposal

Prepare a project proposal of not more than five typewritten pages, not including figures, title page, and bibliography. One additional page for figures is allowable. This proposal should include:

Background and motivation for the project, including a discussion of related scholarship
- What’s the general area that you are working in?
- What are some specific key facts about the problem at hand?
The general significance of the project
- Why is it an important thing to study?
A concise summary statement of the methodology to be used in the research
- What is the shortcoming with existing knowledge or the existing approach?
- What specifically do you propose to do and why is it important?
The results anticipated
Timeline
Brief Personal Statement
Bibliography

Proposals are reviewed by a faculty panel which may not include a specialist in your field. You should attempt to state your proposal and its significance as clearly as possible. Make sure to avoid jargon and define acronyms. Your proposal should also include information concerning your background in the project field and how the project prepares you for your future career. A statement concerning any arrangements that have been made to obtain or use special equipment or other resources required for the project should be included. Your proposal will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

Technical Feasibility (timeframe, facilities, and student background)
Clarity of Presentation (appropriate language and grammar, precise and logical presentation of ideas)
Research Contribution (are these well-formed questions and how this project will address those questions)

Because the project is to be carried out in close cooperation with your Project Advisor, the proposal should be written in consultation with the faculty member who will serve as the Project Advisor and write the official Project Adviser Recommendation.

Sample proposals are available for viewing in 244 Hitchcock Hall during normal business hours.

Proposal Specifications

The proposal shall be up to 5 pages of text (not counting title or bibliography page) using 12 point font and no less than double spacing.
Multiple sections can appear on a page (i.e. a separate page is not required for each section).
Figures are limited to four figures and should be combined on a 6th page.
All pages shall have at least a 1 inch margin all around.

Project Advisor Recommendation

Proposals must be accompanied by a letter of support from your Project Advisor. Upon completion of the electronic submission, your Project Advisor (and co-advisor if applicable) will be notified via e-mail and instructed to upload a letter of recommendation in support of your proposal. The Project Advisor Recommendation must be received one week after the Proposal Deadline (the Friday of the seventh week during autumn and spring semesters, and the Friday of the 4th week during summer term). The importance of the Project Advisor Recommendation cannot be overemphasized. Approval will be based on the potential value of the project for the student. The interest and concern of the Project Advisor and his/her assessment of the student and the project often will be decisive in the approval process.

Proposal Submission Process and Deadlines

All project proposals must be submitted electronically. The site will open the first day each semester and close at 5:00 PM on the sixth Friday during Autumn and Spring Semesters, and 5:00 PM on the third Friday of Summer Term. Students attempting to submit projects outside this timeframe must make arrangements with the College of Engineering Honors Advisor. By submitting a proposal, students are applying for both approval and also for funding, if interested. Funding is provided to select applicants via the Undergraduate Research Scholarship (URS). For more details about this scholarship, please see the Undergraduate Research Scholarship.

Research Coursework

During the semesters that research is being conducted, students should carry an appropriate number of research course credits. The exact number of credits will be determined by the student and project advisor, in accordance with any department policies. Students must complete a minimum of six credit hours for the thesis. Honors students pursuing a research thesis to graduate “With Honors Research Distinction” should enroll in 4999H (Honors Undergraduate Research Thesis) or equivalent. Students pursuing an research thesis to graduate “With Research Distinction” should enroll in 4999 (Undergraduate Research Thesis), or equivalent. Questions regarding the appropriate course selection should be directed to the Department Honors Advisor.

Oral Defense

Students must complete a satisfactory oral defense of the thesis draft before a 2-3 member faculty committee no later than five Fridays prior to the Commencement date of your graduation term. The committee must consist of the project advisor, and at least one other faculty member with graduate advising status. Upon successful completion, the committee members will sign the Oral Defense Form, which must then be submitted to the College of Engineering Honors Advisor.

Final Thesis Submission

The final approved Undergraduate Research Thesis should be submitted to the Knowledge Bank no later than four Fridays prior to the Commencement date of your graduation term. The Graduate School Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Theses, Dissertations, and D.M.A. Documents must be used as the style guide.

Enhanced Honors Experience

**This is only required for students admitted to Ohio State Autumn of 2012 and beyond.**

Honors students graduating with Honors Research Distinction are required to complete an Enhanced Honors Experience. Students must complete either (a) or (b) listed below:

(a) Completion of an Honors Contract in Engineering

(b) Completion of at least three of the following seven activities (with up to one repeated use of the same category):

Presentation of research at an OSU sponsored event (e.g. the Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)
Presentation of research at a meeting or conference external to OSU (e.g. meeting of a professional society)
Submission of a manuscript to a peer-reviewed research journal or conference proceedings (student may be a co-author)
Submission of a manuscript to an undergraduate research journal or non-peer-reviewed journal or proceedings (student must be lead author)
Completion and submission of a patent disclosure application
3 semester hours of Honors designated or graduate coursework
Other appropriate activity by petition to and approval of the College of Engineering Undergraduate Honors Committee.