Undergraduate Research & Distinction

Students have the opportunity to follow their own investigational instincts through undergraduate research. This requires a collaborative effort between the student and faculty. Research that culminates in the production of an undergraduate research thesis allows the student to receive the designation of “With Research Distinction” or “With Honors Research Distinction” on their diploma.

For additional details regarding these levels of distinction including requirements, timelines, scholarship, and proposal writing, please thoroughly review the Undergraduate Research Informational Packet.

Part of the submission process is a letter of recommendation from the faculty research advisor.  This letter must follow the Research Distinction Advisor Letter Template.

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.

 

Submit Research Distinction Proposal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Submission Deadlines (5:00 PM on day listed below)

Autumn = Monday after Fall Break (Autumn 2023: Monday, October 16, 2023 at 5:00 PM)

Spring = Last Friday of Class (Spring 2024: Friday, April 19, 2024 at 5:00 PM)

Summer = No submission window

  • Note: These deadlines are new as of Spring Semester 2021.  Please disregard any outdated information on deadlines which reference the 6th or 2nd Friday of a term.

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 make every effort to submit their proposal no later than the previous Spring Semester.  Exceptions can be made to submit the semester prior to graduation, and you can email Mike Knisley at knisley.33@osu.edu prior to the start of your second-to-last semester to discuss this exception.