Departmental Honors in Resource Economics

Departmental Honors (DH) is an Advanced Scholarship track of Commonwealth Honors College (CHC). Students may complete DH as part of the full CHC curriculum, which includes Honors General Studies, or they may complete DH alone. All DH students are members of CHC. For an overview of the entire Commonwealth Honors College curriculum see: https://www.umass.edu/honors/curriculum

Admission Criteria for Resource Economics Departmental Honors:

Minimally, to be eligible to apply for Department Honors (DH), students must have:

  • An overall GPA of 3.400 or higher earned after one full time semester of UMass Amherst

    coursework.

  • The ability to complete the DH-Track requirements.

  • The ability to complete the CHC residency requirement, i.e., 45-graded (not pass/fail) credits earned

    at UMass Amherst (not transferred).

    Admission Process for Resource Economics Departmental Honors:

  • UMass Amherst students who are not already members of Commonwealth Honors College (CHC) must apply to Departmental Honors (DH), an Advanced Scholarship track of CHC, via the CHC online application using the following link: https://www.umass.edu/honors/admissions/apply

  • Students who are already CHC members must meet with the department’s Honors Program Director (HPD) regarding their interest in joining Departmental Honors (DH), an Advanced Scholarship track of CHC. The HPD will determine a student's eligibility and preparedness for DH. Admission to DH will be at the discretion of the HPD based on the criteria as established by the department and CHC (see Admission Criteria above). The HPD will notify the CHC office of newly accepted DH students so appropriate steps can be taken for SPIRE designation.

    Requirements for Resource Economics Departmental Honors:

    Successful completion of the DH course requirements and the submission of a properly formatted Honors Thesis manuscript will result in the award of “Departmental Honors” on the student’s academic transcript. The course requirements for Departmental Honors are:

    • 1 RES-ECON honors course any level with grade of B or better

    • 1 RES-ECON honors course 300-level or higher with grade of B or better

    • Honors Thesis with grades of B or better earned in both parts

      Option A Individually Contracted Honors Thesis: RES-ECON 499Y Honors Research and RES- ECON 499T Honors Thesis

      Option B Honors Thesis Seminar: RES-ECON 499CA and RES-ECON 499DA Economics of Renewable Energy Transition

      Option C Alternate Honors Thesis/Project Seminar as approved by Honors Program Director

      Although not required, we strongly encourage Departmental Honors students to enroll in RES-ECON 312 (Introductory Econometrics).

      Note: exceptions to the requirements above require approval by both the Honors Program Director and a CHC advisor; requests must be submitted in writing through CHC PATHS:https://www.umass.edu/honors/advising/handbook/forms