Junior Year Guide

In your junior year, you’ll progress to Depth of Study, delving deeper into your academic journey. You’ll also start to consider what topic you’d like to pursue for your Honors Thesis, if a seminar-based or individually contracted thesis is best, and which faculty member you would like to work with.

Depth of Study 

You’ll start to focus on work that emphasizes deep engagement in your major (Departmental Honors) or in any other areas of academic interest (Multidisciplinary Honors). You will develop relationships with faculty members to develop your interest in either developing a research manuscript or creative portfolio for your Honors Thesis. 

Multidisciplinary or Departmental Honors 

If you haven’t already decided whether to continue on the Multidisciplinary Honors track or to apply for the departmental honors track, you should do so at the beginning of fall semester.  

Multidisciplinary Honors 

Multidisciplinary Honors (MH) gives you the opportunity to broaden your academic interests in any disciplines of interest, and is the suggested choice for students who might be interested in Honors Thesis work that is not strictly limited to the boundaries of their primary major. 

Departmental Honors—requires approval by the department 

Departmental Honors (DH), which requires approval by the department, is the suggested choice for students who wish to pursue advanced scholarship in their major. As departments have their own requirements, meet with your department’s Honors Program Director to learn more about Departmental Honors Requirements. 

Courses to consider

As part of your Depth of Study, we encourage you to take one of our Honors Signature courses, the Junior Year Common Experience (HONORS 323H). This course, which also meets one of your two honors course requirements, will give you the opportunity to have an enriching dialogue with a broad range of students and faculty about important ideas. 

To help you choose your Honors Thesis approach, explore the advantages of pursuing an individually contracted Honors Thesis or seminar-based thesis, in addition to reviewing the Thesis Seminar course offerings. If you decide to pursue an individually contracted Honors Thesis, you are encouraged to submit your Honors Thesis proposal in April in CHC PATHS.  

Multidisciplinary Honors 

Any level honors course (3+ credits)  

Consider taking the Junior Year Common Experience (HONORS 323H). 

300-level or higher honors course (3+ credits)  

Consider taking the Junior Year Common Experience (HONORS 323H). 

Departmental Honors* 

Any level honors course in your MAJOR (3+ credits) 

Departmental Honors requirements by department can be found here.

300-level or higher honors course in your MAJOR (3+ credits)  

Departmental Honors requirements by department can be found here.

*Some departments may have additional requirements. Please check specific requirements by department here. 

Study Abroad 

Generally, students have a study abroad experience in their junior year. Discuss your interest in studying abroad with your honors advisor and the advisor in your major as early as possible in the first semester. This collaboration will enable you to create a plan that will allow you to complete coursework requirements for your major and your study abroad interests.

Thesis Workshops 

This series of workshops will give you an excellent overview of what to expect and how to prepare for the Honors Thesis from the development of an idea through submission of the final paperwork.

Scholarships 

Many scholarships are available for juniors. You should look into Commonwealth Honors College scholarships as well as those available through your major, department, and college. If your GPA is 3.8 or higher, visit the Office of National Scholarship Advisement (ONSA) to explore nationally competitive scholarships such as the Rhodes, Truman, Fulbright, and Marshall.  

Research Funding 

You should start thinking about what kind of research you’d like to do for your honors thesis, and which faculty members you’d like to work with. The Honors Research Assistant Fellowships can help fund the exploration of a research topic with a faculty member. Honors Research Grants can help support your honors thesis work. Both of these competitive funding sources are by application only.  

Cultivate Relationships with Faculty 

You will develop relationships with faculty members to cultivate your interest in either pursuing a research manuscript or creative portfolio for your Honors Thesis. If you choose to pursue an individually contracted Honors Thesis, you must select a faculty sponsor and submit the first part of your honors thesis proposal by April.  

Career Planning 

You should make an appointment with the career planning team in the college of your major to explore career, graduate school, and internships options as well as build a strong résumé and cover letter. You will also be able to learn about networking, interview skills, and other career search information. 

Advising Meetings 

One of the great advantages of being a Commonwealth Honors College student is our highly individualized advising. You are required to meet with an honors advisor at least once a semester. Your advisor is a great resource for planning for your honors thesis and to help you enrich your academic and cocurricular experience. 

Good Standing 

Keep in mind that a 3.400 minimum cumulative GPA and a minimum grade of B or higher in all honors courses is required each semester. You will also need 45 graded residence credits to graduate from Commonwealth Honors College. All of the required Commonwealth Honors College curriculum courses are counted as part of the 120 credits required to graduate from UMass Amherst.