Hutton Honors College

HHC Thesis Awards: Up to $750

Why Write an Honors Thesis?

Finding one's own voice is part of any serious undergraduate enterprise. During the first two years of IU's Hutton Honors College program, honors courses and extracurricular activities assist students in discovering their strengths and talents. At the time in their undergraduate years that students are focusing more closely on professional study in their majors, the honors thesis gives them the opportunity to pursue their individual interests, to explore at greater depth important unanswered problems in their disciplines, and to test their own intellectual limits. For students who choose to pursue the honors degree, this exercise in independent research can empower them in new ways. Writing an honors thesis offers them the opportunity to grow intellectually, to learn the discipline required for sustained study, and to become more confident in their own abilities. Students who write these can also develop the higher level analytic and research skills that will be valuable in future endeavors.

Undergraduate Research and Internship Awards

The Hutton Honors College already offers a range of grant and internship awards to students completing their sophomore and junior years, both during the summer and the academic year. We encourage Hutton Honors College students who need research support prior to the senior year to apply to this program for assistance with research costs related to traveling, living, or materials.

Honors Thesis Awards for Work-in-Progress

Since Spring Semester 2000, the Hutton Honors College has sponsored a competition for awards to support students in the senior year, who are engaged in the writing of an Honors Thesis. Through this initiative, the Hutton Honors College hopes to encourage students to complete their honors degrees.

Senior students in their last year of undergraduate study, who meet the requirements for earning an honors degree, are eligible to apply. Students who have received previous Hutton Honors College grants are eligible to apply for this award. Students from any discipline, department or school may apply.

Application forms are available here.

Please Note: If you are packaged with need-based federal financial aid (for example, Stafford loans, Pell grants), and you receive this award, your award from the Hutton Honors College may not be paid-out, in full, in the form of cash funds (i.e., as money paid into your Bursar account), but instead, may be used by IU's Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) to reduce your student loan burden.

All applicants must attach an unofficial IUB transcript to this application.

DEADLINE: May or August graduates should apply by 5 p.m. on the first Friday in February.
December graduates should apply by 5 p.m. on the first Friday in October.

Awards will be announced approximately six weeks after the deadline. Once the thesis is completed, you must provide a copy of the inside page of your thesis signed by your thesis advisor. Deliver it to Elaine Hehner at the HHC. Alternatively, you may ask your thesis advisor to send an email to Elaine Hehner (ehehner@indiana.edu) attesting to the successful completion and acceptance of your thesis. Either option will satisfy your responsibility to our grant program. If you have questions, please contact Edward Gubar (gubare@indiana.edu).

Awards will be announced approximately six weeks after the deadline.

Don't forget to read the general eligibility requirements.