Honors

Criteria and Overview

Students who qualify for departmental honors will be contacted via e-mail by the Department of Communication Honors Committee approximately one month into their final semester and invited to test for honors by completing an honors project. To qualify for departmental honors in Communication, students are expected to have completed a senior audit and must have maintained an overall GPA of 3.5 in their UCCS coursework.

The honors evaluation process provides an opportunity for you to select a project for submission in accordance with the guidelines below. It is important to recognize that additional work must be completed during your final semester but achieving this goal will provide you with a unique distinction of honors as well as the opportunity to complete work intended to help your career growth upon graduation. Additionally, the process is intended to provide you with critical feedback from members of the Communications department faculty.

Once a student elects to complete an honors project, they will be asked to share the status of their capstone coursework (current enrollment or successful completion) and a brief summary/description of their project. Once a project has been approved the student will have approximately two weeks to complete and submit their project. Students may not submit projects or project ideas they have done for other classes or assignments. Students will be notified of their awarded honors designation and will be given instructions to pick up their honors cord for commencement.

Quality of work submitted will be evaluated for the following three merits: Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction. Finally, those who accept our invitation will also be eligible to be nominated as the UCCS LAS Outstanding Undergraduate Student. 

Members of the Honors Committee include Dr. Liesl Eberhardt (Chair), Dr. Maja Krakowiak, Dr. Carmen Stavrositu, Dr. Sophia Sah, and Dr. Matthew Morgan.

Please select an option from one of the three categories below: Written, Oral, or Creative. Provide a summary of your project choice and option on your honors contract along with a summary of your current or completed capstone project. Submit via email for approval before the deadline to begin your honors project.

Choice #1 (WRITTEN): For this category, you will write a paper/essay meant to synthesize information from a minimum of two-three courses in your degree program. Considering the courses and their respective topic areas, you should provide a clear introduction, a well-organized body (must include scholarly references cited in APA format), and a meaningful conclusion. (10-pg. minimum and 5 scholarly sources/references minimum). Written topic options.

Choice #2 (ORAL): For this category, you will prepare and deliver a recorded video presentation meant to synthesize information from your cumulative coursework/research interests as appropriate. Recorded presentations should be shared via a playable link so the committee members can access your work. The finished presentation should include visuals (video clips, portions of your interview – with permission, PowerPoint slides). (20 min. +/- 5 minutes and 5 scholarly sources/references minimum on slides). ORAL Topic Options

Choice #3 (CREATIVE): For Digital Film/Media students. For creative project submissions, students should complete one of the following creative documents demonstrating technical proficiency in your field of study. The body of work must exhibit both technical and artistic merits that demonstrate an advanced level of skill and understanding in your primary major or area of discipline. Works may be either fiction or non-fiction within any genre of your choosing. CREATIVE topic options

Project restrictions: Previously developed work may not be submitted for honors credit.

Deadlines: Projects typically have a two-week completion period – PLEASE make sure you are aware of deadlines to qualify for project evaluation.