Interested in Teaching in the Honors College?
Join us for engaging teaching experiences with the Honors College!
We are an hub on campus for interdisciplinary scholarship and teaching. The Honors College provides faculty with a variety of teaching and engaged learning experiences with our motivated and high performing students. Our faculty include core faculty in the Honors College or faculty who join us to teach one or more courses for a semester or more while in their home departments. Opportunities include:
- Teaching one or more of our core Honors courses in the course catalog. (designated as HON)
- Teaching Honors designated sections of lower division GE courses (e.g. Hist 1460H; PSCI 2030H; ES 1000H)
- Special topics courses through our HON 3000 and 4000 level classes
- Collaborating with Honors College leadership to offer events, off-campus excursions, book talks, special topics lectures, and other high impact learning experiences for Honors students.
Whether you are new to CSUSB or have taught at CSUSB for years, send inquiries to the Interim Director: Dr. Yolonda Youngs, yyoungs@csusb.edu
Thank you for your interest and support in the Honors College!
Honors College Faculty
Thesis & Research Project - Information and Mentor Roles
Project Goals
Honors students complete theses similar to work that might be expected of a first-year graduate student. This process should be deliberately rigorous. However, it is not meant to consist merely of an intimidating series of 'hoops,' but a meaningful process of inquiry relevant to the discipline and the student’s interests in it. This project advances the student’s post-graduation goals, whether it serves as a writing sample, conference presentations, or an exemplary piece for a portfolio when students apply to graduate programs or enter the workforce.
The student should conclude this experience with an understanding of how knowledge is produced in their field as well as the confidence and capabilities to articulate, develop, and understand discipline-based research or creative work at an advanced undergraduate level. The project should be attendant to the conventions of written and oral presentation that are particular to the discipline. Whatever form the project takes, it should be a demanding exercise (3 units = roughly 140 clock hours of work) and the resulting presentation should demonstrate in depth skill and understanding of the topic.
There are three components required to complete the project:
- a written proposal that articulates that goals, methods, anticipated results, and material needs of the thesis project;
- a written thesis document that meets the conventions of the particular discipline and that is due by the end of week 15 in the graduating semester;
- an oral or poster presentation as appropriate to the discipline.
The faculty mentor evaluates the thesis upon completion and emails the Honors College Director to communicate that they approve the final project as the student submits it to the Honors College.
Guidelines for Faculty Advisors
Honors students are complete their theses because faculty generously provide support to them throughout the process. Please keep these guidelines in mind:
- Intend to meet every other week or as needed
- Read and give feedback on at least one draft
- Be willing and able to provide criticism and direction
- Evaluate and sign off on final draft
- Sponsor student for conference
- In some cases, assist with IRB application process
- Optional: Independent Study
Conferences
The Honors College strongly encourages students to participate in professional conference as student research presenters (posters or oral presentations) and attendees to build their career pathways and professional portfolios. Some potential conferences include:
- Meeting of the Minds (For Spring Semester graduates)
- Southern California Conference of Undergraduate Research (SCCUR- for Fall Semester graduates)
- Western Region Honors Council Conference (WRHC- Applications typically due in January, present in March/April)
- Discipline-specific conferences organized by national or regional associations.