The faculty of Lawrence University grants honors at graduation to recognize and encourage superior academic work. 

What are Honors Projects?

Honors Projects are well organized and purposefully designed independent projects that examine challenging subjects or problems with considerable depth. They may also be a work of creative, visual, or performing art.

If you are considering an Honors Project, it will usually be completed during your final year at Lawrence.

How are Honors Projects recognized?

If you successfully defend an Honors Project, at graduation you will be awarded Latin Honors in Independent Study at one of the following levels:

  • cum laude
  • magna cum laude
  • summa cum laude

Levels are awarded by vote of the faculty with recommendation of the Honors Committee.

Honors are also indicated in the Commencement program and on your official transcript.

Key Dates

If you wish to submit and defend an Honors Project in any given Academic Term, below are key dates relative to that Term:

  • Friday of Week 1: Submit a Statement of Intent form
  • Monday of Week 6: Final version of Honors Projects due
  • Monday of Week 7: Oral exams begin
  • Sunday of Week 9: Oral exams end

Any student wising to defend an Honors Project must submit a signed, paper copy of the Statement of Intent form to Prof. Antoinette Powell in the Seeley G. Mudd Library, room 116 (first floor) by the first Friday of the term in which you intend to defend. These forms are available in the Mudd Library.

Past Honors Projects

All Honors Projects created since 2011 are archived digitally in Lux, the digital home for scholarly and creative works of Lawrence students, faculty, and staff. Access to these projects (available on open web, on-campus only, or embargoed) is determined by the authors. 

Honors Projects from 1970 to 2011 are microfilmed and housed in the Seeley G. Mudd Library, first floor microfilm area. Most earlier projects are available in University Archives.

Bibliographic descriptions of all Lawrence University Honors Projects can be found the library catalog. Search for "honors paper" or "honors projects".