Academics

 Application Deadline for Spring 2027 is November 20, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern

Your Team:

Thesis Director

  • Must be an FSU faculty member (tenured, tenure-track, or specialized) from your major department or program who agrees to work with you before you apply.
  • Will meet with you on a consistent basis for updates, guidance, and feedback.
  • Will assign your grade for the course.

Supervisory Committee

  • Usually consists of two more FSU faculty members (tenured, tenure-track, or specialized).
    • One from your major department or program.
    • One outside your major department or program.
  • Will read and approve the prospectus and theses.
  • Must be formed BEFORE you write your prospectus. 

Parts of a Thesis:

The Prospectus: The Plan

  • Consists of the plan for your project.  
  • Includes:
    • The introduction to your project.
    • Literature review.
    • Proposed methods and anticipated results.
    • The timeline for your project. 

The Thesis: The Research

  • Research in chosen topic or creative project that can be completed on time.

The Defense: The Argument

  • Defense of thesis or creative project to supervisory committee. 

Suggested Timeline:

1: Application Semester

  • Decide on your project and timeline.
  • Select thesis director.
  • Apply to the Honors in the Major Program.

2: Prospectus Semester

  • Register to thesis credit hours in your major.
  • Accept invitation to join the HITM Canvas org site
  • Attend a digital accessibility training session
  • Recruit your supervisory committee.
  • Write your prospectus.
  • Submit Prospectus Approval Form.
  • Start on project.

3: Defense Semester

  • Finish project.
  • Submit Defense Announcement Form.
  • Defend thesis in front of selected supervisory committee. 
  • Submit Defense Certificate Form
  • Submit Thesis Access Form to HITM portal and screen reader accessible final thesis to Research Repository

 Summer 2026 Deadlines

Required Document(s) Deadline
Defense Announcement Form September 18, 2026, by 4:30 p.m.
Prospectus Approval Form October 9, 2026, by 4:30 p.m.
Defense Certificate Form November 23, 2026, by 4:30 p.m.
Submission to Research Repository and Thesis Access Form December 4, 2026, by 4:30 p.m.

Application to start HITM in Spring 2027

 November 30, 2026, by 4:30 p.m.

Resources

Honors Liaisons
Honors in the Major Handbook

 

For more information on Honors in the Major reference the Honors in the Major Handbook or email Dr. Michael Franklin at HITM@fsu.edu