SYE Application

In order to register for an SYE or an Honors Project, students must fill out the application form and complete a proposal.  Submit an e-copy to your proposed project advisor and this form during the semester prior to the project’s start. The applications materials will be reviewed by the department. 

Guidelines for the proposal content are given below.  Your proposal should include the following:

1. Proposed title
2. Introduction
   • What is your topic?
   • What brings you to this topic?
   • What makes it an important and relevant area of inquiry?
   • What is your anticipated thesis statement?
3. Preliminary literature review and theoretical underpinnings of your project
   • What literature, research or body of work is relevant to your project?
   • What theoretic outlook drives your project? What have others had to say?
   • How does your research fit with and add to existing work in the relevant field(s)?
4. Research design and methodology
   • Describe your research design
   • What is your proposed methodology? Explain why this methodology is the best fit for your proposed project?
   • Note that if IRB approval is required, you will be required to complete the appropriate training required by the IRB and work with your faculty mentor to submit an application to the IRB and receive approval to proceed with your research.
5. Conclusion
   • What do you hope to accomplish?
   • How will you benefit from engaging in this research process?
   • What will the final product be (for example, a paper, poster presentation, conference presentation, essay, drawing, installation, play, movie, workshop)?
   • How might the results of your research benefit others?
6. Initial bibliography of literature and/or other works to be used in the project

Badly organized, poorly written, unclear or incomplete proposals are unlikely to be approved.