Civil & Environmental Engineering majors may pursue an Honors-in-Major designation which shows up on the diplomas and academic records of successful graduates in addition to a Greek honors designation if earned. For example, a successful graduate’s diploma might have the following on it:
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering or Environmental Engineering
- University Honors in Civil Engineering or Envorinmental Engineering
- Magna Cum Laude
Honors courses are regular civil or environmental engineering courses designated by an “H” (e.g., CEE 650H) and which involve additional work assignments. Appropriate additional work includes, but is not restricted to, more in-depth laboratory assignments; additional laboratory or course assignments; research, analysis, or design projects; literature reviews; term papers; presented lectures; and research proposals. To designate a course as an honors course, the student must first meet with the instructor of the course and come to an agreement about what work will be required. The student then obtains, fills out, and submits an “Honors Designation Form” to the Registrar before the 2nd Friday of the semester the course is taken.
Students wishing to enter the Honors-In-Major program must meet with the Department Honors Coordinator (Dr. Jennifer Jacobs for Civil Engineering students and Dr. Weiwei Mo for Environmental Engineering students) prior to or during the first week of classes in their junior year. The program is explained in person and the student is given these written requirements. If the student decides to take advantage of the opportunity, they adjust their curriculum as needed.
The Department reviews the transcripts of Honors-In-Major students each January and June and warns students who fail to meet GPA requirements that they should petition to stay in the program or they will be asked to withdraw from the program. Cases are then decided on a case-by-case basis by the Department faculty. Students allowed to proceed in the Honors-In-Major program, continue to be subject to the semester-end review in subsequent semesters. The Hamel Honors and Scholars College is informed each semester of all such actions and results.
To achieve the Civil Engineering Honors-in-Major, students are required to fulfill the following requirements:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater achieved by the beginning of the junior year and maintained throughout the junior and senior years.
- Honors thesis: Students need to complete a total of 4 credits of honors thesis (CEE 799H Honors Thesis) during the senior and junior years, which may be used to fulfill a CivE non-design elective. CEE 799H is a two-semester thesis project guided by a faculty advisor and resulting in a written thesis in a journal article format. Students are to register for 1 credit of honors thesis during the first semester and 3 credits of honors thesis during the second semester. The student should meet with potential honors thesis faculty advisors in advance and work out what will be required with the professor willing to serve. The thesis is to be presented at a professional conference or the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference, or to a group of at least two faculty members in the second semester of the thesis. The course grade will be assigned by the honors thesis faculty advisor. A grade of at least B is required for the honors thesis.
*Students will receive a grade of IA for the 1-credit honors thesis during the first semester.
To achieve the Environmental Engineering Honors-in-Major, students are required to fulfill the following requirements:
- A cumulative GPA of 3.50 or greater achieved by the beginning of the junior year and maintained throughout the junior and senior years.
- Honors thesis: Students need to complete a total of 4 credits of honors thesis (CEE 799H Honors Thesis) during the senior and junior years, which may be used to fulfill an EnvE non-design elective. CEE 799H is a two-semester thesis project guided by a faculty advisor and resulting in a written thesis in a journal article format. Students are to register for 1 credit of honors thesis during the first semester and 3 credits of honors thesis during the second semester. The student should meet with potential honors thesis faculty advisors in advance and work out what will be required with the professor willing to serve. The thesis is to be presented at a professional conference or the UNH Undergraduate Research Conference, or to a group of at least two faculty members in the second semester of the thesis. The course grade will be assigned by the honors thesis faculty advisor. A grade of at least B is required for the honors thesis.
* Students will receive a grade of IA for the 1-credit honors thesis during the first semester.
