Navigating the Honors Undergraduate Thesis (HUT) Program at UCF: A Comprehensive Guide

The Honors Undergraduate Thesis (HUT) Program at the University of Central Florida (UCF) is a prestigious initiative designed to foster original and independent research among high-achieving junior and senior students. This program allows students to delve deeply into their major field, culminating in the research, writing, defense, and potential publication of an original Honors thesis. Serving as the capstone of their undergraduate experience, the HUT program is the only undergraduate research program on campus requiring students to undertake original and innovative research. Completion of the Honors Undergraduate Thesis program will satisfy one upper-division University Honors requirement for any major.

Eligibility and Initial Steps

The first step in embarking on the HUT journey is to confirm your eligibility. To do so, visit the Office of Honors Research and complete the eligibility application. After submitting the eligibility form by the posted deadlines, qualified students receive the Admission Agreement and Registration Form.

Finding Your Thesis Chair

Once deemed eligible, the crucial task of finding a HUT Thesis Chair begins. The psychology department does not assist in matching faculty with students for the HUT program.

Understanding Faculty Research

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the psychology department faculty and their research interests and activities to identify potential areas of alignment with your own interests. Most faculty in the psychology department are involved in research. You should also familiarize yourself with the various psychology research labs in the department. Many faculty members post the list of their research publications or a copy of their Curriculum Vitae (an academic resume that lists their professional presentations, publications, teaching experience, grants, etc.). Browse these faculty profiles to see if someone is working on a project that is interesting to you. If so, contact them to ask for an appointment to discuss their research. Faculty members generally enjoy meeting with students who are interested in their work and have done some "homework" ahead of time to become familiar with their research.

Engaging with Faculty

Consider applying for undergraduate research assistant positions to gain experience and network. When approaching faculty with your research idea be prepared! Faculty members often discuss their research in class. If you have had professors whose enthusiasm for their research has spread to you, let them know! Again, faculty members enjoy hearing from students on whom they have made an impact in the classroom. Perhaps you have a friend who has spoken highly of a professor she or he has had.

Approaching Potential Mentors

Once you find a faculty member that you would like to work with, contact them. It is not advisable to just show up at their office. Be clear and concise. If they are unavailable to meet or are unable to take on additional undergraduate students at this time, they will let you know.

Thesis Chair Requirements

The Honors Thesis Chair must be tenured or tenure-track (titles: Assistant/Associate/Full Professor) or have an appointment as Lecturer in the Department/School in which the thesis discipline is housed. Non-tenure-track faculty must possess a terminal degree in their discipline and be a subject matter expert in the discipline in which the student intends to write a thesis. Finding a faculty member to mentor you and chair your thesis committee is one of the most important aspects of success in the Honors Undergraduate Thesis program. Your faculty mentor is the person with whom you will be working most closely over the course of your research or creative project.

Additional Resources

The UCF Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) maintains a campus-wide research database. Faculty and graduate students post a wide variety of research positions to this database that would benefit from the assistance or inclusion of an undergraduate researcher. At this exciting event, Honors scholars can learn about cutting-edge research, meet with active researchers, and find meaningful research opportunities in a variety of settings.

Program Requirements and Recommendations

It is recommended that psychology students spend at least three semesters working on their HUT. To engage in original research you must be CITI trained. It is a good idea to have this completed prior to meeting with faculty. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the HUT program and time commitment prior to meeting with faculty.

Securing Approvals and Signatures

Once you have found a faculty member to work with you will need to obtain all required signatures on the forms you obtained from the Office of Honors Research. The psychology department requires that HUT students utilize DropBox Sign for ALL HUT/Thesis forms. The use of DropBox Sign aids organization and timeliness of the form submission. Psychology students must also submit a copy of their HUT proposal and/or final thesis to the Department Liaison when requesting signatures. DO NOT wait until the day a form is due to attempt and obtain signatures. Dr. Chrysalis L. *Note that the HUT Faculty Liaison will not sign forms that have not been signed by the students HUT Thesis Chair and/or committee. The HUT Faculty Liaison also requires a copy of the proposal and/or final thesis to review prior to signing required forms. The psychology department will review the completed form to ensure that the faculty-student match is appropriate for the HUT topic.

Read also: Requirements for UF Honors

Registration for Directed Readings and Thesis Credits

To Register for Directed Readings I (3 credits): After submitting the eligibility form by the posted deadlines, qualified students receive the Admission Agreement and Registration Form. To Register for Directed Readings II (1 or 3 credits, optional): Students who need another semester to complete their thesis proposal can take Directed Readings II for 1 or 3 credits. The OHR team will share the Registration Form at least 4 weeks before the due date; it cannot be found on the HUT Webcourse. To Register for Thesis II (1 or 3 credits, optional): Students who need another semester to complete their thesis semester requirements have the option to take Thesis II for 1 or 3 credits. The OHR team will share the Registration Form at least 4 weeks before the due date; it cannot be found on the HUT Webcourse.

Benefits of the HUT Program

The Honors in the Major program was the most rewarding endeavor of my undergraduate career because it enabled me to explore and expand my own research interests. My independent research led to involvement in presentations at numerous professional conferences, innumerable networking opportunities, and a unique firsthand understanding of the research process. As a student with many different interests, undergraduate research served to tie everything together. I was able join psychology, health, and writing with a focus on an area that I’m very passionate about.

Participating Colleges

The HUT program is available to students in the following colleges:

College of Arts and Humanities
College of Community Innovation and Education
College of Health Professions and Sciences
College of Sciences
College of Nursing
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Nicholson School of Communication and Media
Economics B.S. Majors
Medical Laboratory Sciences B.S. College of Medicine (Excluding Medical Laboratory Sciences B.S. College of Business (B.S.B.A.*Note: Recommended majors are in parentheses. *Note: EEL 3004C (Honors Linear Circuits I) is an acceptable substitute for EGN 3373 (Principles of Electrical Engineering) for Mechanical, Aerospace, and Industrial Engineering majors.

Read also: UMD Honors Programs

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