Program Benefits
- Conduct independent research on a topic that matters to you.
- Work closely with a School of Education faculty mentor.
- Strengthen your skills in analysis, synthesis, research, and scholarly writing.
- Gain experience presenting and defending your work.
- Build a strong foundation for graduate study and research-focused careers.
- Graduate with honors from both the University and the School of Education.
Faculty Mentorship and Support
Throughout the program, you will receive guidance from a faculty thesis mentor whose expertise aligns with your interests. While the honors thesis requires significant independent work, regular meetings with your mentor provide support, feedback, and direction as you develop your project.
Program Requirements
Eligibility
To participate in the School of Education Honors Program, students must:
- Maintain a minimum overall UNC GPA of 3.3 to begin, remain in, and graduate from the program.
- Complete EDUC 408 or EDUC 257 with a grade of B or higher before enrolling in EDUC 691H.
Honors Coursework
- Fall Semester (Senior Year): Students enroll in EDUC 691H: Honors Seminar in Education, which guides the early stages of the honors thesis process, including project development and research planning. Students must earn a grade of B or higher in the course.
- Spring Semester (Senior Year): Students enroll in EDUC 694H: Honors Thesis in Education, during which they complete their honors thesis under the supervision of a School of Education faculty advisor. Students also participate in an oral defense of their work.
Note: Participation in the Honors Program is in addition to the requirements of your degree program. The honors courses cannot be substituted for courses required for your major. Depending on your academic plan, participation may require a course overload or additional enrollment during a future semester or summer session.
Explore Past Honors Thesis Projects
Honors students have explored a wide range of topics across education, human development, leadership, and related fields. Browse examples of past honors theses to learn more about the kinds of research projects students have completed through the School of Education Honors Program.
Sophie Therber ('22 HDFS)
Meredith Marion ('24 HDFS)
Lunden Mandigo ('24 HOLD)
Tanvi Prakash ('26 HDFS)
Braeden Wilkinson ('24 HDFS)
How to Apply
The Honors Program application portal opens at the beginning of the spring semester. The deadline to apply is March 19, 2027.
Applicants should be prepared to describe your research interests, state your GPA, share a small portion of a writing sample from a previously written research paper, confirm that you have proactively reached out to and identified a School of Education faculty member who has agreed to serve as your thesis mentor, and list the contact information of two faculty references. You do not need to obtain letters of reference — just provide their contact information. At least one of which should be a faculty member in the School of Education.
Learn More About the UNC School of Education Honors Program
