In the third year, students who have maintained a 3.2 university
cumulative grade-point average may apply to the chair of their
major department to be admitted into the James J. Slade Scholars
Program.
Upon admission to the program, each scholar prepares
a plan of study under the guidance of a faculty committee and the
Honors Committee of the School of Engineering. The chair of the
student's committee acts as the thesis adviser and should be a member
of the student's major department. Although great flexibility is
permitted, each engineering program is planned to meet the definition
of an engineering curriculum as stated by the Accreditation Board for
Engineering and Technology. A Slade scholar's program requires
independent research and a thesis that results in a total number of
credits that is 6 credits beyond the minimum required for graduation.
The thesis, describing the student's investigations, is presented at a
public seminar of the school. With the approval of the student's
committee, courses of equivalent stature may be substituted for any
four of the required technical courses in the regular program. Any
course that is below the student's current status in his or her major
field is counted as an additional overload.
At the end of each semester, the student's committee formally reports on the candidate's
progress to the Honors Committee of the school. Continuance as a
designated candidate depends upon continued satisfactory progress. Upon
successful completion of the honors program and with the recommendation
of the committee, department, and the Honors Committee, the student
receives a special honors certificate. Successful completion of the
honors program is also noted in the list of degrees and honors
conferred in the commencement program.
