Students majoring in African American studies have the opportunity to graduate with honors in the major. Honors in the major offers students the opportunity to pursue special interests and individual in-depth research.

Honors students must complete all required coursework for the major while maintaining a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 and a g.p.a. of at least 3.33 for courses in the major (30 s.h.). Students must register for up to 6 s.h. of AFAM:4990 - Honors Project which enhances a student's ability to complete honors projects under the guidance of the supervising faculty member. Students enroll in AFAM:4990 with the approval of an African American studies faculty member, who will supervise the course. They may count up to 6 s.h. earned in AFAM:4990 toward the 30 s.h. required for the major.

Under the guidance of the African American studies faculty member, an honors student defines a research project (thesis) using primary, secondary, or archival sources. Students submit a project proposal by the end of their junior year. They complete a thesis under the guidance of a supervising faculty member and present the results as a senior essay to a committee of three, including the supervising African American studies faculty member, one other African American studies faculty member, and the African American studies chair. A student's committee may choose to hear an oral defense of the honors thesis, usually during the student's last semester.

Students should use one or more of their elective courses to develop the honors thesis. More detailed honors requirements are listed in the UI General Catalog.

University of Iowa Honors Program

In addition to honors in the major, students may pursue honors study and activities through membership in the University of Iowa Honors Program. University honors students must maintain a 3.33 g.p.a., complete 12 s.h. of coursework designated as honors courses, and complete 12 s.h. of an experiential learning project. Visit Honors at Iowa to learn about the University's honors program.

NOTE: Membership in the UI Honors Program is not required to earn honors in the African American studies major.