Current JMU students who are not pursuing an Honors Interdisciplinary Studies minor but would like to pursue independent research leading to the completion of an Honors capstone project are eligible to participate in a Departmental Honors Capstone for Non-Minor Students (formerly known as "Track III"). The Honors capstone project allows students with initiative and intellectual maturity to work with a faculty advisor of their choice to create a final product which will reflect substantial scholarship or creative work that demonstrates expert skill, knowledge, imagination, and/or craftsmanship. A degree With Distinction in the capstone field is awarded to students completing this project with a grade of or better.

Admission is open to juniors who give sufficient evidence of initiative and intellectual maturity and who meet departmental standards for completing an Honors capstone. Interested students should follow the instructions for completing an Honors capstone listed in the Honors Thesis Handbook

How to Apply
  • Register for 499A in the second semester of the junior year through the department of your major. Contact your departmental Honors faculty liaison for details.
  • Identify a faculty advisor and two readers. 
  • Submit to the Honors College office an Honors capstone project application and proposal, with requisite signatures, by the stated deadline.

Back to Top