The Undergraduate Honours Project provides an opportunity for students to pursue further study in an area of their choosing, and under the supervision of a faculty member also of their choosing. The project is typically completed in the fourth year of an Honours Program, and may be done in any of the three academic terms. At the end students are required to submit a written report and give an oral presentation of their work.
Below you will find Frequently Asked Questions related to the Honours Project, Grading Criteria for MATH 4905 & STAT 4905, Honours-project Supervisors.
**For registration related Issues**, please contact the undergraduate advisor
Gary Bazdell – ms-undergradadvisor@carleton.ca
Honours Project Coordinator
Professor Saban Alaca
Office: Room 4364, Herzberg
Phone: 613-520-2600 ext. 2235
Email: salaca@math.carleton.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Deadlines – Full Summer/Late Summer 2024
July 19th |
Submit draft version to supervisor |
Aug 2nd |
Submit final version to supervisor |
August 16th |
Presentations |
August 23rd |
Submit pdf of completed project |
August 23rd |
Please email your final report together with “Official Title Page” and completed and signed “FIPPA Form” to the School Administrator
Margaret Tannahill-Wade – margaret.tannahillwade@carleton.ca |
Deadlines – Fall 2023
Nov. 23, 2023 |
Submit draft version to supervisor |
Dec. 8, 2023 |
Submit final version to supervisor |
Jan. 4, 2024 |
Presentations (hybrid format) |
Jan. 10, 2024 |
Please email your final report together with “Official Title Page” and completed and signed “FIPPA Form” to the School Administrator
Margaret Tannahill-Wade – margaret.tannahillwade@carleton.ca |
Deadlines – Winter 2024
Mar. 29, 2024 |
Submit draft version to supervisor |
Apr. 12, 2024 |
Submit final version to supervisor |
Apr. 26, 2024 |
Presentations (hybrid format) |
May 3, 2024 |
Please email your final report together with “Official Title Page” and completed and signed “FIPPA Form” to the School Administrator Margaret Tannahill-Wade – margaret.tannahillwade@carleton.ca |
- I need to do my Honours Project, how do I get started?
-
Here is a brief outline of the key steps you should complete in order to begin your project. This should normally be done BEFORE the beginning of the term in which you intend to enroll.
- Decide on what area you would like to focus for your project. Typically this would be an area in which you have enjoyed taking classes, and also in which you have a fair number of upper level (3rd and 4th year) credits.
- Decide upon potential supervisors. This may be a professor from whom you have taken classes in your area of interest, but not necessarily. You may consult the list of potential supervisors to see who is willing to supervise in each area.
- Contact the potential supervisors to determine whether or not they are able to supervise you, and if so what sort of projects you might do.
- Decide upon a supervisor and let the Honours Project Coordinator know.
- In which section do I register?
If this is the first time you are registering, then you should register in section A. If you were unable to finish in a previous term, having received a grade of “IP”, and this is the second time you are registering, then register for Section B. If this is the third time then register for section C.
FAQ – During the Term
- How often do I have to meet with my supervisor?
While there will be no formal requirements in terms of the number and frequency of your meetings with your supervisor, it is recommended that you meet on a regular basis in order to ensure that the work is at a suitable level and progressing at a suitable pace.
- How much material do I need to cover?
This is not easily measured but as this is a 0.5 credit course, the scope of your project should roughly be at least comparable to that of any other upper level 0.5 credit course.
FAQ – The Report
- When is the Report due?
You should submit the final version to your supervisor and second reader by the date indicated in the “Deadlines” above. The final copy is to be submitted to the Mathematics and Statistics main office no later than two days after your presentation.
- What are the requirements in terms of format, structure, and length?
-
In general there are no requirements and it is between you and your supervisor as to what is acceptable. However typically projects will be typewritten, and written in a manner that is accessible to an audience of your peers (i.e. other senior undergraduate students). The length is also between you and your supervisor, however a typical “median” length would be between 40 and 50 pages (at one and a half spacing).
The formal requirement is that you produce a PDF copy of your report including a title page. Copies of other reports can be found in our library to examine, 4317 Herzberg Labs. Once your supervisor has approved your final copy, provide the PDF report to our main office using a USB drive, or by email. It will be uploaded to our website for future viewing.
FAQ – The Presentation
- How long should it be?
The presentation is to be no longer that 20 minutes, followed by 5-10 minutes for questions.
- What sort of presentation medium should I use?
This is up to you and your supervisor. Possibilities include laptop and projector (e.g. PowerPoint, PDF), transparencies with overhead projector, and chalk board. Use whatever you feel most comfortable and believe will serve best to convey your topic.
- Any other useful tips about giving presentations?
-
· Do not merely read your slides verbatim. Use your slides and your verbal discussion to complement one another.
· Do not put too much information on each slide and make sure that you give the audience enough time to read them before moving on to the next one.
FAQ – Final Stages
- How am I evaluated?
-
Your mark is up to your supervisor and second reader. See below for a guideline as to what the various letter grades “mean”.
- Who is my Second Reader?
This is decided by your Supervisor and typically it is a faculty member who also has expertise in your topic and therefore is in a position to provide feedback and evaluate your work.
- What do I have to hand in?
-
Once the final corrections are done you will need to submit your PDF report to our main office, 4302 Herzberg Labs.
- Each copy must have the “official title page” which can be downloaded here:
If you wish to see examples of completed projects from previous terms see the Coordinator.
- Each copy must be accompanied by a completed FIPPA form to allow others to access your work. The form can be downloaded here:
- I am not going to be able to finish, what do I do?
-
Firstly, notify the Coordinator of this. You will receive a grade of “IP” (In Progress) for that term and this will have no impact on your GPA.
Secondly, you must re-register the following term. You will need to pay fees, but likely at a reduced rate.
Important Note
You can only receive two grades of “IP”, if in the third term the project is still not completed then you will receive a grade of F.
Grading Criteria for MATH 4905 & STAT 4905:
Grades of
A+, A, and A- |
In order to merit a grade of A, a student must show a high degree of mathematical maturity, and either originality or independence, (in obtaining the source material and writing the report).The work of the project must be at the highest level and should be well written and well organized. The oral presentation must be excellent. |
Grades of
B+, B, and B- |
A student who receives a grade of B must have a mastery of the material. The content of the project must be at a high level.The written work must be completely organized and a satisfactory oral presentation given. |
Grades of
C+, C, and C- |
The grade of C is awarded when a student has collated material into an intelligible form. A satisfactory presentation must be given. |
Grades of
D+, D, and D- |
A grade in the D range is awarded when the work has some major weaknesses; nevertheless, there is deemed to be enough work of interest or merit to allow the student to receive a passing grade. |
Grades of
F |
This grade is given if the student shows little or no understanding of the source material.In this case, it is to be expected that the written work produced by the student too closely resembles the material that has been read. |
These criteria are necessarily somewhat subjective. For my own judgment I use the following reasoning: The pass level for an honours student is 6.5 grade points, in the major subject. Thus grades in the A-B range are clear passes.
An A means that the student has taught me something. The writing is so good that an employer, or other interested person, would be very happy with the content and quality of work that might be produced.
A grade of B means that the writing and content are good; with a little bit more experience, anyone will be happy with this person’s work.
Grades in the C range indicate some problems, either in presentation or in the content itself.
Grades in the D range indicate problems, possibly both in presentation and content.
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