Major in Theology and Missions with Discipline-Specific Honors

The Honors Program in the School of Theology and Missions is intended to offer the student an opportunity to establish a deeper and richer understanding of the theological disciplines (e.g., biblical studies, biblical languages, theology, philosophy, and ministry preparation) than is typically gained in the undergraduate curriculum of the School of Theology and Missions.

Twelve hours of honors credit must be earned in Theology and Missions for the student to graduate with honors in Theology and Missions. As part of their 12 hours of honors coursework, students are required to take CHR 498 Senior Seminar for 3 hours credit and to contract for honors in three upper-level CHR/GRK/HBR/PHL electives (9 hrs. credit total). Students will choose which courses to contract for honors in consultation with their thesis advisor, giving consideration to how they might shape their contract in order to contribute to their thesis research. Students will complete their honors thesis while enrolled in CHR 498.

Admission Requirements

Students must have a 3.50 GPA in Theology and Missions. Transfer students must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA after completing or transferring at least 15 credit hours into Union.
Students must have completed at least one semester as a Theology and Missions major or minor prior to applying for discipline-specific honors.
Students must have completed CHR 231 Sophomore Seminar prior to application to discipline-specific honors (waived for philosophy majors).

Progression Requirements

Students must maintain a 3.50 GPA overall.
Students must maintain a 3.50 GPA in Theology and Missions.
Students must submit applications for any honors contract courses for that semester prior to the final add date of that semester. Contract must be approved by student, course professor, and thesis advisor.
Students must complete each honors contract course with a grade of B or higher.
Students must complete the Library’s Research Methods and Strategies training for Theology and Missions.
Students must attend one honors colloquium in each of the junior and senior years.
Students are expected to participate in the activities of the J. H. Eaton Society.

If, for whatever reason, a student fails to meet the program requirements, the thesis advisor will recommend to the dean and associate dean of the School of Theology and Missions that the student’s program be placed on a semester-long probation. If after that probationary period, the student has met the program requirements, the student will be reinstated to full standing in the program. If the student fails to meet the program requirements, the dean or associate dean of the School of Theology and Missions will be responsible for either extending the student’s probation for another semester or dismissing the student from the discipline-specific honors program.

Honors Thesis Requirements:

Selection and approval of a thesis advisor. Students will approach faculty members that would be appropriate supervisors for their general area of research interest. When an agreement has been reached for a faculty member to serve as a thesis advisor, the faculty member will notify the associate dean or dean of this arrangement. Students may also approach the associate dean or dean for suggestions with respect to potential thesis advisors.
Completion of the multiple steps involved in preparing a thesis.
- Thesis Prospectus
- Annotated bibliography that serves as a literature survey
- Draft process for thesis contents: introduction, chapters, and conclusion
- Final thesis of between 35–50pp.
Students will complete their honors thesis while enrolled in CHR 498. Students must meet all deadlines and all other expectations that the course professor requires of non-honors students in CHR 498. Students should closely consult with their thesis advisor during the writing of their honors thesis. Upon completion of the thesis, the students will submit the thesis to their thesis advisor and, as a courtesy, to the course professor. The thesis review committee will be responsible for assigning a grade for CHR 498 in consultation with the course professor. Unless the CHR 498 course professor serves as a student’s thesis advisor or on the thesis review committee, apart from reporting the student’s performance on the ordinary expectations of the course, the honors program has no expectations of the CHR 498 course professor beyond what would normally be expected with respect to a non-honors student.
Successful defense of the project before an honor thesis review committee consisting of three faculty members. The honor thesis review committee will be composed of the faculty who taught the three contracted honors courses plus the thesis advisor. If this number does not total three faculty, the School of Theology and Missions administration will appoint additional faculty to the thesis review committee. The review committee is responsible to read the final draft of the thesis and interact with the student regarding their work during the defense.