The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers an honors program open to majors in Physics and Astronomy who have outstanding undergraduate records and are interested in performing an independent research project. For each student who elects to pursue departmental honors in Physics and Astronomy, the program culminates in the writing of a senior honors thesis with which to report the results of his or her research to the scientific community. This research is typically initiated in the junior or sophomore year by joining a research group in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and enrolling in PHY 3560 or AST 3560 under the tutelage of a faculty advisor.

Physics and Astronomy Majors must fulfill the Heltzer Honors Program Checksheet, which outlines the following requirements of the Heltzer Honors Program at Appalachian:

University Honors (9 s.h.):

• HON 1515 (3 s.h.), HON 2515 (3 s.h.), and HON 3515 (3 s.h.)
• These three courses must span at least two of the three disciplinary areas: Humanities, Soc. Science, Nat. Science
• Course substitutions require approval of the Director of the Heltzer Honors program.

"Other" honors courses (9 s.h.): Although these courses may include any honors course in any department, we highly recommend that the student satisfy this requirement with PHY1150-410 and PHY 1151-410 (10 s.h. total)

Major Department honors courses (3 s.h.):

• PHY 3560 or AST 3560 - Undergraduate Research (Up to 4 s.h., usually listed as 2 s.h.)
• REQUIRED: PHY 4002 - Applied Physics Literature (1 s.h.)

International education requirement: See the checksheet for details.

Senior Honors Thesis/Project (at least 3 s.h.): This is satisfied by signing up for PHY 4510 and doing an honors thesis based on an independent research project with your advisor.

TOTAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS = 24 s.h. with a 3.45 GPA in all honors coursework and an overall GPA of 3.45 at time of graduation.

Note: To remain in the Heltzer Honors program, you must maintain:

• a 3.0 overall GPA as a Freshman
• a 3.2 overall GPA as a Sophomore
• a 3.3 overall GPA as a Junior
• and, as stated, a 3.45 GPA at time of graduation (overall AND in all honors coursework).

In addition, the following requirements apply to any student wishing to graduate with Honors in Physics and Astronomy:

• To graduate with highest honors in Physics & Astronomy, a 3.65 overall GPA is required.
• A grade of B or better is required for the written senior research thesis (a grade of A is required for highest honors). 
• The student must present results of the reserach thesis in a scholarly publication or at a professional meeting. 
• The student is expected to attend all departmental seminars (via PHY 4002).

Note that a student may arrange to take specific additional Physics and Astronomy courses on an honors basis by negotiating an honors contract with the course instructor before class begins. The honors contract, which must be approved by the Department of Physics and Astronomy Honors Committee, allows the student to receive honors credit for a regular course in Physics and Astronomy by specifying the additional assignments that the student should perform in order to receive honors credit.

For more information or assistance, contact the Honors Coordinator for Physics and Astronomy, Dr. Richard Gray.

Heltzer Honors Program