Generally speaking, Independent Study is open to students who are in their junior year and have completed a substantial portion of their major studies. If you are interested in Independent Study, please download and print the Independent Study form. Even though there are a number of specific prerequisites for Independent Study, any full-time professor who is willing to enroll an individual student has the authority to override any or all prerequisites. Please see the professor with whom you wish to do the Independent Study.

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Departmental Honors
ART ST 499
ART HI 499

Departmental Honors, Art St 499 and Art Hi 499, are open to students who are interested in doing either a final studio exhibition or art history research paper in the final semester of their final undergraduate semester. Even though there are specific requirements, any full-time faculty member who is willing to serve as an Honors Thesis chairperson has the authority to accept students who may not have the requirements. Traditionally, the studio thesis includes an exhibition, a paper and a talk; the history thesis includes a research paper and a talk. However, just what is to be done for any given thesis is strictly up to the Honors Thesis Committee and the student. If you are interested, please see the professor that you would like to serve as your Honors Thesis chair.

The purposes of the departmental honor programs are to intensify and deepen the student’s knowledge of his or her major field of study through a more intense focus and to provide a closer working relationship with the faculty. A student is admitted into the honors program based on high level of academic and creative performance. Continuance in the program and the level of honors awarded is at the discretion of the Department Chairperson. The minimum requirement for graduation with departmental honors is six hours of credit in Honors Thesis, Art St 499 or Art Hi 499. The six hours are to be taken over the two semesters of the senior year.

ELIGIBILITY
A 3.5 cumulative GPA on a minimum of 60 hours in residence at UNM is required.

REQUIREMENTS
1. For studio art, an artist’s statement of approximately two pages in length
2. A professor to serve as a chairperson for the thesis committee
3. Two additional professors to serve on the thesis committee
4. The signatures of the three professors
5. A letter of recommendation from the proposed chairperson
6. For studio art, twelve samples of work in a format to be determined by the applicant
7. For art history, a written sample of exceptional research or opinion from an art history class.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
1. Download and print the Departmental Honors Application Form or pick up a copy from Mickey McConnell in Art 324
2. Complete the form and turn it in by either April 1st, for the following Fall semester; or September 1st, for the following Spring Semester

THE THESIS
Traditionally, the studio thesis includes an exhibition, a paper and a talk; the history thesis includes a research paper and a talk. However, just what is to be done for any given thesis is strictly up to the Honors Thesis Committee and the student.

RESPONSIBILITY
After admission to the program, the student assumes complete responsibility for the completion of the project, including the time and place of the exhibition and/or talk and the completion of the paper work for the final evaluation of the thesis. If the exhibition is to be in the John Sommers Gallery, arrangements should be made with the director of the gallery. Oral presentations of the history papers should be arranged with the Department Director of Graduate Studies. Paperwork for evaluations can be obtained from Mickey McConnell, Undergraduate Faculty Advisor.

EVALUATION AND LEVEL OF HONORS
Final evaluation will be done by the committee during the exhibition or oral presentation. A level of honors will be recommended by committee. The final level of honors is at the discretion of the Department Chairperson.