BA or BSc honours
The honours program is designed to enrich your learning experience. Get the opportunity to conduct research in a specialized area of geography.
The program runs September to April of your final year. You’ll enroll in a seminar course (GEOG 499A and 499B) that supports you in completing a supervised research project on a topic of your choice.
Benefits
- acquire skills (analytical, writing, research) that give you a competitive advantage in job and graduate school applications
- work one-on-one with a faculty supervisor
- develop in-depth knowledge of specific areas within geography
Seminars
The GEOG 499 seminar courses will support you through the stages of completing your honours thesis:
- identifying a topic
- developing a research proposal
- completing a literature review
- getting an ethics review if necessary
- establishing a timeline and plan of action
- completing the research
- reporting the results
Much of the learning will be self-directed with a supervisor. You’ll also attend regular class meetings with the honours cohort taught by the honours advisor.
It is important to understand that when you register for honours you are committing to completing both GEOG 499A and 499B.
Entry requirements
To be eligible for the honours program, you need to:
- have a minimum GPA average of 6.0 (B+) for 300- and 400-level courses.
- have completed at least 12 units of 300- or 400-level courses, of which at least 9 units are in geography
- be eligible for fourth-year standing (42 units completed)
Note: You must complete all program requirements for the BA or BSc major program in addition to GEOG 499A and GEOG 499B to graduate with an honours degree. You’ll need to maintain a GPA of 6.0 (B+) in all 300- and 400-level courses.
How to apply
- Read through the honours program guidelines.
- Secure a supervisor. Your supervisor can be a faculty member or an adjunct faculty member.
- Work with your supervisor to fill out the honours program application form. You will also need the honours adviser’s signature.
- Send the completed application form with signatures to geography@uvic.ca (or bring a hard copy to the main office in DTB B203).
Contact the honours adviser if you have questions.
Application deadlines
Secure a supervisor – May 31 (suggested)
Final paperwork for September entry – September 10
It is strongly suggested that you secure your honours supervisor and submit the application form at the end of the Spring term before starting the program.
While the final deadline for paperwork is in the fall, securing a supervisor before leaving for the summer is important. Supervisors get many requests, so you may not get your first choice. Ethics approvals take time, and you will want to start your research immediately.
Entries to the program in January and May are not recommended. They may be approved in exceptional circumstances by the honours advisor after consulting with the honours supervisor.
Community engagement option
Community-engaged learning (CEL) takes geography out of the classroom and into our communities. As a geography honours student, you can take courses that give you skills to work, learn and conduct research with community partners.
Our CEL courses allow you to work with non-profit organizations to design, develop and plan projects to serve their needs.
Contacts
Honours advisor
Cameron Owens, camo@uvic.ca, 250-721-7330
Honours program assistant
Karen Bujan, geography@uvic.ca, 250-721-7327