On April 24, 2006, the department held a reception for undergraduates eligible for Departmental Honors. At the reception, requirements for participation in the Honors Program and the requirements for receiving Honors were explained. The 11 students who attended the reception have a broad range of interests, from geomorphology to public transportation.

Students with a 3.2 GPA overall and a 3.5 GPA in geography are eligible for the program. Honors students work on research with a faculty member on the topic of their choice. There is a two-semester sequence of honors courses, which may be taken in the junior and senior years. One semester is spent developing a proposal for research and the second semester is spent doing the research and writing a thesis. In addition to the thesis format, students may work on a project in GIS, cartography, or remote sensing.

Dr. Martha Geores is the Director of the Honors Program, and students wishing to participate in the program should contact her at mgeores.umd.edu or call (301) 405-4064.