Academic Life

Senior Honors Thesis

Senior Thesis Guidelines

The Senior Honors Thesis provides the opportunity for a student, in close consultation with an expert member of the faculty, to define and carry through a significant line of research or a creative enterprise. The thesis provides excellent preparation for graduate work and a valued career credential as well, but its most important satisfactions are inherent. The challenge and satisfaction of undertaking, following through, and completing a thesis is its own reward. Seniors and graduates often report that the thesis, though demanding, was their most gratifying undergraduate experience. For most undergraduates, the thesis offers a first chance for truly independent academic work. Students who undertake a Senior Honors Thesis are willing to go beyond the classroom and assume the responsibilities associated with a commitment to self-directed scholarship or creative work.

The Honors College and the Senior Thesis

The Honors College is vested with the responsibility of overseeing undergraduate thesis work throughout the university and ensuring its quality. The total amount of work required for a thesis should be roughly equivalent to six hours of coursework (250-300 clock hours). You will sign up for a total of six credit hours (HON 3399H and HON 4399H) for your thesis. Generally the hours will count toward your major degree requirements. You will receive a dot (in progress) grade for HON 3399H, which will be changed to a letter grade when you have finished the thesis. Students who complete a Senior Honors Thesis will graduate with University Honors (for a thesis outside their major), Honors in [major] (for students who complete a thesis but not within the curriculum of The Honors College), or both University Honors and Honors in [major] (for Honors College students who complete a thesis in their major).

Types of Theses

Experimental Sciences

A Senior Honors Thesis in an experimentation-based discipline typically arises from close collaboration with a faculty member on an existing research project. Ideally, you will identify a significant aspect of that research and craft a smaller project representing your own work. The thesis should include an introduction explaining the relevance of your work to the broader field of study, a brief literature review, pertinent explanations of all technical innovations and processes, and an appropriate representation of results achieved. On average, the thesis will be between 30-60 pages.

Humanities and Social Science

The Senior Honors Thesis in humanities and social science disciplines is typically envisioned and executed entirely as a written piece of work. This kind of thesis might resemble a long research paper in form, but it is different than a class paper. It tackles a problem that others have not yet addressed adequately, or it approaches the problem from a new angle. Research into what others have said and done is the essential first step, but your thesis should go beyond prior work to include your own insights and critical thinking. You should have an acquaintance with the relevant scholarship and display originality in the formulation of your arguments. Typically, such a thesis will run 50-75 pages.

Visual Arts, Performing Arts, or Creative Writing

The creative Senior Honors Thesis consists of a substantial body of work that displays your best creative work over the course of your undergraduate career. Your thesis should also include an introductory essay contextualizing your creative work within the field and offering critical insights into your creative process. Works of fiction usually run 50-100 pages, while poetry typically has somewhat fewer pages. The page requirements will vary greatly depending on the project.

Timeline and Required Forms

One Year Before Graduation:

Decide on a general topic. Students usually elect to work within their major, but you may wish to engage in an interdisciplinary thesis. In this case, you must show proficiency in both fields and find a faculty member who will direct your thesis as an interdisciplinary work.

Speak to other students about their projects. Even if they are not working in your discipline, other students will be the best source for understanding the process from your side.

Review other Honors Theses. The library, The Honors College, and the dean's office in the college of your major all have copies of previous theses. You should look at as many in your field as you can to understand the level of work that is expected and to see how previous students have interpreted the form of the Senior Honors Thesis.

Approach faculty members for advice. The first faculty member you speak with may not be able to direct your thesis, but he or she should be able to give you feedback about your topic and help you find someone who can be your advisor. The beginning of the project is often exploratory; the more people you can speak with about it, the better the process will go.

Ask a faculty member to direct your thesis. Once you have some idea of what topic you wish to pursue, ask a faculty member to direct your thesis. If the faculty member has not directed a thesis before, The Honors College can provide faculty guidelines and answer questions.

Complete the Verification of Eligibility (Form 1). Under normal circumstances, the director of undergraduate studies in your department (not your thesis advisor; see list of directors of undergraduate studies) will certify your eligibility to begin a thesis. This form can be obtained from The Honors College office or downloaded from the Honors Web site and must be returned to The Honors College office. At this time, you will indicate whether you are eligible for Honors in Major, University Honors, or both. The University Honors designation is awarded to students undertaking interdisciplinary theses and to those who will graduate as members of The Honors College.

Write a prospectus. A typical prospectus is 3-5 pages long and may include a brief bibliography. The prospectus will help you narrow the focus of your project before you begin the work. It is essential to narrow the topic to a manageable size. Students who take on a project that is too large in scope often have trouble finishing. Remember, the prospectus does not reflect finished work. Some aspects of your thesis may change as you complete the project.

Find a second reader within the field. Your first reader should be able to help you identify a second reader. The second reader will need to approve your prospectus and then read the final version of your thesis for the defense.

Submit the prospectus along with the Prospectus Approval (Form 2) to your thesis director and second reader, and then to The Honors College. Once the first and second readers are both satisfied with the prospectus, The Honors College office will review the prospectus and assign a third Honors reader to serve on the committee. The office will notify you of who is selected as the Honors reader.

All aforementioned steps should be completed, with the Prospectus Approval form signed and turned in, before you register for HON 3399H.

First Semester, Senior Year:

Enroll in HON 3399H (or equivalent) Senior Honors Thesis in your major. Interdisciplinary theses will be designated as HON 3399H. The section number will be available from the director of undergraduate studies in the department of your major once you have completed the Verification of Eligibility Form (Form 1).

Obtain technical guidelines for paper, margins, and binding from the college of your discipline. These will include deadlines for binding. The binding deadline is the date you will need to submit the final document, including a signature page signed by all three readers on your thesis committee.

Create a plan for the various stages of the thesis, including deadlines. Your faculty advisor should be able to help you devise a timetable and determine reasonable expectations for your work within the given time periods.

(Optional) Submit the Funding Request (Form 3) to your thesis director, then to The Honors College office. In certain circumstances, support for special research can be obtained from The Honors College. You should make an itemized estimate of your expenses and submit it with the Funding Request to your thesis director for approval, then to The Honors College office.

Begin (or continue) writing/research. Remember that the Honors thesis is a major time commitment, and you must begin early if you expect to finish on time. Seek help when needed. Don't let yourself be overwhelmed.

Second Semester, Senior Year:

Register for HON 4399H (or equivalent) Senior Honors Thesis in your major. Continue writing. Keeping the project manageable often involves dividing it into smaller parts. Your thesis director will notify The Honors College of your progress.

Six Weeks (at least) Before Graduation:

Give your advisor a rough draft of the thesis. At this point in the process, your advisor can help you shape your thesis into the draft you will present to your readers for the oral defense.

Schedule an oral defense. Find a time that is convenient for all of your readers, ideally several weeks before graduation. The oral defense will be your major opportunity to get feedback from your readers before binding your thesis. Your readers may require some revisions, so be sure to schedule enough time to make those changes before the binding deadlines. If you wish to have your defense in one of The Honors College seminar rooms, reserve the room in advance through The Honors College office.

One to Two Weeks Before the Oral Defense:

All readers should be given a copy of the version you wish to defend. Download an appropriate number of Defense Evaluation Forms as well as a copy of the Final Evaluation Form to bring with you to your defense.

At the Oral Defense:

Most commonly, you will give a presentation or narrative about your thesis , then respond to questions from each of the three readers.
When you successfully pass the defense, the instructor of record (your thesis director) will submit grades for both HON 3399H and HON 4399H.
When the final version of the thesis is bound and submitted to The Honors College, the college secretary will notify the Office of Records and Registration of the appropriate designation, University Honors (for interdisciplinary theses), Honors in [Major], or University Honors and Honors in [Major]. The designation will be added to your official transcript.

At Least a Week Before Binding Deadlines:

Prepare the final copy for binding according to the technical guidelines from the college of your discipline.
Consult the technical guidelines to find where you should take your thesis to be bound. The university requires four copies of the bound thesis. One will go to the college of your discipline, two to the library, and one will go to The Honors College. Most students have five (5) or six (6) copies bound, so they can keep one and give one to their advisor or to a family member. You may get as many bound copies for yourself as you wish.

After the Thesis Is Bound:

Turn in three copies, bound and signed by your committee, to The Honors College.