Getting Started

Choose Your College:

Select a link below to learn your college's requirements and how to get started in the thesis program.

Honors Distinctions for Thesis Students:

University Honors with Honors in Major – Member of the Honors College, student has completed 28-36 hours of Honors coursework, including the Human Situation Sequence, and has completed a thesis

Collegiate Honors with Honors in Major – Member of the Honors College, student has completed 22 hours of Honors coursework or an Honors minor, and has completed a thesis           

Membership in the Honors College with Honors in Major – Member of the Honors College, and has completed a thesis

Honors in Major – Student has completed a thesis

Further Resources:

View a suggested timeline for managing the project. Use this thesis checklist to help you stay on track. To find out more about the thesis program, click here (must have PowerPoint to view session). Also, as you begin to think about writing your thesis, there are many resources available through the University Library to help you along the way. Please visit their online research guides as you begin the thesis process, and contact your subject librarian. 

Please Note: All UH theses must be maroon with gold etching on the bound cover. The University Copy Center is aware of the UH requirements for bound theses.

Thesis Studio Program:

Thesis students are also strongly encouraged to participate in the thesis studio program, which assists in the researching and writing of the thesis. 

Writing a Prospectus:

A senior honors thesis begins with choosing and narrowing your topic, then crafting a prospectus that describes your research and writing plans. A typical prospectus will usually be between 3 and 5 pages, and should include a brief bibliography. Writing your prospectus will help you to focus on a specific question or idea. Students who take on a project that is too large in scope often have trouble finishing. And remember, the prospectus does not necessarily reflect finished work; some aspects of your thesis may change as you complete the project. However, if major changes are made to your thesis, they should be reflected in an updated version of the prospectus. The prospectus should serve as a contract or plan-of-action for your thesis.

To give you an idea of what previous students have written for their prospectuses, see the examples below. Remember that these are meant only as samples, not templates. Comparing several of the past prospectuses will give you an idea of some of the best practices, but there is no one-size-fits all answer. Most importantly, tailoring your prospectus to your specific project is a great start toward a successful thesis. As you browse through a few of the examples below, and notice not only what they have in common (a clear statement of the topic, how the thesis will be completed, a reference page, and a timeline for completion) but also how each is specific to the researcher and his or her project.