honors college thesis

Your Honors Thesis

The honors college thesis handbook and guidelines.

Completing this Honors College requirement provides you with an opportunity to design a unique project that will challenge you to reflect upon yours Honors education and to present your work to a group of faculty and your peers.

If you have any additional questions please contact  Robin Bond .

View the Spring 2024 Thesis Presentation Schedule

Sign up for your thesis presentation , submit your final thesis.

Table of Contents

What is the Honors Thesis and why do I have to complete one?

What do i do first.

• Thesis checklist
• Formatting your thesis proposal, and proposal review process
• Formatting your thesis

Who will evaluate my thesis and oral presentations?

How will my thesis be graded.

• What is “pass with distinction” and will I be eligible?

Forms & Guidelines

• Download the Honors College Thesis Handbook and Guidelines
• Honors Thesis Proposal Form
• Thesis Oral Presentation Rubric
• Thesis Written Document Rubric
• Thesis Evaluation Guidelines
• Thesis Advisor Signature

Completing this Honors requirement provides you an opportunity to design a unique project that will challenge you to reflect upon your Honors education and to present your work to a group of faculty and your peers. Your thesis will be the culmination of your undergraduate work and a bridge to your future career or academic life. Completion of the senior thesis is one of the hallmarks of a quality Honors education.

The thesis also provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to work closely with faculty members on campus who share similar research or creative interests. Your thesis can provide entrée to academic and professional research. It can lead to a publication and/or a conference presentation. Furthermore, faculty members who serve as thesis advisors are in a position to write very strong letters for graduate/professional schools or positions in the labor force. Prospective employers and graduate school admissions committees are impressed by the dedication and discipline required to write a thesis.

A thesis is not just another research or term paper. A thesis will thoroughly investigate previous research on a topic and will include your own insights and contributions to the topic. Many theses attempt to answer an academic question or test a hypothesis. Students in art, music, creative writing, or film studies, for example, may choose to complete a “creative project.” In this case, your written paper would be a contextual analysis of the work that you completed and would provide a lens for an audience to evaluate your work. See the “Formatting Your Thesis Proposal” and “Formatting Your Completed Thesis” sections below.

The information provided here will help you complete your Honors thesis and will answer basic questions about the process. The advisors in the Honors College are available to talk with you further about this requirement and to help you successfully complete it.

Before you begin writing your thesis, it is highly recommended that you enroll in and complete HONORS 398, an optional one-unit “Thesis Proposal” class. HONORS 398 should be taken in your sophomore or junior year. The goals of this class are to identify an appropriate advisor, develop a research activity or creative project, and prepare your proposal. In conjunction with your thesis advisor, you will develop a proposal that will be submitted to the Honors College for approval. The required format for the proposal is outlined below in this handbook, and the cover form, which your advisor must sign, is available here.

Once the proposal is approved by the Thesis Review Committee, you will complete your project under the supervision of your thesis advisor, and you may plan to present your final thesis as soon as the following semester.

Note: Students in the College of Engineering should check their schedules of studies to see which course satisfies the Honors College thesis requirement.

Thesis Checklist

• Thesis topic/Research project Your thesis can be a project that you develop or it can be based on faculty research that you are involved in. Often a thesis is a critical discussion/literature review of a topic guided by the specific research question of your thesis. It is not a requirement that you generate your own data in a lab or by using a survey, for example.  Most students begin thinking about their thesis in SOPHOMORE YEAR ; some students get involved in research on campus as early as FRESHMAN YEAR .
• HONORS 398 Plan to enroll in HONORS 398 during your JUNIOR YEAR. The course is not required, but it helps you write a proposal for your project and explains information about writing and completing the thesis. If you are pursuing a major in nursing or speech and hearing sciences or if you are planning to study abroad in junior year.  Some students choose to take HONORS 398 in SPRING OF SOPHOMORE YEAR .
• Thesis Advisor The thesis requires that you work with a faculty advisor at WSU. This can be anyone who is in a faculty position (including clinical faculty and senior instructors) at any WSU campus. You must have an advisor before you submit your thesis proposal to honors. HONORS 398 can help you identify an advisor for your project; if you are doing research in a faculty lab, the PI (Principal Investigator) is the best option for your thesis advisor.
• Thesis Proposal Before you can enroll in HONORS 450 thesis credits, you must submit a thesis proposal to honors. The thesis proposal is a 5-page document that shows you are embarking on a solid, academic project that will satisfy the thesis requirement. The thesis proposal must be submitted no later than the semester before you plan to complete and present your thesis. The thesis proposal is submitted as an email attachment to [email protected] with a coversheet.  Most students submit their proposal in JUNIOR YEAR .
• HONORS 450, 3 credits HONORS 450 is not an actual class; these are 3 credits that satisfy your thesis requirement for honors. Once your thesis proposal is approved, you will be enrolled in HONORS 450 credits according to your instructions on the thesis proposal cover sheet (see above).
• Written Thesis You will work with your thesis advisor to write your final thesis, which will probably take multiple drafts. Communicate with your advisor about how often you should meet to review your work. Your final thesis will be due on the Monday of the week prior to the week of your presentation date.  Most students plan to complete the thesis in SENIOR YEAR .
• Schedule your Presentation Plan to schedule your thesis presentation early in the semester when you plan to complete your thesis. There will be a date by which you must schedule your presentation. You will need the information about your advisor and the faculty evaluator for your project. Your advisor can suggest an evaluator to review your work.  Most students plan to complete the thesis in SENIOR YEAR .
• Thesis Presentation Your thesis presentation is the last step in completing your thesis. Your presentation will be attended by your advisor, your evaluator, and a host from the Honors College. You will present your thesis for 20 minutes, followed by 10-15 minutes of Q/A, and finally the evaluation, so, the entire presentation will be scheduled for one hour. Students at the Spokane campus have the option of presenting via the WSU videoconferencing system.  Most students plan to complete and present their thesis in SENIOR YEAR .

Formatting your thesis proposal

Thesis proposals are typically 5 pages long and are double spaced using a 12-point font. Please paginate your proposal and be sure to attach the required Thesis Proposal Form to the front of your proposal. The guidelines below indicate the sections required.

I. Introduction/Literature Review

Your introduction or literature review provides specific background information or the “body of knowledge” relevant to your Honors thesis. The literature you cite should draw on both earlier and current scholarly work. For proposals in the arts and humanities, include several journal sources and academic book(s). For proposals in the social sciences and sciences, include primary sources, review articles, and academic book(s).

This section should be written such that your research question or hypothesis or creative activity flows logically from it.

II. Proposed Activity

Depending upon your academic discipline, you may present your proposed activity as a research question, hypothesis(es), or creative activity with a stated goal or outcome(s). The proposed activity that forms the basis of your Honors thesis must be tied to an existing body of knowledge. This section of your thesis proposal should be clear and concise – e.g., two sentences in length.

III. Methodology

All disciplines lend themselves to research and creativity; all work is conducted using some methodology. Your methodology determines the rigor and validity of your work.

This section of your thesis proposal should present all the methods (i.e., scholarly approaches) you will use in your thesis. Your advisor will be well-versed in methodologies.

Your methodology may depend on your field. For example …

• If you plan to create original artistic work or other creative work, provide a scholarly “lens” through which an audience may perceive it (e.g., analyze the work of artists who influenced your own work and how your work differs from/is similar to theirs). Discuss any challenges to be overcome and give a timeline you will follow to complete your project. Be specific about what you plan to create. Articulate your creative goals.
• If you plan to conduct literature research (whether in the liberal arts and humanities, sciences, social sciences, business, or communications), indicate how you will select and examine your sources (e.g., date range of journals to be searched, data base(s) to utilize), what guidelines you will use to interpret them, and how you plan to analyze and synthesize your findings.
• If you plan to perform scientific research in a lab or the field, provide information on materials and methods including controls, replicates, and statistical analyses.
• If you plan to conduct a meta-analysis in the social sciences, indicate the criteria to be used to select the publications for your analysis as well as the statistics you will apply.
• If your research involves the use of humans, including surveys and/or questionnaires, you must obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval through the Office of Research Assurances (www.irb.wsu.edu). This approval is absolutely necessary before you interview one person or send out a single survey to be completed.
• If you are doing a survey or interviews, include the full survey instrument and/or the complete interview questions to the Appendix section. Further, if data collection is involved, describe how the data will be collected and analyzed and what materials will be used.

IV. Expected Results and/or Potential Conclusions

In no more than one or two paragraphs , describe the results you expect from your thesis and what those results will mean in the greater context of knowledge in the field. If you complete a creative project, discuss the implications of your project in terms of a larger context of your discipline.

V. Annotated Bibliography

This is a preliminary list of the “body of knowledge” that was cited in your Introduction/Literature Review (above). Your annotated bibliography section will begin on a new sheet of paper and contain at least five annotated sources. Select recent journal articles, review articles, and scholarly books that address your topic. After each source, write an annotation, i.e. a 3- to 4-sentence statement explaining what information is included in the source. (See example below.) Include specific facts rather than vague generalizations (e.g., instead of saying, “This journal article talks about Beethoven’s 9th symphony,” say “This journal article analyzes the form, instrumentation, and re-orchestration by Mahler of Beethoven’s 9th symphony”). If it is not obvious, explain how the source will be useful to the development of your thesis. For the citation, follow the approved style for your field (i.e. APA, MLA, Chicago Style Manual, etc.). Single-space each citation and its corresponding annotation and leave a blank line between entries:

Portes A. 1998. Social capital: its origins and applications in modern sociology. Annu. Rev. Sociol. 24:1-24.

This review article discusses the origins and definitions of social capital in the writings of several scholars in the field. The author identifies four sources of social capital and examines their dynamics. He also gives examples of both positive functions and negative consequences of social capital. It is fundamental for my thesis hypothesis.

Powell W.W. and Snellman K. 2004. The knowledge economy. Annu. Rev. Sociol. 30:199-220.

This review article uses evidence from patent data and discusses the debate on whether technological advances have generated more or less worker autonomy. It is useful for my research because it defines the knowledge economy and provides both sides of the debate.

VI. Appendix

This optional section will contain your complete survey instruments and full range of interview questions, or any other information you and your advisor deem essential for readers and reviewers.

Thesis proposal review process

If your thesis proposal is electronically submitted by the fifth day of a month, you will receive approval—or a request for revision—by the last working day of that month. A faculty committee will evaluate your thesis proposal. All notifications to you and your advisor will be made using WSU’s email system.

Formatting your completed thesis

All Honors College theses include these sections, arranged in the following order :

The title page will include the following: thesis title, your name, the semester in which you are giving your oral presentation, and your advisor’s name, department, and college.

Advisor Signature Approval Page

Your advisor must indicate that he/she agrees that your thesis is complete and ready to submit. This page should be placed directly after your Title Page, and include the following:

• As thesis advisor for (your name) , I have read this paper and find it satisfactory.
• Thesis advisor signature
• Date of signature

The précis represents an informative, concise summary of your thesis that is free from jargon and written in language that an academic reader outside your discipline can understand. (Note: A précis differs from an abstract, which is written for professionals in the discipline.) The précis should be no more than two pages long, double-spaced. Develop your précis after you complete the body of your Honors thesis, and place it directly after the Advisor Signature Approval Page. Include the problem, question, or hypothesis examined, an explanation of why you decided to study this problem or issue or to pursue this creative project, the approach you took, what you discovered, and avenues others might pursue in this area in the future.

Include a table of contents that guides the reader to the various sections of your paper.

List of Figures and Tables

If two or more figures or tables appear in the main body of your paper, include a list of figures/tables after the Table of Contents.

Main Body of Paper

This section of your thesis should be approximately 20 pages long, double-spaced, with page numbers at the bottom of each page. If you have chosen a creative project, your paper may be 10-12 pages long. It should be double-spaced, have page numbers at the bottom of each page, be written in English unless specific arrangements have been made in advance, and contain no spelling or grammatical errors. In all cases, the style should be appropriate for the discipline.

For organizational purposes, you may wish to use headings and sections (see below) for the main body of your thesis as they appear in your Table of Contents. Discuss the organization of your thesis with your advisor and follow a format that is typical of writing in your discipline. However, your thesis must include a Title Page, Advisor Signature Approval Page, Précis, and References Cited section. In addition, the main body of your thesis must provide the reader with a logical introduction to your project (explaining how it fits within a larger context and what your focus is), what you did for your thesis, how you conducted your work, and the significance of your work to your field of endeavor.

If you have chosen to complete a creative project, you may submit a shorter written document in which you should answer the following questions:

• What are the artistic aims of your project?
• What or who are the key influences on your work, i.e., current or historical artists with similar creative ideas?
• Is your work similar to or different from these artists?
• What methods or techniques did you use?
• Did you follow a disciplinary tradition?
• What issues and obstacles did you encounter?
• What did you learn? What are the next steps?
• What further work is needed related to your project?

Optional Headings and Sections

I. Introduction or Literature Review

This section sets the stage for your work. It gives the reader a view of the framework for your project – the particular field in which you are working – and brings the reader logically to the project at hand.

The introduction should answer two questions :

• What is the larger context (body of knowledge) for your topic?
• What is the significance of your particular topic?

The introduction or literature review should lead logically and clearly to your research question or hypothesis.

II. Thesis Activity or Creative Project

State your thesis activity/creative project succinctly in one or two sentences.

III. Methodology (Materials and Methods)

Describe the approaches you employed, and cite any relevant literature. Readers should be able to understand clearly the procedural and analytical steps you undertook.

IV. Results and Discussion

This is the real heart of your project and contains your original contribution of new knowledge in your field.

What did you discover, learn, create, or uncover? Present, interpret, and discuss the data or ideas you have collected or generated. Describe your findings in a precise and well-supported manner, as this is primarily where you can persuade your readers to adopt your perspective on the subject. Relate your work to the larger field. Cite any relevant bibliographic sources within your discussion.

The ability to view one’s own work critically and objectively is essential for all fields of scholarly research, and a thorough discussion of your findings demonstrates your potential as a scholar.

Because all projects are by their very nature limited in scope, an essential part of fully analyzing your work is to understand its limits. Think about the robustness of what you have done:

• If you had collected your materials or data differently, could you still expect to replicate your findings?
• Could you have approached your project in a different way?
• Did your assumptions lead to a certain bias that had implications for your conclusions?
• Do your findings corroborate those in the published literature?

V. Conclusions

What, briefly, did you learn or discover? What are the larger ramifications of your work?

VI. References Cited

VII. Appendix (optional)

Supplemental material such as pictures, figures, survey instruments, interview questions, and tables should be included in the Appendix.

Your thesis will be evaluated by your thesis advisor and a thesis evaluator selected by you and your advisor. The evaluator may or may not be from your discipline, so critical factors for your success are a very clear précis, a well-written introduction and discussion of your work, and an oral presentation that explains to an educated lay audience the significance of your thesis.

The reviewers will use the Thesis Evaluation Rubric and Oral Presentation Rubric to score both your written thesis document and your oral presentation. Review each rubric and become aware of how your work will be evaluated.

Your advisor and the evaluator will evaluate both your written and oral presentation/poster. Students’ work is graded as “excellent,” “satisfactory/pass,” “needs significant or minor revision,” or “fail.” Students whose thesis is…

• judged exemplary may have their theses nominated for “Pass with Distinction” designation
• graded “needs revisions” have approx. two weeks to make all corrections, get approval of the changes, and resubmit a new electronic copy of the thesis
• graded “fail” will need to redo the thesis to the satisfaction of the advisor and the Honors College, and submit a revised electronic copy of the thesis

What is pass with distinction and will I be eligible?

Exemplary theses may be nominated for “Pass with Distinction.”

Papers that merit “Pass with Distinction” reflect scholarly writing that is couched in the relevant literature and is analytical, synthetic, well-argued, well-written, and possibly publishable. Members of the Honors Council make the final determination on this designation.

The thesis advisor and evaluator must be in agreement before a thesis can receive a “Nomination for Pass with Distinction” designation. The thesis advisor then formally nominates the thesis in a written letter submitted to the Honors College. The letter must state why, in specific terms, the advisor believes the work deserves this designation.

If your thesis is nominated for Pass with Distinction, you will be asked permission to publish your paper on the Honors College website and in the Library’s Research Exchange Project. You and your advisor must both sign approval forms.

Important Note : Exceptions to regularly scheduled thesis weeks will be considered on a case-by-case basis and require a petition from the student supported by the thesis advisor. No thesis may be presented in the same semester in which the proposal was submitted and approved . Only students presenting during the scheduled periods may be eligible to receive a nomination for Pass with Distinction which will be reflected on their WSU transcript.

Most of the Frequently Asked Questions below will be answered during the 1-unit HONORS 398 course, the Thesis Preparation Course. The Honors College encourages you to take this class as soon as you have earned 45 units.

When do I do my thesis?

You should plan to initiate your thesis work as early in your academic career as you can. Thesis proposals should be submitted no later than the second semester of your junior year.

Can I do a thesis while studying abroad?

Yes, a thesis can be either initiated or completed during your time studying abroad. In this case you might wish to complete your Certificate of Global Competencies as well. Meet with an Honors College advisor to discuss your options.

How do I find an academic advisor?

An academic advisor is chosen by you. The request to advise may be based on your positive interaction with a specific professor, the professor’s expertise in the area of your research, or your interest in a professor’s teaching. You and your advisor will also pick a thesis reviewer from your department or a similar field of research. Please direct your advisor to online information “For Thesis Advisors” on the Honors College website.

Does the advisor need to be from WSU?

Yes, the principal advisor needs to be a tenure-track faculty member or senior instructor at WSU, but a co-advisor from another academic institution or the world at large can be arranged with the agreement of the Honors College at WSU.

How do I choose an academic question for my thesis?

Your academic question or hypothesis should reflect your interest or major field of study. The question may be one to which you have always wanted to know the answer, or it may reflect a question you identified from one of your classes or discussions with a professor. Ultimately you should have a passion or deep interest in the question you research. You may also choose to complete a creative project, such as creation of an art piece or musical composition, a short story, or a film. However, your thesis must include a relevant scholarly examination of its context as described above.

What is an academic question?

An academic question is one which asks the “how” or the “why” of some topic. It invites further research and deeper curiosity about an answer by engaging the relevant scholarly literature.

What is a thesis proposal?

A thesis proposal is a document that provides the necessary background and scholarly literature for your topic. It clearly identifies the question being asked, the hypothesis being tested, or the creative project to be completed. It provides the methodology you will use to answer that question or complete the project, notes what the expected results might be and what these results mean within the context of what is known. An annotated scholarly bibliography of five or six key references is needed. An appendix is required if you have human or animal studies approval, graphs, figures or charts of preliminary data, or rubrics that you will use for analysis, questionnaires or interview questions you will use. Annotating a bibliography means preparing a short commentary on each reference you use in the proposal. If you complete a creative project, your proposal will describe your work, explain how you will execute your project, the time you expect it to take, and you will place your effort in the larger context of others who have completed similar work. It will also have an annotated bibliography.

How long must the thesis proposal be?

Normally, the body of the proposal, including the literature review, the question being asked, the methodology and the expected results and conclusion sections, will not exceed five, double-spaced typewritten pages. The thesis proposal should be long enough to clearly explain what you wish to do, in language that an educated academic can understand, even if the proposal is not in his or her academic discipline.

When should the thesis proposal be completed and submitted to the Honors College for review and approval?

An electronic thesis proposal submitted by the 5th day of any month will be reviewed and the status communicated to the student via email by the last working day of that month. Reviews of proposals submitted after the 5th day of the month may take until the last working day of the following month.

Can I start my thesis research before the proposal is approved?

The thesis proposal can be turned in to the Honors College whenever it is ready, but must be approved by the Honors College before you begin the main focus of your research, and before you will be officially enrolled in HONORS 450 (Honors Thesis or Project).

Who evaluates the proposal?

The Honors Thesis Proposal Committee will review all proposals.

Are proposals accepted without alteration?

Yes, many proposals are accepted without alteration, while others may require further explanation and revision. If revision is required, the Thesis Director will inform you of specific changes or clarifications they would like to see in the revised proposal.

Are any proposals rejected? If so, why are they rejected and what does this mean?

Yes, a proposal can be rejected, but that is rare. It is much more likely that a proposal will be returned to a student for revision and explanation of critical points identified by the Proposal Committee. When the student responds to those questions with cogent answers, the revised submitted proposal will be approved and the research can begin.

May I do my research in collaboration with a fellow Honors student?

Yes, but each student’s contribution to the thesis must be stated in the proposal and be very clear to all reviewers of the thesis.

May I compile a journal and use that for my thesis?

Yes, you may compile a journal of your experiences, but you must ask and answer an academic question to fulfill the Honors Thesis requirement.

When is my completed thesis due in Honors?

There are numerous opportunities to present each semester. An electronic copy of your thesis (including the Thesis Advisor Signature Page), will be due on the Monday of the week prior to your presentation date.

When will I give my oral presentation?

Oral presentations are held during various weeks through the fall and spring semesters. You will choose a date that works for you, your thesis advisor, your chosen discipline evaluator, and the Honors College. Dates will be advertised each semester. Summer presentations are scheduled only in exceptional cases depending on the availability of the Honors faculty and WSU faculty who serve as evaluators.

What style and format do I use for my thesis?

The style (e.g. APA, MLA) should reflect that used by the major academic journals in your disciplinary area. You and your advisor will agree on which style you will follow. However, all theses must follow a specific format. See “Formatting Your Completed Thesis” on this website.

Who will attend my thesis presentation?

Anyone may attend your presentation. We encourage you to invite your family and/or friends, but that is up to you. Your thesis advisor, your chosen discipline thesis evaluator, one evaluator selected by the Honors College, and you are required to attend your presentation. The Honors-chosen reviewer may or may not be from your disciplinary area, so you must prepare an oral presentation that is accessible to the whole academic community.

How will I know if I have passed?

At the end of your 20-minute oral presentation, you can be asked questions by anyone present. When there are no more questions, you will be asked to step outside the room. Only an Honors representative, your thesis advisor, your discipline thesis evaluator, and the Honors-chosen evaluator will stay to discuss your thesis. In five to ten minutes, you will be invited to return to the room and be told whether you have passed. The total time allotted for each presentation is one hour.

What if I receive a pass contingent upon making revisions?

You will have two to three weeks to make all corrections, get your thesis advisor’s approval of the changes, and submit one new, corrected, electronic copy to the Honors College.

What if I do not pass?

All students must complete the thesis to the satisfaction of their thesis advisor and the Honors College. A “do not pass” rating may reflect a lack of effort, content, or overall performance. Each case will be dealt with on an individual basis. A completely revised thesis must be submitted electronically to the Honors College. In the case of a satisfactorily revised thesis, another oral presentation is not required. An altogether different thesis will require a new oral presentation.

What is “Pass with Distinction?”

A “Pass with Distinction” designation is considered when the major professor and the two evaluators believe the thesis and oral presentation breaks significant new ground or represents an unusual amount of care and effort by the student. Thesis evaluators and the advisor must be unanimous in their evaluation of the thesis, and a nomination letter from the advisor is forwarded to the Honors Council for final review and determination of this award.

Thesis Examples

Copies of several Honors students’ theses are online at Libraries’ Research Exchange.

Or, follow this link to view the Honors College Theses Collection.

Proposal Examples

Colville, WA, and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Prostate-Specific Antigen in Cancer Diagnostics*

Lake Osoyoos Investments

Awareness of Hemochromatosis*

*Final theses available in the Research Exchange.

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Thesis success in stages (thesis) guide, great minds think a lot..

As an Honors College student seeking an honors degree, your thesis is the chance for you to showcase your intellectual and creative talents. In many ways, your thesis will represent the culmination of your undergraduate experience at Oregon State University, drawing on all of the skills, knowledge, and insights you’ve acquired. Choose your own subject and think critically about social, creative, and scientific issues. Honors thesis topics range from scientific research to artistic creations to service projects, so there's room for you to explore the subject that excites you the most, even if it isn't in your major.

If all this sounds a bit overwhelming, don't worry. The HC provides you with a useful road map to guide you through each stage as you complete your thesis. Using Thesis Success in Stages (TheSIS) as your guide, you'll break the process down into smaller pieces with clear benchmarks to make your thesis journey much more manageable. These stages are called Stage 1: Plan , Stage 2: Explore & Build , Stage 3: Commit , and Stage 4: Compose & Complete .

Take comfort in knowing that you don't have to go it alone. It's OK to ask for help. In fact, we encourage it. Courses are available to help you at every stage of the process, and you'll be guided by a faculty team that's pulling for your success.

Stage 1: Plan

To be completed within the first three terms of joining the HC

Stage 1: Plan , the first stage, involves learning about the thesis requirement and mapping out personalized goals. This stage offers a framework for thinking about the thesis and possible paths to completion. Complete Stage 1 during your first year in the HC. If you are transferring into the HC, you should complete Stage 1 during your first term or as soon as possible.

Stage 2: Explore & Build

To be completed as indicated on your Thesis plan on file in the HC

The second stage, Explore & Build, requires you to explore your thesis interests and begin your engagement with faculty, with the goal of finding a mentor or making significant strides toward finding your mentor.

Stage 3: Commit

In the third stage , you will choose a mentor and work with that mentor to select a topic, develop a research plan, and complete a formal thesis proposal.

Stage 4: Compose & Complete

The final stage supports you in the process of actually writing the thesis, including drafting and revising chapters, presenting your thesis research to an audience of non-experts, planning the thesis defense and submitting your approved thesis.

• Submit or Update Your Thesis Plan
• Formatting Your HC Thesis

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The what and why.

The culmination of the Honors Bachelors degree, the Honors Thesis is a significant undergraduate research project completed under the supervision of a faculty member approved by the Departmental Honors Liaison in the student’s major.

The culmination of the Honors Bachelors degree, the Honors Thesis is a significant undergraduate research project completed under the supervision of a faculty member approved by the Departmental Honors Liaison in the student’s major. Its purpose is to advance knowledge and understanding within the context of a research university and to further develop the student’s intellectual, professional and personal growth as a member of the Honors College. Thesis projects may take different forms in different majors – e.g. laboratory experiments, historical research or artistic creations, to name a few – but always demonstrate research expertise in the major field, a command of relevant scholarship and an effort to contribute to that scholarship.

Whether you’re committed to working in your major field, or keeping your options open, completing an Honors Thesis gives you the experience to help you get where you want to go.

Gain real research experience in your field and learn how to communicate it. Tackle and own a project that you’re passionate about. Stretch yourself intellectually through close work with a faculty expert. And the practical value of an Honors Thesis? Unlimited. An Honors Thesis helps you to:

Get accepted to grad school, medical school, law school Competitive programs greatly value research experience and the motivation, maturity, and depth of study required to complete a thesis. Find a job. Employers, in your field or outside it, seek candidates with the commitment and practical skills required to complete an independent project. Figure out your path. Do you even like research in your major? Or are you ready to try something else?

Each department defines the appropriate topics, parameters and standards of Honors thesis research. Faculty outside of the major may supervise thesis projects with the approval of the Departmental Honors Liaison in the student’s major. Topics might be developed out of faculty research, coursework, class projects, UROP projects, community engaged research or even internships. The required Thesis Proposal Form must be signed by both the Thesis Faculty Mentor and the Departmental Honors Liaison within the student’s major. Take a look at our general Thesis Guidelines.

There is no uniform required length for Honors theses, which vary widely across different fields and topics. However, a range of 30-40 pages is common. Departmental Honors Liaison in each major and the Faculty Supervisor will set specific expectations. See examples of theses from your major here.

DEVELOPING A THESIS

Think About Potential Thesis Topics While taking upper-level classes in your major, start thinking about what topics you like that are being discussed.  What interests you?  What sounds like a good project? Is there a paper, group project, or internship  you have completed and would like to continue or develop further? If you are in the sciences and are working in a research lab, is there a project you could start working on that might culminate in your thesis? Talk to your professors!  Based on your classes and other academic or research experiences, think about narrowing down to a more specific topic. See examples of theses in your major.

Second and third years typically see students refining their interests in their major, and starting to hone in on a research topic. Continue taking classes in your major, and paying attention to things like: topics that interest you; faculty whose research is interesting, and with whom you connect; questions you have that don't seem like they have good answers. These are all important data in developing your project! Make sure that you are a part of the Thesis Mentoring Community, and that you are consulting those modules and attending events that are of interest to you. And connect with other students in your major - though everyone types their own thesis, we never think in a vacuum and having a community of peers makes the process so much more fun. Also, be in touch with your Departmental Honors Liaison. You can determine who that is from the link below.

For many of you, this could be your first time working on a big research project. You might be excited, but you also might be nervous and feel unprepared. All of those things are normal! The Thesis Mentorship Community (TMC) is here to help with that. This community has a living-learning community (LLC) component but also is open to all students in the Honors College via the Canvas Course for the community. The TMC is open to students in their second year and beyond, and will help guide (mentor) you through the thesis process from preliminary planning, to research, and on to the writing of the thesis. Information on the Canvas course as well as programming organized through the Canvas course connects students to other honors students in their field of study as well as faculty in their home department and resources throughout the larger university that will assist in the thesis research and writing process.

Meet with your Departmental Honors Liaison to discuss potential topics and faculty members to serve as your Thesis Faculty Mentor. (If you are working in a research lab, usually the professor over the lab can be your thesis mentor.)

Meet with Thesis Faculty Mentor and Solidify Topic: Meet with your Faculty Mentor and confirm the topic and scope of your thesis.  Work together on creating a timeline for your thesis work, and establish how you will go through the revision and completion process. After you have finalized your thesis topic, submit a signed Honors Thesis Proposal form to the Honors College.

Meet with Your Departmental Honors Liaison

THESIS COMPLETION TIMELINE

You have your thesis topic and mentor, now the real work begins. Here are the steps you need to take to complete your Honors thesis.

*Note: Dates are for a Spring graduate, modify accordingly if you are graduating in a different semester

WRITE YOUR THESIS

Typically during your Third and/or Fourth Year

Turn in the Completed Thesis Proposal Form via the link in the pertinent announcement for your semester and year of graduation in the TMC. The soft turn-in date for this form is the third week of your semester before graduation (so fall for spring graduation, etc) to ensure you are on track.

If you are not yet a member of the TMC, you can join the Honors  Thesis Mentorship Community Canvas page  (where you will need to log in using your CIS credentials). At that point, please click 'Enroll in Course'"

Be sure to meet with your Faculty Mentor to agree on a schedule for reviewing your progress, submitting drafts, making final revisions, etc. Theses with approval signatures are due to the Honors College one week before grades are due to the Registrar's Office , the semester you plan to graduate.

Please use the Thesis Formatting Template for your final thesis.

Sign up for **** 4999 (Honors Thesis Course in your major)

4999 is a 3 credit hour class in your major, which indicates you are working independently with your supervisor on your thesis. Talk to your Departmental Honors Liaison or major academic advisor to receive a permission code.

Also make sure your major advisor has declared you for an Honors Bachelors Degree in your major (HBA, HBS, HBFA etc.)

PRESENT YOUR WORK

Honors students must present their thesis work at the annual  Undergraduate Research Symposium  at the U, at NCUR, or at discipline related research conferences

PUBLISH YOUR WORK

You can also publish in the U’s Undergraduate Research Journal. Submissions are accepted year-round for online publication each summer

Click here to submit – students must submit on their own behalf

FINAL SUBMISSION OF YOUR THESIS

Your final Honors Thesis will require electronic signatures from your Thesis Faculty Mentor, Departmental Honors Liaison, and Department Chair before you submit it to the Honors College. Approval signatures are due to the Honors College one week before grades are due to the Registrar's Office , the semester you plan to graduate. Please give yourself and Faculty Mentor at least three weeks to make final revisions and collect your three signatures.

Submit an electronic copy of your final Honors thesis with e-signature approvals from your Thesis Faculty Mentor, Departmental Honors Liaison, and the Department Chair. The Honors College will provide you with the upload link during your final semester.

Turn in a signed USpace Permission Form when you submit your thesis. USpace is the J. Willard Marriot Library’s institutional repository and provides permanent electronic storage for your work to be publicly available. If you have questions or concerns about making your thesis available through USpace, please contact the main Honors Office.

APPLY FOR GRADUATION

Spring Graduates (January 17th), Fall Graduates (September 4 th ), Summer Graduates (May 20 th )

Information on this process can be found through the Office of the Registrar

APPLY FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARS DESIGNATION (URSD)

Students who complete two semesters of research with a faculty mentor and present and publish their work (for example in the Undergraduate Research Symposium & Abstracts Journal) are eligible for this special transcript designation. Deadlines found here .

The Honors College

• Steps to Complete Your Honors Thesis
• Honors Thesis

Completing your thesis is an exciting and enriching process. Make sure to take the time you need to plan, execute, discuss, and submit your thesis. Keep the procedures and deadlines below in mind as you take on your thesis journey. If you are planning to complete your thesis in the current semester, you may find the Honors College  thesis and graduation calendar  helpful in organizing your path. 

Develop a thesis plan

Select a director and second reader, confirm preliminary requirements, apply for thesis approval and enroll in thesis credit hours, complete your thesis: components and formatting guidelines, defend your thesis, submit your completed thesis.

• Receive a grade of B or higher for your thesis

Seize opportunities to get to know your professors. Reach out to faculty whose work interests you. Discuss their work and how it could connect to potential thesis topics and ask how you might join their scholarship team. Work with your Honors academic mentor to develop a thesis completion plan well in advance of your graduation date. They can help you plan ahead to make sure you have time for a full research/creative experience while also taking courses that interest you and fitting in other opportunities, such as study aboard and internships. Of course, plans can change, so be sure to review and revise your thesis completion plan with your Honors College academic mentor each semester. 

Return to list

Your thesis director must be a tenured or tenure-track faculty member from App State. Your Honors academic mentor can help you identify and connect with potential thesis directors that fit with your interests and your personality. However, finding a director is your responsibility and the process of searching for your director should start well before it is time to begin your thesis. You will work with your director to identify, plan, and execute your thesis project and your director will assign your final grade for your thesis course. Students typically meet weekly with their thesis directors throughout the thesis process. 

You must also identify a second reader from outside your director’s home department. Your second reader will foster interdisciplinary thinking and provide insights from another perspective. They could be a tenured-track or non-tenure-track faculty member or someone from the community who is not employed at App State. If you would like to petition to consider a second reader from a different program within the same department as your thesis director, email the Honors College Dean with your request and include an explanation as to how your preferred second reader’s expertise can help you broaden the perspectives of your work. 

Share your work regularly with your second reader for feedback. Do not wait until a final draft is ready. You want to incorporate their feedback throughout the process. 

Together, your director and second reader will form your thesis committee. Students who are also completing Departmental Honors should contact their respective departments/college for any additional requirements regarding the thesis committee. 

Before registering for thesis hours, meet with your Honors academic mentor to make sure you are on track to complete the requirements for graduating with University Honors. 

All students seeking to take credit-hours towards their Honors College thesis must complete the  Honors College Thesis Application by the end of the first week of classes for the semester in which they will receive their first thesis credit hour(s). The application asks you to 

attach a 1 to 2-page thesis prospectus (a.k.a. plan) and 

provide several names and email addresses for approval routing, including your thesis director’s name and your second reader’s name. Be particularly careful to enter the email address correctly. Approval requests will be sent to the addresses you enter and if they are incorrectly keyed your application cannot be approved.  

You’ll receive a message of final approval when all signatories have approved your application. However, approval of your Honors thesis application does not equal registration for your Honors thesis hours. You’ll need to register for these hours through a special course form . 

If you are completing BOTH University AND Departmental/College Honors, you will need to complete the form for your respective Departmental/College thesis course (DEPT 451X) and work with your Departmental/College Honors Director to submit this form through your home department. 

If you are completing ONLY University Honors you should complete the form for HON 4010 and attach the completed form in the appropriate space on your Honors College Thesis Application.

Your thesis must include:

a title page using the formatting in the  linked sample title page .

an abstract.

double-spaced text, unless specific formatting requires otherwise. 1.25-inch left margins, and 1-inch right, top, and bottom margins.

a minimum of 10 pages of written content. Creative thesis projects, such as performances, design projects, or exhibitions, can use this written component to provide context for their work, explain the project’s goals, and reflect on the accomplishments of the project. Projects not related to such creative endeavors will likely contain significantly more written work. 

properly formatted citations using a citation style that is appropriate for your discipline. Most importantly, once you choose a reference style, you should be consistent in your application. 

After writing your thesis, you will present your findings in your thesis defense. Work with your thesis director to determine exactly when you’re ready for your defense, and when you are ready, complete the following steps: 

reserve a room for the thesis defense. Make sure that the room is big enough to hold guests from outside your thesis committee and that it has the technology that you need to give your presentation. You can use App State’s room reservation system to reserve spaces in Appalachian Hall. 

let the Honors College know about your defense by sharing the details through our Thesis Defense Google Form . This needs to be done at least 3 days in advance of the defense date. Soon after you submit this form you, your thesis committee, and the honors staff will receive calendar invitations to your defense. Someone form the Honors College will do their best to attend your defense, but it’s not required that we be there. 

share a copy of your thesis with your committee prior to the defense. Aim to get this copy to them at least one week prior to the date of the defense. 

create and deliver a presentation outlining your thesis work. This is your “defense,” although, we like to think of it more as a celebration of your work. The length of the presentation depends on your discipline; your director will let you know their expectations. Typically, presentations are between 20 and 30 minutes, but some are shorter and some are longer. 

answer questions from your committee and other guests following the presentation. You may then spend some time talking with just your committee. Following that conversation, you’ll be excused while your committee decides what edits or updates need to be made and the timeline for those updates. Finally, you’ll be invited back to discuss next steps.  

complete any edits that the thesis committee shares with you as a result of the thesis defense process. 

Collect the following: 

a complete, approved copy of your thesis

a digital copy of your thesis cover-page, signed by everyone except the Honors College Dean. 

optionally, if you decide to purchase bound copies of your thesis, you’ll need to complete the thesis binding information form and obtain proof of payment via TouchNet ,

optionally, if you decide to include your thesis in the NC Docks archive , you’ll need to complete the NC Docks release form and thesis metadata form . 

Then follow the process describe on our thesis submission page to finalize your thesis submission. 

Receive a grade of B or higher for your thesis 

Your thesis director is responsible for assigning your thesis grade, and this does not need to occur until grades are due at the end of the semester. If you do not have time between the defense and the end of the semester to implement all necessary changes, you could discuss the possibility of receiving an incomplete grade with your director, although this may delay your graduation. You must receive a B or higher on your thesis to meet the Honors College thesis requirement. 

The Honors Thesis is an in-depth capstone experience, required of all honors scholars, to provide them with opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of their major disciplines, closer intellectual interaction with faculty members and well-rounded preparation for their career goals. Honors scholars use primary literature, data gathering, artistic or technological approaches in their disciplines to produce a year-long, sustained research or creative experience. The quality of the thesis is essentially the result of scholarly diligence, faculty mentor oversight and thesis readers suggestions.

The Directors of the different Honors Programs at ETSU can answer many questions about the Honors thesis, as can the Coordinators of the different Honors-in-Discipline programs.

Exemplary Studies

Enrolling in Thesis Hours

Thesis Contract Form

Thesis Process

Thesis Format

Bound Thesis

Information for Thesis Mentors

Getting started

Preparing for the honors thesis

What is the honors thesis?

The honors thesis is the culmination of Barrett students’ honors experience and their entire undergraduate education.

The honors thesis is an original piece of work developed by a student under the guidance of a thesis committee. It is an opportunity for students to work closely with faculty on important research questions and creative ideas. The honors thesis can have either a research or creative focus, and enables students to design, execute and present an intellectually rigorous project in their chosen field of study.

The first step in the honors thesis process is the completion of a thesis preparation workshop.

These workshops are places for you to brainstorm topics, learn about the honors thesis process, gain feedback on your ideas, ask questions, and create a to-do list for your honors thesis. Completion of a thesis preparation workshop is required before enrolling in thesis credits, and we encourage you to participate in a workshop by the first semester of your junior year.

There are two options for completing a thesis preparation workshop.

Enroll in the online self-paced workshop

Or, sign up to attend a live workshop offered in the fall or spring semester:

Mon, Feb 5th 10:30 - 11:30am  Athena Conference Room UCB 201 (West Valley campus)  RSVP

Wed, Feb 7th 10:00am - 11:00am  Athena Conference Room UCB 201 (West Valley campus)  RSVP 

Thu, Feb 8th 2:30pm - 3:30pm  Athena Conference Room UCB 201 (West Valley campus)  RSVP

Fri, Feb 9th 4pm - 5pm  Hayden Library Room 236 (Tempe campus)  RSVP

Thu, Feb 15th 4:30pm - 6pm  Hayden Library Room 236 (Tempe campus)  RSVP

Thu, Feb 29th 5pm - 6:30pm  Virtual (Zoom)  RSVP

Fri, Mar 15th 4pm - 5:30pm  Hayden Library Room 236 (Tempe campus)  RSVP

Fri, Apr 5th 4pm - 5:30pm  Virtual (Zoom)  RSVP

Thu, Apr 11th 5pm - 6:30pm  Virtual (Zoom)  RSVP

Ready to take the next step?

Following the completion of a thesis preparation workshop, Barrett students should schedule a thesis advising appointment with their Barrett Honors Advisor to discuss and review the guidebook, checklist and the due dates that correspond with the semester they intend to complete their undergraduate degree.

Honors Thesis Student Guidebook

Please explore the resources available to you within this guidebook to ensure your success. Refer to the checklist on page 13 to continue moving forward in the process.

View the Student Guidebook

Student Guidebook sections

What is the honors thesis.

The honors thesis project is an original piece of work by a student, in collaboration with their thesis director and committee. Most students complete an honors thesis within their major department but may choose a topic outside of the major. Each department may set its own standards for methodology (i.e., empirical, comparative, or descriptive), project length, and so on. Review the relevant Opportunities in the Major documents created by the Faculty Honors Advisors (FHAs)  here , and contact the FHAs in your area(s) of interest for additional information.

A thesis can be:

• A scholarly research project involving analysis that is presented in written form. Represents a commitment to research, critical thinking, and an informed viewpoint of the student.
• A creative project that combines scholarship and creative work in which the primary outcome consists of something other than a written document but includes a written document that supports the creative endeavor and involves scholarly research.
• A group project that brings together more than one Barrett student to work on a thesis collaboratively. Working in a group gives students valuable experience and enables them to take on larger, more complicated topics. Students may begin a group project with approval of a Thesis Director.

Selecting a Topic

Because the honors thesis is the culmination of undergraduate studies, begin thinking about a topic early. Many students base the honors thesis on an aspect of coursework, internship, or research. Once an area of interest is identified, take two or three courses that concentrate in that specific area.  Selecting a topic should ultimately be done under the guidance of faculty. The honors thesis is a joint effort between students and faculty.

Consider these tips and resources as you begin the process of selecting a topic: 

• Reflect on past experience to determine interests.
• Talk to faculty including Faculty Honors Advisors about topics that are interesting and relevant to coursework, major, career interests, or from ongoing faculty research.
• View past honors theses through the ASU Library Digital Repository .

Thesis Pathways

Honors Thesis Pathways are unique thesis opportunities, where students can be paired with faculty on interesting and engaging topics. The pathway options provide students a structured experience in completing their thesis, while researching a topic that interests them.

The committee consists of a Director, a Second Committee Member, and may include a Third Committee Member. Ultimately, your committee must approve your thesis/creative project, so work closely with them throughout the process.  Specific academic unit committee requirements can be found here .

• Any member of ASU faculty with professional expertise in the project area. (This excludes graduate students.)
• Includes lecturer and tenure-line faculty.
• Primary supervisor of the project.
• Conducts regular meetings, provides feedback, sets expectations, and presides over the defense.

*Emeritus faculty may serve as thesis directors as approved by the FHA from the department which the thesis is to be completed. Directors are expected to be physically present at the honors thesis defense. They may not be reimbursed for travel related to attending the defense.

Second Committee Member

• Individual whom you and your Director decide is appropriate to serve based on knowledge and experience with the thesis topic.
• Credentials will be determined by the Director and the criteria of that academic unit.
• Conducts regular meetings, provides feedback, and offers additional evaluation at the defense.

Third Committee Member (optional-varies by academic unit)

• Faculty member or qualified professional.
• If required, credentials will be determined by the Director and the criteria of that academic unit.
• External Examiners are Third Committee Members.
• Offer insight and expertise on the topic and provides additional evaluation at the defense.

The prospectus serves as an action plan for the honors thesis and provides a definitive list of goals, procedures, expectations, and an overall timeline including internal deadlines for your work. This will lay the groundwork for your project and serve as a reference point for you and your committee. You and your committee should work together to solidify a topic and create project goals. 

Submit your prospectus online

Registration and Grading

To register:

• Be enrolled in Barrett, The Honors College and in academic good standing. 
• Have the approval of the faculty member who serves as the Director. 
• In-person Barrett thesis workshop
• Online (via Blackboard) Barrett thesis workshop. Self-enroll- search words “Barrett Honors Thesis Online Workshop”
• Major specific thesis preparatory workshop or course may be available in limited academic units.

Register for the honors thesis through the department of the Director .   First, obtain override permission from the department of the Director during normal enrollment periods. 

Thesis Credits (up to 6 hours)

• 492 Honors Directed Study: taken in the first semester during research and creation of the project (not offered by all departments).
• 493 Honors Thesis: taken in the second semester for defense and completion of the project.  
• 492 and 493 are sequential and may not be taken in the same semester.  
• You must register for and successfully complete at least 493 (or its equivalent) to graduate from Barrett, The Honors College.

Grading the Honors Thesis

When the honors thesis is completed and approved by the committee, the Director assigns a course grade. Criteria and evaluation for grading are determined by the Director and the standards of that academic discipline.   

If you enroll in 492, the Director has the option of assigning a Z grade until the project is completed.

The assignment of a Z grade indicates that a project is in progress and delays placement of a final grade until completion. 

Defense and Final Steps

• Presentation and summary of the honors thesis. Format, content, and length are determined by the Director and standards of the content area. Plan to review the origins of the project, its scope, the methodology used, significant findings, and conclusions. 
• Submit final draft to the committee at least two weeks before the defense. Allow time for revisions leading up to the defense.
• Work with your committee to set a defense and report to Barrett using the Honors Defense and Thesis Approval form. Once submitted, your Director will automatically be emailed an approval link on the date of your defense.
• All committee members must participate in the defense.
• Group projects: Each student is required to submit an individual Honors Defense and Thesis Approval form. All group members must participate in the defense. 
• Defenses are open to the ASU community and published to the Defense Calendar.
• Following the presentation, committee members will ask questions about issues raised in the work, choices made in the research, and any further outcomes.
• At the conclusion of the discussion, the committee will convene to provide an outcome that will determine next steps.

Thesis Outcomes

• Minor format/editorial corrections may be suggested.
• Director will report approval using the Final Thesis Approval link emailed to them on the defense date.
• Your next step is to upload your approved final project to the Barrett Digital Repository.

Provisional Approval (Common outcome)

• More significant revisions required.
• Once revisions are complete, Director will report approval using the Final Thesis Approval link emailed to them on the defense date.
• Your next step is to upload your approved final project to the Barrett Digital Repository after revisions are approved.

Not approved (Least common outcome)

• Basic design and/or overall execution of the honors thesis is significantly flawed.
• The Director and committee may continue working with the student to make major revisions. You should discuss this with committee and Honors Advisor about implications on Barrett graduation.

• Undergraduate Research and Honors Thesis

The Honors College, as the university-wide center for excellence in undergraduate education, plays a crucial role with undergraduate research at Georgia Southern University. Since the beginning of the College, students have been required to complete Honors Theses or Capstone Projects. These faculty mentored projects have spanned traditional research models, applied research, and creative activities in all academic colleges and majors.

Click through the links below to see honors theses submitted in recent years or to view past Honors Research Symposia.  Current students will want to click on the resources section to read about support the College can give them.

Honors Thesis

What is the honors thesis.

The hallmark of an Honors College student’s experience is the Honors Thesis. Students develop a unique research project under the guidance of a faculty mentor in their major discipline. This work gives students the opportunity to become an expert on a topic in their field, and the completed thesis a great accomplishment to share with potential employers, graduate schools, or professional schools.

Students engage in all sorts of projects that fit under the term Honors Thesis including creative, practical, and applied approaches in addition to traditional lab, field, and archival research.

Since 2014, Honors College theses have been uploaded to Digital Commons@Georgia Southern . Click on the link to see the list of majors and click on a major to see specific theses within that field.

What are the steps students need to take for the Honors Thesis?

Students typically start their thesis three to four semesters from their graduation date, and generally they follow these steps:

1. Take their major specific upper-level honors courses. For some majors, these include research hours, research seminars, and thesis seminars. Check your major’s Honors College curriculum sheet for full details.

2. Find a thesis mentor and develop an idea and questions for research. The order of these two actions may vary. Students might settle on a topic and seek a mentor who will work with them. Other students might enjoy a class and ask that professor to work with them on a thesis. And many students find a mentor in the course of doing research or through their thesis and research seminars.

3. Begin preliminary work and develop a Thesis Proposal. Students do this work in consultation with their thesis mentor or in the context of a thesis/research seminar.

4. Submit a Thesis Proposal Form one year prior to graduation. This is also done in consultation with the thesis mentor, and must be signed by the mentor in order to be approved by the Honors College. The deadlines are May 1 for spring and summer graduates of the following year, and December 1 for fall graduates of the following year.

5. Conduct the research and complete the writing. Again, this is in close consultation with the thesis mentor and is ongoing. It is very important that students develop a timeline with their mentor to ensure timely completion of their thesis project.

6. Submit final thesis and upload to Digital Commons. A final thesis must be approved by the mentor. Directions on submission may be found in the Honors Upper Division Handbook . Deadlines are April 1 for spring and summer graduates, and November 1 for fall graduates.

7. Present at the Honors Symposium (fall) or the Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium (spring). All graduating seniors must present their thesis research at the Honors College Research Symposium (fall graduates) or the Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium (spring graduates). See more details in the Honors College Symposium section below.

Important Links

The Thesis Proposal Form  must be submitted one year prior to graduation.

Students and their thesis mentors should also refer to the Honors Thesis Handbook as they prepare their final thesis for submission.

Honors College Symposium

Each fall and spring, graduating seniors in the Honors College present their thesis research to the greater Honors College and Georgia Southern community. In the fall, students will present at the Honors Symposium, and in the spring students will present at the Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium .

Below is a list of past symposia programs. The 2020, Fall 2020, and 2021 program links lead to video recordings for most of the presentations.

• 2022 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2021 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2021 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2020 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2020 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2019 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2019 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2018 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2018 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2017 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2017 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2016 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2016 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2015 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2015 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2014 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2014 Honors Research Symposium Program
• Fall 2013 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2013 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2012 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2011 Honors Research Symposium Program
• 2010 Honors Research Symposium Program

Undergraduate Research Fund, Poster Printing, PowerPoint Template

Honors college undergraduate research fund.

Need funding for your project or to travel to a conference? Students seeking support for their research projects may apply to the Honors Undergraduate Research Fund. Monies may be spent on research supplies (ultimately owned by Georgia Southern) or for registration and travel to present research at conferences. Full details are found on the Honors Undergraduate Research Fund Application .

Printing Research Posters for Honors College Students

Presenting a poster at a conference or at the Honors College Symposium or Georgia Southern Student Scholars Symposium? We’ll print it for free!

Honors College students can submit posters to be printed on the Honors College poster plotter under the following conditions:

• The poster is to be used for a presentation of research or creative activity of the honors student in an honors course or as part of an on-campus or off-campus conference or symposium.
• Poster sizes are typically either 24×36 or 36×48.  (Posters of other sizes will need to be trimmed by student.)
• The poster must include the nameplate of the Honors College.
• Georgia Southern University and the name of the student’s department and mentor should also be listed.
• Avoid overly dark backgrounds that require a lot of ink and drying time.
• File should be saved and submitted as either PDF or PowerPoint slide.
• File should be submitted at least five business days before poster is needed. Posters needed in less than five days might not be printed.
• Send files to Dr. Francis Desiderio at [email protected]

Poster Template:  Below is a suggested template in a Google Slides file. This template contains the nameplate, title section, and headers. Feel free to use this format; however, you should develop different header titles.

Keep in mind that you may design your poster however you wish, but you should strive for a clear and readable presentation.

Honors Poster Template

PowerPoint Template and Honors College Nameplate

The Honors College nameplate should be used on posters. The nameplate also includes the University logo. Please find the Honors College nameplate in this folder:

Last updated: 3/25/2024

• Apply to the Honors College
• Apply as an Incoming Freshman
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• Honors Global Scholars
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• Current Student Resources
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• Honors Student Organizations

Honors College

PO Box 8130, Statesboro, GA 30460

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Clark honors college menu, clark honors college, the thesis project.

As a CHC student, you will complete a thesis project during your fourth year. You will apply the critical thinking and communication skills you have learned in the CHC to explore ideas, problems, approaches, and practices in your field of study. We explain the significance of the thesis project and how the process works.

Thesis Project Overview

Thesis Project Checklist

Your Defense Term

Thesis Project FAQ

What is the thesis project?

Like climbing Mt. Hood, cooking a seven-course meal or writing a book of poetry, each thesis project is a unique accomplishment.

Through your thesis project, you can explore questions, solve problems, create a portfolio, conduct original research, write a business or marketing plan, or work with professors on an issue or project related to your own career goals.

Why should I do a thesis project?

An honors thesis project is valuable not only in and of itself, but also because of how you will grow, personally and academically, throughout the process.

Your thesis project will provide you with skills employers and graduate or professional schools value: the ability to manage projects, apply your knowledge, communicate complex ideas and work both independently and collaboratively. 

“It is okay to be non-traditional! The thesis I created was nothing like a classic research paper and at the beginning I had no idea that was even allowed.”

—Angela Pelky, Class of 2023, Computer Science

 How a thesis topic is born

“I wanted to find a project that allowed me to express myself creatively. I also do a lot of self reflection in my spare time and enjoy looking inward as a way of understanding the world around me. My primary thesis advisor was very adaptive and kind, encouraging me to identify a project that I would be thrilled to work on.”

—Calvin Warner, Environmental Studies, Class of 2023 The Impact of Casual Observation on Environmental Appreciation and Personal Wellbeing

“I kind of paved my own path with this thesis project. I was combining the fields of entrepreneurship and computer science, so I thought about valuable processes that applied to both fields. As part of computer science projects, you go through a multi-step process of defining requirements, designing those requirements, and finally testing them. I used these templates as a basis for my project.”

—Angela Pelky, Computer Science, Class of 2023 A Journey to Build a Dog Walking Application

“Lean into a topic or experience that you found fascinating, like study abroad, to get the most out of that one experience and make the thesis project slightly outside your typical realm - that difference will make your project more interesting and easier to work on through the year.”

—Grace Miyoshi, Journalism, Class of 2023 Monopponom as an emerging Japansese American craft: Creating a transcultural public relations plan

Three Steps to a Successful Thesis Project

Design your project.

It's never too early to start planning!

• Take HC 277 Thesis Orientation
• Develop an idea or a question around what inspires you in your field of study
• Identify a primary thesis advisor who agrees to be on your thesis committee
• Enroll in HC 477 Thesis Prospectus

Act on your ideas.

Since every student’s thesis project is unique, the precise steps involved in completing yours will be specific to you. You might:

• Perform lab or library research, collect data in the field, engage with the community, create artwork, design, compose, choreograph...
• Take independent study credits
• Apply for funding

No matter what, make sure you stay in close contact with your primary thesis advisor.

Share the results.

Communication is the critical path to completing your thesis project. Get ready to: 

• Write up your thesis project , which may also include performance, artwork, recordings, or other digital media
• Defend your thesis project  in a 20-30 minute oral presentation
• Participate in the optional but fun Three-Minute Thesis competition (watch the 2023 3MT competition )
• Archive your thesis project

How will I be supported in the thesis project?

► Field-specific expertise  and mentorship from your chosen Primary Thesis Advisor

► General support  through the thesis project from your CHC Representative

► Required courses  dedicated to planning: Thesis Orientation and Thesis Prospectus

► Starting sophomore year, general  academic advising  from your CHC Faculty Advisor

► A curriculum designed to strengthen your  research, analysis and communication skills

► Access to faculty and  funding opportunities  via CHC's  Mentored Research Program

► Option to join Writing in Community groups that build time and accountability into your schedule

► Option to take  independent research credits  that let you focus on your thesis project

► Dedicated  thesis resource staff  ready to answer your questions

“Schedule an appointment with a librarian at the beginning of your research. They have extensive knowledge of the best databases to utilize and can guide you in using search engines and filters to your advantage. This will maximize your efficiency and empower you to start your thesis journey with confidence.” ​​​​​

—Yessica Roldan, Human Physiology, Class of 2023 Nintedanib: A New Hope for Patients with Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Thesis Resource Staff

Beyond your chosen thesis committee, the Clark Honors College also has dedicated staff to support you during your thesis process, from start to finish. 

Miriam Alexis Jordan CHC Academic and Thesis Programs Manager

Miriam Alexis Jordan  provides administrative and technical support on benchmarks and protocols as you progress through the academic and thesis process toward graduation. She believes in the importance of a liberal arts education (and lifelong learning) and is committed to your student success. When you are ready to begin the thesis process, Miriam is your guide.

Email :  [email protected] Phone : 541-346-2511

Research Help at UO Libraries

Jeffrey Staiger is the Library Liaison for the Clark Honors College and the Humanities Librarian for the University of Oregon Libraries. Jeffrey is a research specialist who can answer any questions regarding the library or your research projects, as well as to connect you with other library services. UO Libraries has specific librarians to support research in most of the academic disciplines studied at the university. View a complete list of subject and area librarians on the library website. 

Email :  [email protected] Phone : 541-346-1897

More questions about the thesis project?

We've got answers. Students should read the Frequently Asked Questions about the CHC Thesis Project. If you are a Primary Thesis Advisor or a CHC Representative, find helpful information below. 

Primary Thesis Advisor Handbook

Committee Roles and Responsibilities

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Honors Thesis

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The undergraduate Honors thesis is designed to serve as the capstone work to an undergraduate degree and are one means by which students can demonstrate their readiness to join a graduate program. Through the mentorship of a faculty committee, an undergraduate student will complete a research or creative project and is designed to add to the body of knowledge in their given major or minor. Keep in mind that theses can take a variety of forms – from conducting laboratory research or building an engineering project to arranging a portfolio of original music or writing a novel.

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Yes, you can!

The idea of working on an Honors thesis can seem overwhelming to many students. You, however, have resources and support systems which include: faculty, academic counselors, and sometimes money to see your thesis project through to completion. Most importantly, you have your undergraduate career to build upon – the skills you’ve developed, the theoretical and applied lessons learned, and the relationships you have built. You are your greatest asset!

Do I have to enroll in a class?

While enrolling in the HON 4993 course to write a thesis proposal or complete research and writing of a thesis is the most common approach (and recommended), students may elect to work on a thesis project without enrolling in a thesis course. While satisfying the hours require for your degree should remain your first priority, completing the thesis stands alone as a benefit itself. Should you find yourself concerned about going beyond the 150 credit-hour ceiling, you may elect to conduct a thesis project without enrolling in the course. Keep in mind that, unlike traditional classes, you will meet with your thesis committee at times and for durations of your choosing. Should you choose to do a departmental rather than an Honors thesis (e.g., BIO 4993 v. HON 4993), be sure to let your Counselor know so we can ensure you receive credit – the sooner the better!

Are you ready? Let's get started.

Email all required materials to Honors College.

Honors College Thesis Handbook

The Honors Thesis Handbook was developed to encourage students to write an Honors thesis that extends students’ work in a specific research project or creative endeavor. This handbook is designed to provide you with helpful information and pointers that will simplify – and de-mystify – the process of writing an Honors thesis. The answer to virtually every question ever asked about an Honors thesis can be found in the Honors Handbook (linked above). You should read this information carefully before you begin the process of developing an idea for your Honors thesis.

Recommended Thesis Proposal and Completion Dates

Opportunities within the Honors College

The Honors College offers students the opportunity to participate in a number of different programs to further expand knowledge, especially in the realms of professional development, leadership development, and public service. Special programs are fully integrated into the Honors College curriculum, making credit transfer simple and ensuring that students are working toward Honors requirements.

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Thesis/Practicum

Information for Seniors

Honors Associate — We know some students will enjoy engaging in the deeper and more complex experience of honors courses, but not see the benefit of completing the Capstone. Choose to end your honors experience at the end of the second year as an Honors Associate, which requires 18 honors hours, CAC reported all four semesters, and a 3.25 GPA. If you decide to terminate your honors tenure at the end of your second year, you will still be considered an honors alumni and will be on our honors alumni list; however, you will not be considered a current honors student, therefore you will not have 24/7 access to the building, free printing privileges, or other honors privileges. Please contact one of our associate deans if you have questions.

The Honors Thesis Track —Your Capstone culminates in your Honors thesis. Regardless of the nature of the Capstone work, the thesis is an academic product, written according to the standards of your major. As such, the thesis always involves research. The amount of research, how much is required, and when it is conducted will vary by field and by the individual Capstone efforts. Even when the Capstone experience has followed a nontraditional path (e.g., an internship, a series of lesson plans, a collection of artwork), the thesis requires a lesser but still appropriate degree of traditional academic research. Some of this research may occur while you are wrestling with the work itself, in the effort to perform that work at the highest and most current level. Some of it might occur during the thesis-writing semester(s) as you become an active participant in the professional discourse about your topic. The honors theses housed in the on-line Repository will provide examples of the range of approaches available to you for your thesis. Use the past theses to see the scope and shape of work done in your discipline and to whet your appetite.

The Honors thesis is ultimately a demonstration of the “scholar” in “citizen scholar”:

• the work often begins in the third year with preliminary research or exploration under the guidance of your thesis advisor;
• the thesis (obviously, like the Capstone) must be in your major, unless approved by the Dean of the Honors College;
• if your major requires a thesis (as does International Studies), the SMBHC accepts that thesis as satisfying our honors thesis requirement;
• in some majors (English and History, for example) your individual thesis can fulfill the capstone/research experience required of the major;
• you should plan on enrolling in an appropriate course for your thesis-writing; you will earn honors credit for this coursework, probably three to six hours depending on the field; the length of the thesis will vary from 30 to 100 pages depending on your major. A student in the sciences, having spent much time in the laboratory, may write a thesis of about 30 pages; a student in the humanities or social sciences may write one of about 60 to 100 pages;
• if the core of your Capstone experience was a creation of some outcome appropriate to your field (e.g., a collection of short stories, a recital, a semester’s lesson plans), your thesis provides the academic discourse that grounds that work in your understanding of the challenges and potentials of the field at this time;
• the student must defend the thesis before a committee of three people: the thesis advisor, another faculty member from the student’s major department (chosen by the student and the thesis advisor), and another professor designated by the Honors College Dean. A final copy of the thesis should be provided to the committee members at least two weeks prior to the date for which the defense is scheduled and no later than April 1 (if a spring graduate) to provide them time to read and respond to it before the thesis defense;
• the thesis must be defended no later than the last day of classes in the spring semester if the student expects to participate in the Honors Commissioning ceremony. * It is usually written during the student’s last semester on campus, but may be written whenever the Capstone is complete and the student is ready to write the thesis.

* Occasionally, students complete the thesis requirements in the summer after graduation, but only with prior approval of the thesis adviser and the Honors College.  Students who finish in the summer are not eligible to participate in the commissioning ceremony.

The Honors Practicum Track —Your capstone may culminate in your Honors practicum. Whereas the Honors thesis entails a one-on-one experience between you and your thesis advisor, the Honors practicum track embodies you and a group of your honors peers, engaging in a research question with one another and overseen by a practicum advisor. Many disciplines (such as chemical engineering, civil engineering, the Center for Manufacturing Excellence) require a concerted team effort, and that is how you should think of the Honors practicum. In other cases, you may engage with a research question raised by a professor or developed by you and your honors peers.

The Honors practicum is ultimately a demonstration of the “scholar” in “citizen scholars”:

• the practicum should be in your major, unless you have joined an inter-disciplinary team led by an advisor from another major;
• if your major requires a group senior design project (as do many engineering majors), the SMBHC accepts that experience in written form to satisfy our honors practicum requirement;
• you should plan on enrolling in an appropriate course or courses for your practicum; you will earn honors credit for this coursework, probably three to six hours depending on the field;
• the length of the written component of the practicum will vary depending on your major and the portion of your assignment. A student in the sciences, having spent much time in the laboratory, may write up their practicum experience in about 30 pages; a student in the social sciences or other areas may write one from 50 to 75 pages;
• the student(s) must defend the practicum before a committee of three people: the advisor, another faculty member from the department producing the practicum (chosen by the student and the advisor), and another professor designated by the Honors College Dean. A final copy of the written portion of the practicum should be provided to the committee members at least two weeks prior to the date for which the defense is scheduled and no later than April 1 (if a spring graduate) to provide them time to read and respond to it before the practicum defense * ;
• the practicum must be defended no later than the last day of classes in the semester the student expects to graduate. It is usually written during the student’s last semester on campus, but may be written whenever the Capstone is complete and the student is ready to write.

* the practicum team may present at some public forum venue in lieu of defending the practicum before a committee of three people. This option is at the discretion of each individual practicum advisor and his or her department.

Visit here to see commonly-used courses for Capstone and Thesis credit.

Writing the senior thesis or practicum can be a very rewarding and enjoyable task.  However, it is not a task that you can wait until the last minute to begin and expect favorable results.  Thus, you should begin thinking about and preparing for the writing of your thesis early.  Discuss with your research advisor the best way to translate your research into a thesis.  You should be particularly clear about what your advisor expects as far as grading criteria, rough drafts, and deadlines.  It is your responsibility to meet with your advisor frequently to exchange ideas and review your progress.

Grades – If you are receiving course credit for the research or thesis, you will be earning a grade. Therefore, you should have a clear understanding from your professor about the grading criteria.

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Senior Thesis

The Honors College senior thesis is a remarkable opportunity unlike any other at the University of South Carolina. Although the thesis is a requirement for graduation from the South Carolina Honors College, we encourage you to consider it an opportunity to express the quality of your intellectual development and draw your undergraduate learning experiences together. 

What Is the Senior Thesis?

The senior thesis is designed to be the culminating experience of a student’s career at South Carolina Honors College. It is a chance for students to ask and answer meaningful questions about the natural world, social or political systems, history and culture, artistic expression, the creative process, or the application of knowledge to specific challenges. Students are free to choose their thesis topics and may elect to write a thesis or complete a project outside their majors. Students who must complete a thesis or capstone project related to their major course of study (e.g., students in the College of Engineering and Computing) will submit this project for their Honors thesis. 

Students can opt to complete either a research-based or project-based thesis:

Research Thesis

A traditional research thesis is an extended original project designed to answer a question of interest to the student. Some common research aims might include interpreting and comparing primary texts; constructing and testing models that reflect theories of human behavior, social or political systems, or the natural world; making human action, symbols and communication intelligible at the individual and collective levels; exploring how social meanings are constructed; and evaluating current practices and suggesting more effective ones (see Lipson’s How to Write a BA Thesis , 2018).

A project-based thesis might be a creative endeavor, such as original artwork, performance, novella or volume of poetry. Alternatively, students might pursue an applied project, such as developing a business plan, an app, informational pieces for a community organization, a podcast series or a video game, among others.

Benefits of Completing a Senior Thesis

Whether students complete a research-based thesis or a creative or applied project, we believe engaging in this type of work helps students develop an array of skills, many of which are highly valued by employers. These skills include creative and critical thinking, analysis and interpretation, complex problem solving, written communication, effective use of information and the ability to integrate and apply knowledge across contexts.

Examples of Recent Thesis Projects

Challenge the conventional. create the exceptional. no limits..

Honors Thesis

Description.

Honors Thesis expectations are high. The intended end-product is a traditional research manuscript with accompanying artifact(s), all theses: - are 6 credits or more of sustained research on a single topic, typically conducted over two semesters. - begin with creative inquiry and systematic research. - include documentation of substantive scholarly endeavor. - culminate in an oral defense or other form of public presentation.

Eligibility

Students registering for an Honors Thesis following Honors Research (499Y) must have the approval of their faculty committee. Submit their proposal through CHC PATHS (honors.umass.edu/chc-paths/) for online approval by their sponsor, committee, and other reviewers, including the Academic Standards Committee of the Faculty Senate's Commonwealth Honors College Council. Once fully approved it will be registered in SPIRE by Commonwealth Honors College. REGISTRATION SHOULD BE DONE DURING PRE-REGISTRATION AND COMPLETED BEFORE THE END OF THE ADD-DROP PERIOD.

Subject Details

Subject description, catalog number, class number, catalog details, class attributes, academic career.

For complete and up-to-date class details, meeting times, and textbook information, search for this class in Spire ." Select the class term "Fall 2024 " and subject "Computer Science " and enter the class number "29020 ".

If the class is not open for enrollment, you may need to specify other search criteria.

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Lee Honors College

Spring 2024 Thesis Celebration

Monday, april 15.

*Please note that this Monday presentation is an exception to the schedule and the only Monday thesis presentation.

Madaline Lankford , 2 p.m. | The Role Internships Play in Political Science Education | 1014 LHC

Tuesday, April 16

Angela Solis-Sarat , 9 a.m. | Restorative Land Management Practices Can Alter Soil Microbial Enzyme Activities | 1024 LHC

Madeline Smith , 10 a.m. | Understanding the evolution of the genes and pathways responsible for caffeine production in Ilex paraguariensis | 1024 LHC

Jason Bainbridge , 10 a.m. | Veterinarian Perception of the Impact of COVID-19 on the Mortality of Pets | 1022 LHC

Shaun Burk , 11 a.m. | Narrative Feature Script | 1024 LHC

Shelby Wilmot , 11 a.m. | How Does Childhood Exposure to Toys and Video Games Relate to Young Adult’s View on Gun Control? | 1022 LHC

Wes Luka , noon | Fear of the Other: Judaism and its Role in the Horror Genre | 1014 LHC

Victoria Miller , noon | How Social Movements Have Influenced Child Custody Standards Over Time | 1024 LHC

Chloe Wieber , 1 p.m. | Dollarization in Latin America | 1024 LHC

Archana Shrestha , 2 p.m. | Flying Safely: Mitigating Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Risks in Long- Haul Travel| 1014 LHC

Nicholas Owczarak , 2 p.m. | A Legal Analysis of the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act of 2021 | 1024 LHC

Juliette Wackerle , 3 p.m. | Stress Levels During the COVID-19 Pandemic for BIPOC and White Individuals| 1024 LHC

Elissa Ferris , 4 p.m. | Physical Therapy Interventions and Outcomes for Right vs. Left Side Cerebral Vascular Accidents (CVA) | 1022 LHC

Caitlin Nolff , 4 p.m. | Investigating the Role of Apoptosis in Planarian Regeneration | 1024 LHC

Wednesday, April 17

Abdulaziz Shebrain , 10 a.m. | The Progression of B-Cell Lymphoma in Human Cells Overexpressing GPRASP2 | 1022 LHC

Emily Hayward , 11 a.m. | Synthesis and Characterization of Substituted Pyrazole Ligands for Nanojars | 1024 LHC

Brielle Gomez , 2 p.m. | Female Athletes Psychological and Emotional Experiences Following Surgery Caused by Sports Injury | 1024 LHC

Seth Byrne , 2 p.m. | The impact of G-quadruplex DNA on expression of the human PKD1 gene | 1022 LHC

Joseph Fleck , 2 p.m. | WMU Technical Director for Clue | 1014 LHC

Joseph Schwarz , 3 p.m. | Happy Horn Business Plan | 1022 LHC

Thursday, April 18

Wade Poling , 9 a.m. | Migratory and non-migratory Yellow Perch differ in locomotor traits | 1024 LHC

Leah Latumaerissa , 9 a.m. | LATU MAE RISSA: Leader Come to War! An Autoethnography of Colonialization and Post-colonization | 1022 LHC

Madisyn Slater , 10 a.m. | Improving Restaurant Customer Service through Job Aids | 1024 LHC

Joanna Holecko , 10 a.m. | Sipping Success: A Complete Digital Marketing and Customer Journey Makeover for Local Business Mi Boba Using Principles of Change Management, In-store Experience Enhancements, And Website Redesign. | 1022 LHC

Nikolas Solfronk , 11 a.m. | The End Credits Music of the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | 1024 LHC

Kiara Durbin , noon | Shedding Light on Shadow Casts | 1014 LHC

Nathaniel Weeldreyer , 4 p.m. | Musical Figures in Mythology and their Effect on Ancient Greek and Roman Culture | 1022 LHC

Nadia Famiano and Kalloli Bhatt , 7 p.m. | The Laureate | LHC Lounge

Friday, April 19

Jade Cervantes Rodriguez , 9 a.m. | Identification and Antibiotic Resistances of Bacterial Isolates from Chicken, Goose, and Duck Eggs | 1014 LHC

Tesha Nowak , 9 a.m. | The International Lens of Western Michigan University | 1022 LHC

Abigail Ward , 10 a.m. | The Decline of Convivencia in Medieval Valencia | LHC Lounge

Alya AlHarrasi , 11 a.m. | Virtual Reality as an Adjunct to Behavior Therapy: A Systematic Literature Review | 1024 LHC

Giovanna Nolasco de Carvalho , 11 a.m. | Neurogenic   Effects of PNU-282987 Treatment on Blast-Induced Ocular Trauma in Adult Mouse Retinas | 1014 LHC

Ayah Kasem , 11 a.m. | Kangaroo Care’s Role in Fostering Neonatal Health and Parental Well-being in the NICU | 1022 LHC

Silvia Robazza , noon | Implementing choice in treatment modality for adolescents with autism learning daily living skills | 1024 LHC

Lilianna Giacalone , 1 p.m. | The prevention of lateral ankle sprains using Kinesiology Taping treatment method| 1022 LHC

Hailey Hornberger , 2 p.m. | Women in Business Marketing: An Analysis of the Glass Ceiling | 1024 LHC

Marcus Cunha , 2 p.m. | Psychological Influences on Reaction When Faced with Failure and Difficult Experiences | 1022 LHC

Yodit Fitsum , 3 p.m. | Green Solutions: A Smart Strategy for Recycling Electronics in Ghana | 1022 LHC

Catherine Gillihan , 4 p.m. | Southwest Michigan First—Informal Networks: How One Organization is Leveraging Informal Networking to Build Strategic Partnerships and Improve Competitive Advantage through Economic Growth | 1024 LHC

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Honors College Convocation

Celebrate our newest graduates!

Join as we celebrate our newest W.A. Franke Honors College Wildcats!

Ceremony begins at 1:00 pm at McKale Center.

Funding for honors thesis research travel

Students who will be writing an honors thesis with an international or global focus and would benefit from doing research abroad should consider applying to the Assante-Carrasco Fund for Honors Thesis Research Travel . Funding supports independent travel for honors thesis research and is open to all majors. The priority deadline for research done in the 2024-25 academic year is May 1 . Contact Rochelle Keesler at [email protected] with any questions.

Submitted by: Rochelle Keesler

Ericson takes Grand Prize at 13th Three-Minute Thesis competition

Hannah Ericson, a doctoral candidate in Genetics, is the Grand Prize Winner at this year’s University of Georgia Three Minute Thesis (3MT ® ) Competition for her presentation titled “Catalyzing Change: What Helps Department Heads Be Successful?”

A Ph.D. candidate studying biology education in the Genetics department in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, Hannah works with Dr. Tessa Andrews studying teaching evaluations at UGA :

To promote the use of evidence-based teaching practices, teaching evaluation needs to support, recognize, and incentivize their use. Teaching evaluation is inadequate in this regard at many institutions, relying solely on student surveys instead of multiple sources of evidence. Hannah’s research focuses on the changes to teaching evaluation that are occurring at UGA, as well as factors influencing these shifts in different STEM departments. Hannah is passionate about the use of evidence-based teaching practices, to provide the best possible experience for STEM students.  Originally from Illinois, she earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Iowa. While there, her research centered around using fruit flies as a model to study epilepsy. She also helped in the description of a new species of parasitic wasp.

Congratulations to Ericson and all the participants for their successful [and succinct!] presentations! Very well done these outstanding graduate students.

Image: (l to r) Viviana Bravo, People’s Choice Winner; Jordan Parker, Runner-Up Winner;  Hannah Ericson, Grand Prize Winner

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