About the Honors Senior Thesis

he information that follows concerns item 3, above, and outlines the steps to begin and complete your Honors Senior Thesis (HST).

Thesis Characteristics

• Interdisciplinary Approach: The thesis must address a question or issue that benefits from the integration of multiple disciplines.
• Intellectual Rigor: The project should demonstrate a level of intellectual intensity exceeding typical undergraduate work.
• Concrete Product: The thesis must culminate in a tangible deliverable, adhering to professional standards of the chosen field(s). Examples include written theses (suggested length of 30 pages), performances, films, or artwork/art installations.
• Faculty Mentorship: Students must secure a faculty mentor — outside of their major —knowledgeable in the chosen field(s) to guide their work.
• Originality: The student must be the primary creative force behind the project. While collaboration with a research or artistic mentor is permissible, the final product should represent the student’s individual work and achievement.

Combining with Major Capstone

Combining the Honors Senior Thesis with a major capstone project is possible under certain conditions:

• The project must demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary character.
• It must exceed the expectations of a standard major capstone.
• Approval from the Director of Honors.
• Two advisors, one from within and one outside the other capstone department.
• A meta-analysis examining the project's interdisciplinarity is required.

Process and Timeline

• Course Registration: Enroll in HONR 199: Honors Senior Thesis (3 credits) OR HONR 197 Honors Senior Thesis Research Seminar (3 credits; NEW for Fall 2025). 
• Faculty Mentor Selection: Identify a faculty member with relevant expertise who is willing to serve as the thesis advisor.
• Contract Submission: Complete and submit the online Honors Senior Thesis Proposal by the end of the second week of the semester in which the project is undertaken.
• Project Approval: The Director of Honors reviews and approves all proposals.
• Thesis Research & Writing: After approval, student will conduct research and begin writing in conjunction with their thesis advisor’s guidance.
• Presentation: Deliver a 20-minute presentation on the completed thesis to the Honors community, faculty mentor, and other interested attendees during a scheduled session in the final weeks of the semester. A 10-minute question and answer period will follow the presentation.
• Final Submission: Submit the final thesis to the faculty mentor by the agreed-upon deadline, allowing sufficient time for evaluation before final grades are due.
• Presentation Submission: A final version of the presentation must also be submitted to the Honors Director.

Additional Information

Key components of a successfully developed project proposal:

1. Clear description of the project.
2. Explanation of the methodology for answering the research question or achieving the project objectives.
3. Articulation of the interdisciplinary nature of the project.
4. Headings to structure the proposal effectively.
5. A specific section that explicitly addresses the project’s Interdisciplinarity.