Honors Track

Seniors with a 3.5 grade point average are strongly encouraged to consider writing a senior honors thesis, which makes them eligible for departmental honors at graduation. The two-semester thesis writing course takes the place of one Senior Writing Seminar and is an excellent opportunity to perform independent research. At the end of the year, the department presents awards for the outstanding thesis in each subfield.

Requirements

  1. Fill out a Student Academic Program Selection form in the Undergraduate Studies office. Write "HONS" in the Field of Study box.
  2. Complete a senior honors thesis with a grade of at least a B+
  3. Replace one of the four intermediate-level courses with an additional writing seminar, a graduate course, or Research Design.
  4. Graduate with a grade point average of 3.55 or higher, cumulative and in the major.

Keep the Honors Track in mind when you are choosing your courses in your junior and senior years.

Students in the class of 2010 should consult an advisor regarding our new departmental honors track. For a description, please click here.

Senior Honors Thesis

Eligibility

Seniors with a grade point average of 3.5 or above

Deciding on a Thesis:

  1. Think about your area of interest and develop a research question.
  2. Talk to several faculty members, with whom you might want to work. Present your ideas and ask if they would consider serving as your reader or if they can recommend someone.
  3. Fill out a Proposal/Contract, signed by both you and your reader.  In it, you will summarize your proposal and specify the arrangements for the nature and amount of work you will do how often you will meet with your reader, and your grade criteria.
  • Begin planning your thesis in the early spring of your junior year. Consider taking Research Design to understand the research process and plan your work.
  • Students who will be abroad in the spring semester should begin planning their thesis in the fall before they leave.

 

To view a video presentation on writing a Senior Thesis:

Windows users, please click here.
 MAC users, please click here.

College of Arts & Letters