Senior Honors Thesis/Project
What Is the Honors thesis?
The Senior Honors Thesis/Project is an opportunity for Honors students in their junior or senior year to receive between six and ten hours of credit for individual research or creative work. While a Senior Honors Thesis/Project is not required of all Honors students, it is required for Graduation with University, General, or Departmental Honors. There is no limit to the scope of topics that can be addressed, and thesis projects vary greatly in their format. Theses of the past have included not only summaries of research findings, but also projects related to art, theatre, dance, and fashion. Some students have written novels, while others have undertaken scientific research or created business plans. The possibilities are literally endless. (Thesis Points of Pride)
See Celina's Chemistry thesis four-minute video.
Why should I do a thesis?
The answer is simple: a thesis is both an opportunity and a challenge. Not only does the completion of the work positively expand a resume, but the process itself is a rich learning experience. Choosing a topic to which your curiosity and ambition have led you, working closely with a knowledgeable professor, doing sustained work of significant scope and substance, learning more about your subject but also about your own capabilities--all
make this experience unique. Completing a thesis is not only rewarding in itself, but it may also lead to continued research in the field. (Sampling of Theses)
Who does a Senior Honors Thesis/Project?
"It was the key element in my being hired for a posiiton when unemployment was high in my field." |
There are many Senior Honors students who choose to do a thesis. Select the following link to view a current List of Thesis Writers for the 2007-2008 school year. To see a profile with a summary paragraph and picture of previous years' Honors Thesis writers, please select Thesis Profiles.
What is the process?
The first step in the thesis process is to select an advisor. Thesis advisors should be full-time faculty members in the department under which the thesis falls.
The student should discuss his or her ideas with the advisor prior to completing a thesis proposal, the next step in the process. Proposal forms are available in the Honors Office. Students will also be expected to complete progress reports each semester until the thesis is complete. Upon completion of the thesis, students are required to complete an oral defense before a faculty committee. Completed theses are housed in the Honors College library and in the University library.
For more information about Senior Honors Thesis/Projects, contact your Honors advisor or Vicki Bocchicchio at vbocchic@kent.edu or call (330) 672-2312. You may also request a paper copy of the "Honors Thesis Handbook" and attend thesis information meetings held each semester.