Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Senior Honors Thesis/Project?
The Senior Honors Thesis/Project is a 6-credit-hour project that may be
either a traditional research project, a creative project such as a
novel or play, or an applied project such as a training manual or
handbook.
Does the thesis count as an Honors experience?
The Senior Honors Thesis/Project counts as two Honors experiences.
Is the thesis required for all Honors students?
No, the Senior Honors Thesis/Project is an option for most Honors
students. Students who choose to complete a thesis graduate with Honors
(varying notations depend on GPA and number of Honors experiences).
Those students who complete all of their Honors experiences graduate
with the distinction "Honors College Scholar."
Who should complete a thesis?
All students may benefit from the opportunity to work on a sustained
individual project, but those students who plan to attend graduate
school will find the thesis especially valuable.
Who chooses my thesis topic?
Students, in consultation with their faculty advisor, devise their own
thesis topics or projects. Most often a topic is formulated during the
thesis preparation semester, although sometimes students have identified
the topic even earlier.
When should I begin my thesis?
Students typically begin their thesis in the spring of their junior year
(or the third semester before graduation) with the two-credit-hour
thesis proposal. At the end of that semester, students submit their
thesis proposal and enroll for the remaining four credit hours during
their final two semesters.
How long does it take to complete a thesis?
The Senior Honors Thesis/Project is typically completed over three
semesters. Occasionally, students who also plan to study away may
complete the thesis in two semesters, with permission of the thesis
coordinator. In some instances, students will take more than three semesters to complete the thesis.
How long does my thesis have to be?
Since the thesis is a 6-credit-hour project, it may be as long as 80-120
pages in verbal fields such as history or English. Theses in
psychology or in the sciences are typically 40-60 pages in length as
much of the work happens to be in the laboratory.
What needs to be included in a creative Senior Honors Thesis/Project?
Students who write novels, poetry collections, produce a film or
painting series, or complete any other creative thesis must also include
in their final manuscript a chapter devoted to critical analysis of
their creative project.
Where can I find out more information about the Senior Honors Thesis/Project?
The Honors College hosts Thesis Information meetings each semester.
Check the thesis page on the Honors website for meeting dates. Students
can also download the Senior Honors Thesis Handbook from the Honors
website. Contact the thesis coordinator, Victoria Bocchicchio, at
vbocchic@kent.edu or at 330-672-2312 if you wish to talk about specific
questions and/or your plans for a thesis.
