The Honors Thesis is to be completed by students wishing to graduate with Highest Honors. For more information, read Thesis
The must be submitted prior to beginning an Honors Thesis.
The is designed to help guide students in the layout and design of their Honors Thesis.
The and must be submitted after the completion of an Honors Thesis.
The Graduation Declaration is to be completed by students wishing to graduate with Honors.
The must be submitted during the semester in which a student hopes to graduate.
An Honors Seminar is to be completed by students wishing to stay on track to graduate with Honors. All Honors students are required to enroll in and successfully complete two Honors Seminar courses.
The is for students seeking enrollment in an Honors Seminar that were not able to register for one regularly via the Registration Portal.
The Withdrawal Form is for students wishing to end their membership with the Honors College.
The Request for Letter of Recommendation Form is for students seeking a letter from an Honors College Dean. The form must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the requested completion date.
As a service to our students and upon request, the Elliott T. Bowers Honors College supports students in their academic endeavors. This support must be used toward the requested event or research. Students must be in good standing with the Honors College to receive funding.
* : Students must submit a two paragraph essay describing, in detail, how you anticipate that this trip/event will affect your professional, academic, or personal life. Please ensure your essay is attached to your funding request form.
The Elliott T. Bowers Honors College
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The undergraduate Senior Honors Thesis Program at the University of Houston is a two-semester, six-credit-hour capstone research experience completed under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students of all majors can participate and membership in the Honors College is not required.
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards collaborates with the Honors College and the college of the student’s major to oversee the thesis process and approval. Students who successfully complete the Senior Honors Thesis program will graduate with an Honors designation noted on the official transcript. Students will also receive 3 points towards the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement transcript designation . Students should speak with their academic advisor to determine if and how the thesis course hours might count toward their degree plan.
Significant coordination occurs between the student’s major department, the college of their major, and the Honors College. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards (OURMA) coordinates these efforts. It is therefore essential that the student communicate early and often with OURMA staff prior to beginning the thesis and maintain communication with OURMA throughout the thesis year. Students should also review the College-Specific Information for additional details specific to their college.
Eligibility requirements include GPA considerations as well as departmental and Honors College approval. Application and preparation occur the semester prior to beginning the thesis course hours. A student’s registration in thesis course hours does not guarantee enrollment in the Senior Honors Thesis Program. Please carefully review the How to Apply page for details.
Questions about the Senior Honors Thesis Program may be directed to Dr. Rikki Bettinger or the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards .
College-specific information, defense and graduation, info for thesis directors, graduate with an honors in major designation.
Students who successfully complete the Senior Honors Thesis program graduate with the "Honors in Major" designation on their official transcript. Visit the Honors College's website to learn more about UH Honors designations.
Review past theses in the Senior Honors Theses collection in the University of Houston Institutional Repository.
Celebrate the accomplishments of Outstanding Senior Honors Thesis Award recipients!
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Thesis students should be prepared to undertake rigorous, self-paced research. Students must meet GPA eligibility requirements, secure a thesis director, and gain approval from both the department and the Honors College. There are several documents required for participation. Visit the How to Apply page for details.
The Senior Honors Thesis program does not require the student to have any formal research experience. Instead, it offers an opportunity for students to gain this experience, undertaking an in-depth, mentored research project, and honing their skills in research, analysis, and writing. A student should reflect on the kind of preparation they have developed in previous coursework and speak with a faculty mentor about their confidence in undertaking the research year.
Please review the eligibility requirements on the How to Apply page and note the fine print on the Verification of Eligibility (VOE) form . It asks that when the student is ready to submit the VOE to the director of undergraduate studies of their major department, a separate email of support is also sent by the proposed thesis director on behalf of the student to both the director of undergraduate students and to Dr. Rikki Bettinger .
Yes. Students should not be registered in thesis coursework until after their participation is approved by both their department and the OURMA. Registration in thesis course hours does not guarantee enrollment in the Senior Honors Thesis Program. This program is coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards on behalf of the Honors College and students will not receive an Honors Reader or an Honors designation without collaboration through OURMA. The first step is completing the Verification of Eligibility form . Review the How to Apply page to learn more.
In most cases, students pursue a thesis working with a professor in their major department, sometimes receiving credit towards their degree (not in all cases, check with your academic advisor). In a small number of circumstances, a student might have clear reasons to pursue a thesis with a director outside of their major department. This will have implications on their course registration procedure, their thesis committee makeup, and their degree plan. Students in this case should reach out to Dr. Rikki Bettinger directly, providing their PSID, major, prospective thesis director, and their reasons for pursuing a thesis outside of their major department.
The standard senior honors thesis course is courses 3399 and 4399. Each are three hours for a total of six credit hours over two semesters. *Architecture students: please note there is a different course sequence in CoAD.
Three, and No. Prior to beginning the senior honors thesis coursework, the thesis student develops their prospectus under the mentorship of their thesis director. They also seek out a Second Reader to join their thesis committee. The thesis director and the second reader both approve of the prospectus prior to the semester start, signing the Prospectus Approval Form . OURMA then assigns an Honors Reader to the students’ committee following receipt of the prospectus and approval form. Honors Readers are assigned to students’ committees based on discipline, topic, and availability.
Please review the College-Specific Information page for details specific to your discipline.
When do i need to contact my college.
You should review the College-Specific Information page prior to beginning your thesis to familiarize yourself with the expectations and procedures specific to your college. We recommend you revisit this information at the start of the second thesis semester to confirm your college’s filing deadline. Finally, you will reach out to your college thesis liaison following your defense when you are ready to submit your final thesis for college approval. Each student is responsible for tracking their own college submission deadline.
There are several deadlines at different stages of the thesis process, from the semester prior to beginning the thesis all the way through a student’s graduation. These deadlines are explained in detail in the sections above and students should take care to review each stage thoroughly. Broadly answered, the deadlines include:
The Honors College does not require a printed and bound copy of your thesis, but some colleges or departments do. Please follow the guidance of your college thesis liaison. If you participated in the Writing Studio program, you will receive an email with instructions for how to use your $150 voucher toward printing and binding costs. This voucher can be used toward personal or university copies!
No. Prior membership in the Honors College is not required to be a part of the Senior Honors Thesis Program. Students who successfully complete the thesis program graduate with an Honors designation and are invited to the Honors College Medallion Ceremony held in May. Students should monitor their university email for an invitation from the Honors College to the Medallion Ceremony and be prepared to RSVP no later than mid-April.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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An Honors Thesis is a substantial piece of independent research that an undergraduate carries out over two semesters. Students writing Honors Theses take PHIL 691H and 692H, in two different semesters. What follows answers all the most common questions about Honors Theses in Philosophy.
All necessary forms are fillable and downloadable.
Honors Thesis Application
Honors Thesis Contract
Honors Thesis Learning Contract
Any Philosophy major who has a total, cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 and a GPA of at least 3.5 (with a maximum of one course with a PS grade) among their PHIL courses can in principle write an Honors Thesis. In addition, students need to satisfy a set of specific pre-requisites, as outlined below.
The requirements for writing an Honors Thesis in Philosophy include
You should get started with the application process and search for a prospective advisor the semester before you plan to start writing your thesis – that is, the semester before the one in which you want to take PHIL 691H.
Often, though not always, PHIL 691H and 692H are taken in the fall and spring semesters of the senior year, respectively. It is also possible to start earlier and take 691H in the spring semester of the junior year and PHIL 692H in the fall of the senior year. Starting earlier has some important advantages. One is that it means you will finish your thesis in time to use it as a writing sample, should you decide to apply to graduate school. Another is that it avoids a mad rush near the very end of your last semester.
Step 1: fill out the honors thesis application.
The first thing you need to do is fill out an Honors Thesis Application and submit it to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) for their approval.
Once you have been approved to write an Honors Thesis, you will consult with the DUS about the project that you have in mind and about which faculty member would be an appropriate advisor for your thesis. It is recommended that you reach out informally to prospective advisors to talk about their availability and interest in your project ahead of time, and that you include those suggestions in your application, but it is not until your application has been approved that the DUS will officially invite the faculty member of your choice to serve as your advisor. You will be included in this correspondence and will receive written confirmation from your prospective advisor.
Agreeing to be the advisor for an Honors Thesis is a major commitment, so bear in mind that there is a real possibility that someone asked to be your advisor will say no. Unfortunately, if we cannot find an advisor, you cannot write an Honors Thesis.
Finally, preferably one or two weeks before the start of classes (or as soon as you have secured the commitment of a faculty advisor), you need to fill out an Honors Thesis Contract and an Honors Thesis Learning Contract , get them both signed by your advisor, and email them to the DUS.
Once the DUS approves both of these forms, they’ll get you registered for PHIL 691H. All of this should take place no later than the 5th day of classes in any given semester (preferably sooner).
PHIL 691H and PHIL 692H are the course numbers that you sign up for to get credit for working on an Honors Thesis. These classes have official meeting times and places. In the case of PHIL 691H , those are a mere formality: You will meet with your advisor at times you both agree upon. But in the case of PHIL 692H , they are not a mere formality: The class will actually meet as a group, at least for the first few weeks of the semester (please see below).
When you take PHIL 691H, you should meet with your advisor during the first 5 days of classes and, if you have not done so already, fill out an Honors Thesis Learning Contract and turn in to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) . This Contract will serve as your course syllabus and must be turned in and approved no later than the 5th day of classes in any given semester (preferably sooner). Once the DUS approves your Honors Thesis Learning Contract, they’ll get you registered for PHIL 691H.
Over the course of the semester, you will meet regularly with your advisor. By the last day of classes, you must turn in a 10-page paper on your thesis topic; this can turn out to be part of your final thesis, but it doesn’t have to. In order to continue working on an Honors Thesis the following semester, this paper must show promise of your ability to complete one, in the opinion of your advisor. Your advisor should assign you a grade of “ SP ” at the conclusion of the semester, signifying “satisfactory progress” (so you can move on to PHIL 692H). Please see page 3 of this document for more information.
When you take PHIL 692H, you’ll still need to work with your advisor to fill out an Honors Thesis Learning Contract . This Contract will serve as your course syllabus and must be turned in to and approved by the DUS no later than the 5th day of classes in any given semester (preferably sooner).
Once the DUS approves your Honors Thesis Learning Contract, they’ll get you registered for PHIL 692H.
At the end of the second semester of senior honors thesis work (PHIL 692H), your advisor should assign you a permanent letter grade. Your advisor should also change your PHIL 691H grade from “ SP ” to a permanent letter grade. Please see page 3 of this document for more information.
If you and your advisor agree, you may exercise the Graduate Course Option. If you do this, then during the semester when you are enrolled in either PHIL 691H or PHIL 692H, you will attend and do the work for a graduate level PHIL course. (You won’t be officially enrolled in that course.) A paper you write for this course will be the basis for your Honors Thesis. If you exercise this option, then you will be excused from the other requirements of the thesis course (either 691H or 692H) that you are taking that semester.
Any faculty member on a longer-than-one-year contract in the Department of Philosophy may serve as your honors thesis advisor. You will eventually form a committee of three professors, of which one can be from outside the Department. But your advisor must have an appointment in the Philosophy Department. Graduate Students are not eligible to advise Honors Theses.
Any faculty member on a longer-than-one-year contract in the Department of Philosophy may serve as your honors thesis advisor. It makes most sense to ask a professor who already knows you from having had you as a student in a class. In some cases, though, this is either not possible, or else there is someone on the faculty who is an expert on the topic you want to write about, but from whom you have not taken a class. Information about which faculty members are especially qualified to advise thesis projects in particular areas of philosophy can be found here .
You and your advisor should compose a committee of three professors (including the advisor) who will examine you and your thesis. Once the committee is composed, you will need to schedule an oral examination, a.k.a. a defense. You should take the initiative here, communicating with all members of your committee in an effort to find a block of time (a little over an hour) when all three of you can meet. The thesis must be defended by a deadline , set by Honors Carolina , which is usually a couple of weeks before the end of classes. Students are required to upload the final version of their thesis to the Carolina Digital Repository by the final day of class in the semester in which they complete the thesis course work and thesis defense.
An Honors Thesis in Philosophy is a piece of writing in the same genre as a typical philosophy journal article. There is no specific length requirement, but 30 pages (double-spaced) is a good guideline. Some examples of successfully defended Honors The easiest way to find theses of past philosophy students is on the web in the Carolina Digital Repository . Some older, hard copies of theses are located on the bookshelf in suite 107 of Caldwell Hall. (You may ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) , or anyone else who happens to be handy, to show you where it is!)
The honors thesis committee will evaluate the quality and originality of your thesis as well as of your defense and then decides between the following three options:
As a matter of best practice, our philosophy department requires that examining committees refer all candidates for highest honors to our Undergraduate Committee chaired by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. This committee evaluates nominated projects and makes the final decision on awarding highest honors. Highest honors should be awarded only to students who have met the most rigorous standards of scholarly excellence.
Tuesday, april 2nd, 2024 at 5pm – deadline to submit your statement of intent.
Submit your Statement of Intent along with your signed Statement of Intent Form . You can view a past example of an excellent Statement of Intent here.
Your statement of intent should include: (1) a description of the thesis topic and a specific statement of your research question, (2) a brief description of the research design (what kind of research will be necessary, how it will be carried out), (3) a projected work schedule through the fall term, including summer work if it is anticipated, and (4) an acknowledgment of agreement to the process and deadlines detailed in A GUIDE TO WRITING A SENIOR THESIS IN SOCIOLOGY.
Once you’ve submitted your Statement of Intent and received approval, you will be given permission to enroll in SOCIOL 99A: Senior Thesis Tutorial in Fall 2024. You’re officially a “thesiser!”
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The Honors Thesis with a signed submission form is due to the Honors College by the Friday of finals week of your graduating semester. Honors Research. Honors Research 3980 is an independent study course required to graduate with Honors, taken by juniors and seniors with the professor of their choice to mentor them in conducting their own ...
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 ...
An honors thesis is required of all students graduating with any level of Latin honors. It is an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to define and investigate a topic in depth, and to complete an extended written reflection of their results & understanding. The work leading to the thesis is excellent preparation for graduate & professional school or the workplace.Important Dates and Deadlines
An honors thesis is required of all students graduating with any level of Latin Honors. It is an excellent opportunity for undergraduates to define and investigate a topic in depth, and to complete an extended written reflection of their results and understanding. ... June 25, 2024: Thesis proposal form due. December 16, 2024: Thesis completion ...
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.
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.
Thesis Form 5. Thesis Form 6. Thesis Form 7. Form Due Dates. Robert B. Thomson Honors Center. 5716 Colvin Hall Orono, ME 04469. Apply. Student Resources. Nondiscrimination notice.
The honors thesis is a long-standing tradition in honors programs and colleges, including the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University. An honors thesis is defined as an original work of undergraduate research or creative scholarship completed by an undergraduate honors student. ... Step 5: Submit your thesis declaration form (in your ...
Thesis Submission Form Thesis Guidelines. The Florida Atlantic calendar is online and indicates the dates of graduation as well as the last day to submit an application for your degree. Effective Fall 2018, theses are submitted only digitally as a pdf and not as a hard copy. Honors Theses at Florida Atlantic University's Harriet L. Wilkes ...
If your faculty mentor approves your project for defense, you will present your research at Honors College Thesis Day. Thesis defenses are open to the public and mark the completion of a substantial academic achievement. Thesis defenses typically take the following form: Presentation of your research findings (15-25 minutes)
Writing a senior honors thesis, or any major research essay, can seem daunting at first. A thesis requires a reflective, multi-stage writing process. ... They take the form of a written manuscript, which presents the findings of that research. In the humanities, theses average 50-75 pages in length and consist of two or more chapters. In the ...
The structure and specific sections of the thesis (abstract, introduction, literature review, discussion, conclusion, bibliography) should be approved by the student's faculty advisor and the Honors Council representative. The thesis should have a title page, as described in the preceding paragraphs (section II.1.10). 2.
Your Honors thesis or project must have received final approval from your thesis sponsor and/or department before you submit it to the Libraries ... The form uses the Honors pre-certification data. Not all colleges/schools enter that data and the final Honors level is occasionally different from what colleges enter for pre-certification.
The Honors Thesis is a large final project that brings together those experiences and incorporates the knowledge and investigative techniques you gained during your undergraduate career, taking that learning and development in exciting new directions. Depending on your program of study, your Honors Thesis might take the form of a capstone ...
Overview and Purpose. The purpose of the Honors Thesis Prospectus is to encourage you to begin thinking about the thesis in a timely manner and to ensure that you have secured the support of a faculty thesis mentor. It is an opportunity for you and your faculty mentor to put your shared expectations, research plan, and desired outcomes in writing.
The Honors Thesis is to be completed by students wishing to graduate with Highest Honors. For more information, read Thesis FAQs. The Thesis Proposal Form must be submitted prior to beginning an Honors Thesis. The Thesis Template is designed to help guide students in the layout and design of their Honors Thesis. The Thesis Final Approval Form ...
The honors thesis is a rewarding capstone experience for students and a gateway to research and other creative work beyond the undergraduate years. The thesis is tailored to your field of study and may range from three pages of mathematical formulae to an original orchestral composition or a group of short stories.
The undergraduate Senior Honors Thesis Program at the University of Houston is a two-semester, six-credit-hour capstone research experience completed under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students of all majors can participate and membership in the Honors College is not required. The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards collaborates with the Honors College and the college of the ...
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 ...
Who can write an Honors Thesis in Philosophy? Any Philosophy major who has a total, cumulative GPA of at least 3.3 and a GPA of at least 3.5 (with a maximum of one course with a PS grade) among their PHIL courses can in principle write an Honors Thesis. In addition, students need to satisfy a set of specific pre-requisites, as outlined below.
Thesis Form 1: Declaration of Advisor, Declaration of Project, and Declaration of Intentions Submitted by the student (Advisor and Dept. Chair, if applicable, will approve) Due by: May 1st (in the spring semester before you take HON 498) Thesis Form 2: Thesis Committee Approval Submitted by the student Due by: June 1st
2024-2025 Thesis Writers' Schedule for Junior Year . Fall Term. Attend the Thesis Writer Information Session on November 16 th, 2023, 2-3pm (WJH 950) Develop and refine your thesis idea. Start thinking of a topic and how to refine it into a research question.