what does senior honors thesis mean

Senior Honors Thesis

What is a Senior Honors Thesis?

The Senior Honors Thesis is a two-semester, 6 credit research commitment on a topic that you and your faculty mentor agree on. The result is an academic paper, often of publishable quality. Honors Thesis projects are most successful if a student contacts a faculty member he or she would like to work with at least one semester before he or she plans to start researching. Senior Honors Thesis courses can be taken in any semester, including over the summer.

Why write a Senior Honors Thesis?

There are a number of reasons to consider writing a thesis. For one, it is an opportunity to explore a topic that interests you. There may have been a topic in a class or a reading that caught your attention; the senior thesis will allow you to dive deeper into the topic. You will likely master your topic and develop an educated perspective. Secondly, the thesis experience will develop your reading, research and writing skills–skills that will prepare you well for graduate school and other careers. Finally, writing a thesis is required for most Honors in the Major programs. Please talk to your departmental advisor if you have questions about this requirement. Most students find the Senior Thesis a rewarding experience in which they develop new skills through independent work.

First Steps

See our pages on how to get started with the Senior Honors Thesis process!

• Choosing a topic and mentor

Disciplinary Standards

Some departments have web pages about standards for a Senior Honors Thesis; be sure to visit your department’s website and speak with your advisor for information on these standards. If you are interested in seeing a completed senior thesis paper, the Honors Program Office has bound copies of previous students’ thesis work in the Washburn Observatory library — feel free to stop by and browse through some research from your discipline!

Funding your Thesis

Theses can be funded in several ways. First, the Honors Program offers funding each year; please check out our pages on Senior Honors Thesis funding for more information. Hilldale and Holstrom Undergraduate Fellowships are also available to students with at least junior standing at the time of their application. Hilldale fellowships provide generous research support in all disciplines, while Holstrom fellowships are awarded for research on environmental studies. For more information on those awards, contact the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office . Many departments also have funding available for theses. Please talk to your departmental advisor about funding opportunities if your department. There may also be outside agencies that will support senior thesis research.

Registering for Thesis Credits

To register for Senior Honors Thesis credits, you need to contact your faculty advisor; he or she should then get in touch with the appropriate timetable representative or academic advisor who will in turn create a unique 5-digit code for the Departmental 681 course in your first semester and a second, unique code for Departmental 682 in your second semester. Your faculty advisor should be the faculty member listed for your Senior Honors Thesis experience.

Prior authorization is needed when students intend to complete either 681 or 682 while away from UW-Madison. Consult with the Associate Director for Academic Services if this is your intention.

Writing Your Thesis

Naturally, not all theses have the same format. Formats will depend largely on your topic and area of discipline. Most theses, however, have an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should motivate the reader to read the rest of the thesis and explain why the thesis question is important. Generally, the introduction should also explain the key vocabulary of the topic, state the thesis and hypotheses, and outline the remainder of the paper (Lipson, 2005). An effective way to organize the body of your thesis is to create subtopics under illustrative headings (2005, pg. 167). Transitions that connect the various subtopics together facilitate a cohesive thesis. The conclusion of your thesis should go beyond summarizing the main points; it should also connect the main findings to broader issues and suggest future research.

A senior thesis seems like a lot of work. Is it worth doing?

Doing a senior thesis is a lot of work and requires a 2-semester commitment to a research project. Whether it is a good choice for you depends on how motivated you are to complete a thesis. Think about your reasons for wanting to do the research. Are you interested in doing a thesis just to complete a requirement, or because you really want the experience of diving into a topic? Those who are motivated because of their interest in reading, writing and researching are less likely to see the thesis as chore. A thesis will likely seem more manageable if you work gradually over the course of the year. This will give you time to obtain all the necessary resources and materials, confront any roadblocks and write multiple drafts of the thesis.

Are there thesis topics that I should avoid?

Lipson (2005) points to a few topics you want to avoid. Many students run into problems when they attempt to write a thesis on too broad of a topic. In general, a narrow, precise research topic is easier to organize and will allow you to narrow your sources. Lipson suggests avoiding topics about the future because it is difficult to test alternative hypotheses for speculative research. Finally, he states that under most circumstances, you ought to avoid thesis questions that start with “should.” These questions are often judgments which cannot be answered by research.

What are some tips for staying organized while working on a senior thesis?

You will likely have lots of materials for your thesis which can make it difficult to stay organized. It is probably best to set up both a computer file for online and computer-generated documents and a folder or notebook for hard copy materials. It is a good idea to record resources and web pages as you use them because they will probably be much more difficult to find down the road. Appropriate labels and folders will help you find what you are looking for. Another tip for staying organized is to record what you worked on each day. This may help you locate materials and keep you on track. A running “to do list” will also keep you focused and organized about what to do next for the thesis (Lipson, 2005).

What should I cite in my thesis?

Virtually all resources used while researching and writing your thesis should be cited. If you are unsure whether you should cite something or not, it is probably better to cite the resource. Quotations, paraphrases and personal communications should all be cited, but established facts are generally not cited. (Lipson, 2005)

What should I do when I am done with my thesis?

First, congratulate yourself on finishing a thesis! It is a good idea to thank those who have helped your with your thesis either verbally or in writing soon after you complete your project. You may also want to talk to your mentor about any next steps related to your thesis. Do you want to try publishing your work? Do you hope to do further research on a related topic? Are you thinking about using your thesis as a writing sample for graduate school? Consider your goals for the thesis and talk these over with your mentor(s). You may also want to ask your mentor(s) for a recommendation letter. Many graduate schools and jobs require letters of recommendation from professors who you have worked with in college. A letter of recommendation might be easier for a mentor to write soon after you have completed the thesis, while you are still fresh in his or her memory. Finally, if you received a grant from the L&S Honors Program, we request a copy of your thesis to be bound and placed in our library. Please drop off a copy of your thesis at Washburn Observatory so we can showcase your work!

Works Cited:

Lipson, Charles. How to Write a BA Thesis: A Practical Guide from your First Ideas to your Finished Paper. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005.

Senior Honors Thesis Pages:

• Submission Guidelines
• Dual Thesis Authorization
• Grading Senior Honors Thesis
• Senior Honors Thesis Links

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All Honors Students end their program with an Honors Thesis: a sustained, independent research project in a student’s field of study. Your thesis must count for at least 4 credits (some majors require that the thesis be completed over 2 semesters, and some require more than 4 credits). The thesis is an opportunity to work on unique research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. It often provides a writing sample for graduate school, and is also something you can share with employers to show what kind of work you can do. 

What is an Honors thesis?

Most of your work in college involves learning information and ideas generated by other people. When you write a thesis, you are engaging with previous work, but also adding new knowledge to your field. That means you have to know what's already been done--what counts as established knowledge; what's the current state of research; what methods and kinds of evidence are acceptable; what debates are going on. (Usually, you'll recount that knowledge in a review of the literature.) Then, you need to form a research question that you can answer given your available skills, resources, and time  (so, not "What is love?" but "How are ideas about love different between college freshmen and seniors?"). With your advisor, you'll plan the method you will use to answer it, which might involve lab work, field work, surveys, interviews, secondary research, textual analysis, or something else--it will depend upon your question and your field. Once your research is carried out, you'll write a substantial paper (usually 20-50 pages) according to the standards of your field.

What do theses look like?

The exact structure will vary by discipline, and your thesis advisor should provide you with an outline. As a rough guideline, we would expect to see something like the following:

1. Introduction 2. Review of the literature 3. Methods 4. Results 5. Analysis 6. Conclusion 7. Bibliography or works cited

In 2012 we began digitally archiving Honors theses. Students are encouraged to peruse the Honors Thesis Repository to see what past students' work has looked like. Use the link below and type your major in the search field on the left to find relevant examples. Older Honors theses are available in the Special Collections & Archives department at Dimond Library. 

Browse Previous Theses

Will my thesis count as my capstone?

Most majors accept an Honors Thesis as fulfilling the Capstone requirement. However, there are exceptions. In some majors, the thesis counts as a major elective, and in a few, it is an elective that does not fulfill major requirements. Your major advisor and your Honors advisor can help you figure out how your thesis will count. Please note that while in many majors the thesis counts as the capstone, the converse does not necessarily apply. There are many capstone experiences that do not take the form of an Honors thesis. 

Can I do a poster and presentation for my thesis?

No. While you do need to present your thesis (see below), a poster and presentation are not a thesis. 

How do I choose my thesis advisor?

The best thesis advisor is an experienced researcher, familiar with disciplinary standards for research and writing, with expertise in your area of interest. You might connect with a thesis advisor during Honors-in-Major coursework, but Honors Liaisons  can assist students who are having trouble identifying an advisor. You should approach and confirm your thesis advisor before the semester in which your research will begin.

What if I need funds for my research?

The  Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research  offers research grants, including summer support. During the academic year, students registered in credit-bearing thesis courses may apply for an  Undergraduate Research Award for up to $600 in research expenses (no stipend).  Students who are not otherwise registered in a credit-bearing course for their thesis research may enroll in INCO 790: Advanced Research Experience, which offers up to $200 for research expenses.

What if I need research materials for a lengthy period?

No problem! Honors Students can access Extended Time borrowing privileges at Dimond Library, which are otherwise reserved for faculty and graduate students. Email [email protected] with note requesting “extended borrowing privileges” and we'll work with the Library to extend your privileges.

Can I get support to stay on track?

Absolutely! Thesis-writers have an opportunity to join a support group during the challenging and sometimes isolating period of writing a thesis. Learn more about thesis support here .

When should I complete my thesis?

Register for a Senior Honors Thesis course (often numbered 799) in the spring and/or fall of your Senior year.

This “course” is an independent study, overseen by your Thesis Advisor. Your advisor sets the standards, due dates, and grades for your project. It must earn at least a B in order to qualify for Honors.

What happens with my completed thesis?

Present your thesis.

All students must publicly present their research prior to graduation. Many present at the  Undergraduate Research Conference  in April; other departmentally-approved public events are also acceptable.

Publish your thesis:

Honors students are asked to make their thesis papers available on  scholars.unh.edu/honors/ . This creates a resource for future students and other researchers, and also helps students professionalize their online personas.

These theses are publicly available online. If a student or their advisor prefers not to make the work available, they may upload an abstract and/or excerpts from the work instead.

Students may also publish research in  Inquiry , UNH's undergraduate research journal.

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Many Honors Carolina students cap their undergraduate experience with a Senior Honors Thesis, partnering with a faculty mentor to develop original research or creative work. Students who successfully defend their thesis before a faculty review panel graduate with Honors or Highest Honors.

Each year, approximately 350 students complete a Senior Honors Thesis. For many of those students, the thesis becomes a first publication or an important part of their application to graduate or professional school.

Students may undertake a Senior Honors Thesis project only in their major field of study (with an exception for students who minor in Creative Writing). Students with double majors may graduate with Honors or Highest Honors in both fields of study. To do so, they must complete a distinct project in each field. All Senior Honors Thesis projects must be completed under the direct supervision of a faculty advisor. Tenured and tenure-track faculty, postdoctoral fellows with teaching appointments, and fixed-term faculty who have been employed by an academic unit for at least one year may serve as thesis advisors. Retired faculty and graduate students may not serve as advisors for Senior Honors Thesis projects.

Eligibility

Students who wish to undertake a Senior Honors Thesis project must have a cumulative GPA of 3.300 or higher. Academic departments may set higher thresholds for course work within students’ major field of study.

Students enrolled in the final semester of their thesis course work must complete their project (including the oral defense) by the following deadlines:

• Fall 2023 : Monday, November 13, 2023 4:00 p.m.
• Spring 2024: Monday, April 8, 2024 4:00 p.m.

These dates are subject to change if adjustments are made to the University Registrar’s calendars.

Your department should report your name to the Honors Carolina office by the relevant deadline above to confirm that you have met the requirements to graduate with Honors or Highest Honors.

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 . Detailed instructions are included in the guidelines at the bottom of this page.

Research Awards Available

Honors Carolina offers financial awards to support Senior Honors Thesis research. These awards, up to $500, may be used to cover any legitimate cost directly connected to a thesis project: laboratory equipment and supplies, computer software and hardware, travel, artistic supplies, books and periodicals not available through normal library sources, illustrations and duplication, etc.

Students must apply through their major department’s Honors director or their faculty thesis advisor (for units without Honors directors). A Call for Applications is sent to departments early each semester. Students may not submit applications directly to Honors Carolina.

The Spring 2024 Call for Proposals was distributed to academic units on February 1, 2024. Applications for this round of awards will be due by Thursday, February 29 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time .

Additional funding is available through the  Office for Undergraduate Research  and individual academic units.

The following research awards are made possible through gifts to Honors Carolina and are awarded annually:

• The Michael P. and Jean W. Carter Research Award
• The Gillian T. Cell Senior Thesis Research Award in the College of Arts & Sciences
• The Sarah Steele Danhoff Undergraduate Research Award
• The Dunlevie Honors Undergraduate Research Award
• The Gordon P. Golding Senior Honors Thesis Award
• The Gump Family Undergraduate Research Award
• The Honors Undergraduate Research Award
• The Rodney F. Hood Undergraduate Research Award
• The Kimball King Undergraduate Research Award
• The William F. Little Prize for Creative Research in Honors

Helpful Resources

• Senior Honors Thesis Guidelines for Academic Units, Faculty Advisors, and Students
• Senior Honors Thesis Learning Contract (forms for Computer Science majors are here )
• Sample Senior Honors Thesis title page

INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS

Senior Capstones, Honors, and Synthesis Projects

Main navigation.

As you plan for senior year, you may wish to work on an independent project to solidify the academic knowledge and other educational experiences acquired during your time at Stanford. Capstone Projects and Honors Theses can be a rewarding way to apply what you've learned and finish your Stanford career with a flourish.

Capstone Projects

All undergraduates matriculating as first year students in 2021-22 or later, and graduating in 2024-25 or later must complete a senior capstone requirement, as defined by each department. The capstone project provides students with considerable flexibility and independence.

A capstone project may allow for deeper engagement with a given major, in the form of an  Honors Thesis , a senior paper or project, or an arts performance or exhibition. Alternatively, some capstone projects (often referred to as  Senior Synthesis Projects ) are more interdisciplinary in nature or involve community partnerships.

You can find support for capstone projects from your academic departments or other campus programs such as the  Haas Center for Public Service  and  VPUE Research Grants .

Honors Theses

Usually, by “honors”, Stanford means departmental honors. For most majors (but not quite all), honors means a research honors thesis: a substantial project where you identify your own research topic, carry out the research, and write up your results. Arts programs provide additional paths for pursuing honors through performances or exhibitions. Just about every major offers an honors track, and in addition, several programs allow students from any major to participate in an interdisciplinary honors program (see below for the current list).

Pursuing an honors thesis requires a high degree of initiative and dedication. It also requires significant amounts of time and energy. It can be one of the most challenging, and rewarding, experiences of your academic career. Your  Academic Advisors  are always happy to discuss your thoughts and considerations about pursuing honors with you .

You can start discussing the idea of a thesis with people as early as your first year at Stanford (though most people who pursue honors don’t find their ideas until sophomore or junior year), and as you move through classes up through your junior year, think about what types of questions you might be interested in answering with a thesis. Your faculty are the best people to consult when thinking about honors, as having a mentor who can guide you in the project is essential.

Honors programs generally require an application, a minimum GPA, and some selected classes, as well as the thesis or capstone project. Most application deadlines are in the Winter Quarter of your junior year, but may range from sophomore spring to senior fall. Check the program website for the basics, look out for information sessions, and arrange to meet with program leaders for more information.

The top honors theses are recognized annually in an awards ceremony. You can find links to Stanford News stories of recent ceremonies (and get a sense of the range of possibilities) on the  Medals Ceremony  website.

For Departmental Honors, visit the department site or the majors site to see if your department offers an honors program.  Majors Site

The current Interdisciplinary Honors programs are:

• Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity
• Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law  (CDDRL)
• Ethics in Society
• Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
• International Security Studies  (CISAC)
• Science, Technology, and Society

Here for the "other" Honors?

Please note that Stanford does not use Latin honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude), but does award Distinction (based on GPA) to graduating seniors. In addition, Stanford has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a nationwide honor society that recognizes students for the excellence and breadth of their undergraduate scholarly accomplishments, and Tau Beta Pi, the national Engineering Honors Society.

Awards and Graduation Honors Phi Beta Kappa Tau Beta Pi

Senior Synthesis Projects

At Stanford, we use the term  "Senior Synthesis Project"  to refer to a senior capstone project that does not readily fall within the category of a research or creative arts honors project. A senior synthesis project draws on your first three years of undergraduate experience, focusing on your academic work but perhaps also integrating your other interests. This is a capstone project that you envision will complement, build upon, or react to those recent experiences. It is distinct from the capstone required by your major.

Senior synthesis projects emphasize reflection on your academic experiences at Stanford and ideas that go beyond what is required in departmental course offerings, with strong faculty mentorship. Check with your program whether such a project is supported, and what process you should follow.

• How do I pursue an independent project?
• Planning for Departmental Honors
• Working with a Faculty Honors Advisor
• How to begin a research, arts, or senior synthesis project

Return to the Advising Student Handbook

Senior Honors Thesis Advice for Students

Academic advising and support resources.

Academic Resource Center  offers writing consultants who meet individually with senior thesis writers to help them with anything from making and meeting deadlines to planning out chapters to polishing final drafts.

Senior Writers Action Group  is a writing group through the Academic Resource Center that holds workshops on such topics as time management and accountability, research resources, tips for STEM writers, preparing for the defense, and more. Plus: Writing Bootcamp sessions! Undergraduate Research Fund  may be used toward some research-related expenses.

Dean of Undergraduate Studies  upholds senior honors thesis policies, grants waivers, and can answer questions about policies and deadlines. Your  Advising Dean  can help you decide whether do an independent study rather than a thesis.

Tisch Library Resources

Research consultations  with a reference librarian can expedite your research process. Savvy Researcher Workshop Series  offers instruction on citation methods, software programs to manage citations, and other research skills Online  citation information  from Tisch Library

More Resources

How to Write a Senior Thesis Proposal  Before you get started on your thesis, you’ll need to prepare a proposal. Surviving the Defense  What to expect and how to prepare for your senior thesis defense.

Formatting Your Manuscript  How to format your thesis so it can be added to Tufts’ digital archives.

Thesis Advice from Successful Tufts Seniors

"Don't wait until too late to decide on a topic, to do the research, and to write the actual paper. Start early. And make a timeline for yourself and your committee." "For the writing stage, free writes are my best suggestion. While writing an 80-odd page thesis in a foreign language, free writing in English (for 20 minutes at a time, no more) helped me get my thoughts together." "Make deadlines for yourself and submit as many drafts as possible to your professors and writing tutors." “Having a defense earlier rather than later gave me plenty of time to do my other classwork and not have to worry about my thesis too around exam time."

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

• Undergraduate

Senior Honors Thesis Guidelines

Submission deadlines for academic year 2023–2024.

The deadline for submitting a defended Senior Honors Thesis to the Office of Academic Affairs is noon (12 pm) on the days indicated in the table below:

Noon (12 pm) Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Spring 2024

Noon (12 pm) Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Summer 2024

Noon (12 pm) Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Senior Honors Thesis Review for Final Submission

Senior Honors students who are prepared to submit their Senior Honors Thesis for review and final approval should follow the College’s instructions on how to prepare and submit their thesis by consulting the Senior Honors Thesis General Instructions .

NSM’s Office of Academic Affairs no longer accepts theses in person. The submission and reader evaluation process is done electronically.

Also review the Honors College Senior Honors Thesis Defense page.

Senior Honors Thesis

If you are a junior, with a minimum of 3.40 GPA and have enjoyed writing a research paper in one of your economics classes, this might be the right thing for you. A thesis is a great opportunity for a real capstone experience as part of your economics major.

It is important to find a faculty member to be your thesis advisor. If you have ideas about a thesis topic, talk with your advisor or a member of the economics faculty with similar research interests (see the department website for faculty research areas).

Senior Honors Thesis Information

• A Senior Honors Thesis is a two-semester (three units) long project that results in a thesis paper.
• Students also enroll each semester in a two-unit pass/fail course (EC 197: Senior Thesis Research Seminar)
• Counts as two upper-level electives towards the economics major
• It is overseen by (at least) a two-person committee consisting of an advisor and a reader.
• A Senior Honors Thesis should answer a (very) specific question or test a particular hypotheses
• It usually has an empirical component (but not necessarily)
• Generally the narrower the topic/ the more specific the question, the better the thesis
• Can be in any area of economics

Research Classes for Majors & Undertake a Senior Honors Thesis for Juniors

Many economics majors are interested in making research experience a part of their major. There are several ways to accomplish this goal.

• A number of elective classes in economics require a research paper. This can be a very good introduction to the research process because the selection of a topic, definition of the paper's structure, and research mentoring are built into the class. Economics classes that require a research paper are designated with a * on the semester class schedule published by the department.
• A research paper is often part of the requirements of a Special Topics (Economics 193) class. Since the content and requirements of these classes are constructed on a case-by-case basis, it would be up to the student and their faculty sponsor to agree on a research topic and the extent of the research requirement for the class. An Independent Study Form must be completed and submitted to Debra Knox .
• Seniors who wish to undertake a one-semester research project may do so by undertaking a Senior Thesis (Economics 198) class. Every Senior Thesis must have a faculty member from the Economics Department as an advisor and supervisor. The credit awarded for a Senior Thesis will vary according to the scope of the project. A Senior Thesis Agreement Form must be completed and submitted to Debra Knox .
• Seniors who wish to undertake a more formally organized, two-semester research project may do so by undertaking a Senior Honors Thesis (Economics 195 and 196) class. This is a larger and more complex research project that requires certain advance preparations. The regulations are described in the Tufts Bulletin under the heading Thesis Honors Program. A Senior Honors Thesis Agreement Form must be completed and submitted to Debra Knox .

These regulations specify that by the end of your junior year you must have :

• qualified for the Dean's List at least twice.
• identified an Economics faculty member who agrees to chair your thesis committee and serve as your primary thesis advisor.
• worked with your primary thesis advisor to choose a specific thesis topic.

By the end of the first two weeks of the Fall semester, you must submit the Senior Honors Thesis Candidate Declaration Form .

Writing a Successful Senior Honors Thesis

Writing a Senior Honors Thesis in economics requires more preparation than simply completing the minimal requirements toward an economics major.

Success involves :

• defining a researchable question or a testable hypothesis . This is the task that takes the most experience and requires consultation with your primary thesis advisor. If your thinking about a topic is at the stage of "I want to do research on Italy's economic growth" or "I want to study poverty issues," you do not yet have a research question. Your question must be specific and must contain a conjecture that can be supported or refuted by evidence that you are capable of producing. Good research questions can come from anywhere but the safest strategy is to look in areas of economics that you have already studied.  
• having a set of economic tools that you can apply to your research question. The appropriate set of economic tools normally consists of intermediate economic theory and econometrics . These courses should be completed by the end of your junior year.  
• having some background in an area of economics that relates to your research question. This will most often be from economics courses that you have already taken. For example, you may have taken International Finance (Economics 162) and be familiar with economic theories that explain exchange rates movements. This background gives you a head start in identifying a good research question and keeps you from having to spend many weeks learning background material.  
• preparing a thesis proposal . A good proposal spells out your research question, why it is important, and how you intend to carry out the research. It should include a short review of other important research on the subject, sources of data, and the analytical tools (ie. regression analysis) that you will use. It is recommended that this work be completed by the beginning of your senior year.  
• beginning regular consultation with your primary thesis advisor before the fall of your senior year. This could take place during the spring of your junior year or the summer before your senior year. Study abroad may make this consultation more difficult and should be factored into your foreign study plans.

Schedule a consultation for tutoring or assistance

2024 Theses

Aditya Acharya: "A Preference in Protein: A Study on Impacts of Economic Development on Meat and Seafood Consumption" Advisor: Ujjayant Chakravorty

Joshua T. Lyons: "Impact of Reduced Ambulance Staffing requirements on EMS Quality in Massachusetts" Advisor: Steve Cicala

Catherine Shelburne*: "Reimagining Roadways: A Study of the Impacts of Urban Freeway Removal on American Housing Values" Advisor: Jeff Zabel

Nicholas Sorger: "Transmission in the U.S. Electrical Grid: Lessons from an Empirical Study of MISO Electricity Pricing" Advisor: Steve Cicala

Yichen (Angela) Lin: "The Impact of Enumerated Nondiscrimination Legislation in Educational Settings on the Mental Well-Being of Transgender Youth" Advisor: Elizabeth Setren

*Linda Datcher Loury Award Recipient

Archived Senior Honors Theses

2020 theses.

Henrik Tiemroth "Distributional Implications of Carbon Taxation: Lessons from British Columbia" Advisor: Gilbert Metcalf

Kamen Velichkov "Does Democratization Lead to a More Dispersed City Size Distribution and More Spatially Dispersed Economic Activity?" Advisor: Yannis Ioannides

Zhuoran (Betty) Cao "Effects of Paid Family Leave Policy on Women’s Fertility Decisions and Career Outcomes in the US" Advisor: Melissa McInerney

2019 Theses

Julian Goldhill "The Effects of Colorado's Recreational Cannabis Industry on Colorado Gambling: An Empirical Approach" Advisor: Marcelo Bianconi

Ara Kharazian "A New Look at Coordination of Financial Aid at America's Elite Colleges" Advisor: Silke Forbes

Giorgi Nikolaishvili "The Dynamics of Noisy Information Acquisition in Financial Markets" Advisor: Marcelo Bianconi

Jacob Solomon Ryan "The Sensitivity of Firms' Proprietary Program Trading to Financial News Article Sentiment About the Volcker Rule" Advisor: Marcelo Bianconi

Eva Sachar "A Data Science Approach of Identifying Gentrification in Providence, Rhode Island" Advisor: Jeff Zabel

Noah Weinflash "Political Betting Markets: Inefficiencies, Information Integration, and Effectiveness" Advisor: Thomas Downes

Hung-Da Wen "Does Imposing Conditions in Cambodian Apparel Factories Increase Efficiency and Profitability?" Advisor: Drusilla Brown

Jiaqi Yuan "The Interaction of Manager Characteristics with Compliance: Evidence from the Cambodian Apparel Industry" Advisor: Drusilla Brown

Visit Tufts Digital Library for archived Senior Honors Theses

Senior Honors Thesis Program

The Senior Honors Thesis program provides students the opportunity to conduct original research under the guidance of a faculty advisor while earning a total of 4.5 credits in their senior year. In their final semester, students present their research to a committee and their work potentially can be published in an academic journal. This program is an excellent resume builder for students and is beneficial for any future career or graduate school application.

After the successful completion and defense of their thesis, students will receive a notation of  Senior Honors Thesis in Business  on their transcript and will receive recognition for their accomplishment at Tropaia, our honors ceremony for graduating seniors.

Past members of the Student Honors Thesis Program have found it to be one of the most rewarding and memorable aspects of their time at Georgetown.

Class of 2026 Senior Honors Thesis Program

Application Deadline: April 8, 2025 To learn more, please review the information session from Tuesday, March 19th. Please contact Dr. Justin Smith , Associate Dean, with any questions.

How to Apply

Applications for the Senior Honors Thesis Program are open to all rising seniors in the Class of 2026 who are in good standing and are due on April 8, 2025. All students must:

• Complete the application.
• Submit an original research proposal.
• Begin the process of finding a primary faculty advisor who will work with you throughout the year.

To ensure an exceptional, personalized experience, the program offers a select number of seats.

Once the senior thesis scholar has been accepted, they will register for:

• BADM 4998: Senior Thesis I (3 credits) in the fall semester of their senior year.
• BADM 4999: Senior Thesis II (1.5 credits) in the spring semester of their senior year.

Note: The seminar meeting days and times are to be determined. Since the seminar classes are small, the course instructor will work with the senior thesis cohort to find a time that works for all students. We strongly encourage students to treat the senior thesis seminar as a class and sign up for 15 credits or less in their senior year to give them time to conduct their research and attend to their writing.

Previous Topics

“Nicholas Elliot (B’20) Faculty Advisor: Dennis P. Quinn, vice dean and John J. Powers Jr. Term Professor in International Business The Digital Yuan: The Outsourcing of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and The Unveiling of a Central Bank Digital Currency with Chinese Characteristics “I really cannot stress how much I have enjoyed this program. It is one of the few things I will point to in my undergraduate experience as something I’m not only extremely proud of, but also allowed me to explore the things I’m passionate about in current affairs.””

“Lisa Park (B’20) Faculty Advisor: Rebecca Hamilton, senior associate dean for faculty affairs and professor of marketing Effects of Childhood Socioeconomic Status on Product Retention and Disposal Behavior in Adulthood  “Working with Rebecca Hamilton was an extremely rewarding experience. Together, we were able to create a thesis centered around consumer behavior and childhood socio-economic status. Because it both challenged and expanded my intellectual and personal horizons, my senior thesis will undeniably be a hallmark of my time at Georgetown. The skills I gained from this have impacted me on both a personal and professional level, which I will forever be grateful for!””

“Brooke Stanley (B’20) Faculty Advisor: Marcia P. Miceli, professor of human resources  Leaving Communities Behind: Exploring the Accessibility and Usage of Parental and Family Leave Policies among Marginalized Communities “The Senior Thesis program allowed me to dive deep into a subject that truly sparked my intellectual curiosity and work alongside a professor. My mentor, Professor Miceli, challenged me and encouraged me at every step of the way. I learned a lot about time management skills and working with self-imposed deadlines. Working on a year-long research project definitely helped prepare me for long-term projects in my current role, and the time management skills I gained were absolutely invaluable. The Senior Thesis program was absolutely a highlight of my Georgetown career!””

Questions about the Senior Honors Thesis Program?

Please contact Dr. Justin Smith , Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, with any questions.