honors thesis vs master's thesis

Honors Theses

What this handout is about.

Writing a senior honors thesis, or any major research essay, can seem daunting at first. A thesis requires a reflective, multi-stage writing process. This handout will walk you through those stages. It is targeted at students in the humanities and social sciences, since their theses tend to involve more writing than projects in the hard sciences. Yet all thesis writers may find the organizational strategies helpful.

Introduction

What is an honors thesis.

That depends quite a bit on your field of study. However, all honors theses have at least two things in common:

• They are based on students’ original research.
• 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 social sciences, the manuscript may be shorter, depending on whether the project involves more quantitative than qualitative research. In the hard sciences, the manuscript may be shorter still, often taking the form of a sophisticated laboratory report.

Who can write an honors thesis?

In general, students who are at the end of their junior year, have an overall 3.2 GPA, and meet their departmental requirements can write a senior thesis. For information about your eligibility, contact:

• UNC Honors Program
• Your departmental administrators of undergraduate studies/honors

Why write an honors thesis?

Satisfy your intellectual curiosity This is the most compelling reason to write a thesis. Whether it’s the short stories of Flannery O’Connor or the challenges of urban poverty, you’ve studied topics in college that really piqued your interest. Now’s your chance to follow your passions, explore further, and contribute some original ideas and research in your field.

Develop transferable skills Whether you choose to stay in your field of study or not, the process of developing and crafting a feasible research project will hone skills that will serve you well in almost any future job. After all, most jobs require some form of problem solving and oral and written communication. Writing an honors thesis requires that you:

• ask smart questions
• acquire the investigative instincts needed to find answers
• navigate libraries, laboratories, archives, databases, and other research venues
• develop the flexibility to redirect your research if your initial plan flops
• master the art of time management
• hone your argumentation skills
• organize a lengthy piece of writing
• polish your oral communication skills by presenting and defending your project to faculty and peers

Work closely with faculty mentors At large research universities like Carolina, you’ve likely taken classes where you barely got to know your instructor. Writing a thesis offers the opportunity to work one-on-one with a with faculty adviser. Such mentors can enrich your intellectual development and later serve as invaluable references for graduate school and employment.

Open windows into future professions An honors thesis will give you a taste of what it’s like to do research in your field. Even if you’re a sociology major, you may not really know what it’s like to be a sociologist. Writing a sociology thesis would open a window into that world. It also might help you decide whether to pursue that field in graduate school or in your future career.

How do you write an honors thesis?

Get an idea of what’s expected.

It’s a good idea to review some of the honors theses other students have submitted to get a sense of what an honors thesis might look like and what kinds of things might be appropriate topics. Look for examples from the previous year in the Carolina Digital Repository. You may also be able to find past theses collected in your major department or at the North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library. Pay special attention to theses written by students who share your major.

Choose a topic

Ideally, you should start thinking about topics early in your junior year, so you can begin your research and writing quickly during your senior year. (Many departments require that you submit a proposal for an honors thesis project during the spring of your junior year.)

How should you choose a topic?

• Read widely in the fields that interest you. Make a habit of browsing professional journals to survey the “hot” areas of research and to familiarize yourself with your field’s stylistic conventions. (You’ll find the most recent issues of the major professional journals in the periodicals reading room on the first floor of Davis Library).
• Set up appointments to talk with faculty in your field. This is a good idea, since you’ll eventually need to select an advisor and a second reader. Faculty also can help you start narrowing down potential topics.
• Look at honors theses from the past. The North Carolina Collection in Wilson Library holds UNC honors theses. To get a sense of the typical scope of a thesis, take a look at a sampling from your field.

What makes a good topic?

• It’s fascinating. Above all, choose something that grips your imagination. If you don’t, the chances are good that you’ll struggle to finish.
• It’s doable. Even if a topic interests you, it won’t work out unless you have access to the materials you need to research it. Also be sure that your topic is narrow enough. Let’s take an example: Say you’re interested in the efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and early 1980s. That’s a big topic that probably can’t be adequately covered in a single thesis. You need to find a case study within that larger topic. For example, maybe you’re particularly interested in the states that did not ratify the ERA. Of those states, perhaps you’ll select North Carolina, since you’ll have ready access to local research materials. And maybe you want to focus primarily on the ERA’s opponents. Beyond that, maybe you’re particularly interested in female opponents of the ERA. Now you’ve got a much more manageable topic: Women in North Carolina Who Opposed the ERA in the 1970s and 1980s.
• It contains a question. There’s a big difference between having a topic and having a guiding research question. Taking the above topic, perhaps your main question is: Why did some women in North Carolina oppose the ERA? You will, of course, generate other questions: Who were the most outspoken opponents? White women? Middle-class women? How did they oppose the ERA? Public protests? Legislative petitions? etc. etc. Yet it’s good to start with a guiding question that will focus your research.

Goal-setting and time management

The senior year is an exceptionally busy time for college students. In addition to the usual load of courses and jobs, seniors have the daunting task of applying for jobs and/or graduate school. These demands are angst producing and time consuming If that scenario sounds familiar, don’t panic! Do start strategizing about how to make a time for your thesis. You may need to take a lighter course load or eliminate extracurricular activities. Even if the thesis is the only thing on your plate, you still need to make a systematic schedule for yourself. Most departments require that you take a class that guides you through the honors project, so deadlines likely will be set for you. Still, you should set your own goals for meeting those deadlines. Here are a few suggestions for goal setting and time management:

Start early. Keep in mind that many departments will require that you turn in your thesis sometime in early April, so don’t count on having the entire spring semester to finish your work. Ideally, you’ll start the research process the semester or summer before your senior year so that the writing process can begin early in the fall. Some goal-setting will be done for you if you are taking a required class that guides you through the honors project. But any substantive research project requires a clear timetable.

Set clear goals in making a timetable. Find out the final deadline for turning in your project to your department. Working backwards from that deadline, figure out how much time you can allow for the various stages of production.

Here is a sample timetable. Use it, however, with two caveats in mind:

• The timetable for your thesis might look very different depending on your departmental requirements.
• You may not wish to proceed through these stages in a linear fashion. You may want to revise chapter one before you write chapter two. Or you might want to write your introduction last, not first. This sample is designed simply to help you start thinking about how to customize your own schedule.

Sample timetable

Avoid falling into the trap of procrastination. Once you’ve set goals for yourself, stick to them! For some tips on how to do this, see our handout on procrastination .

Consistent production

It’s a good idea to try to squeeze in a bit of thesis work every day—even if it’s just fifteen minutes of journaling or brainstorming about your topic. Or maybe you’ll spend that fifteen minutes taking notes on a book. The important thing is to accomplish a bit of active production (i.e., putting words on paper) for your thesis every day. That way, you develop good writing habits that will help you keep your project moving forward.

Make yourself accountable to someone other than yourself

Since most of you will be taking a required thesis seminar, you will have deadlines. Yet you might want to form a writing group or enlist a peer reader, some person or people who can help you stick to your goals. Moreover, if your advisor encourages you to work mostly independently, don’t be afraid to ask them to set up periodic meetings at which you’ll turn in installments of your project.

Brainstorming and freewriting

One of the biggest challenges of a lengthy writing project is keeping the creative juices flowing. Here’s where freewriting can help. Try keeping a small notebook handy where you jot down stray ideas that pop into your head. Or schedule time to freewrite. You may find that such exercises “free” you up to articulate your argument and generate new ideas. Here are some questions to stimulate freewriting.

Questions for basic brainstorming at the beginning of your project:

• What do I already know about this topic?
• Why do I care about this topic?
• Why is this topic important to people other than myself
• What more do I want to learn about this topic?
• What is the main question that I am trying to answer?
• Where can I look for additional information?
• Who is my audience and how can I reach them?
• How will my work inform my larger field of study?
• What’s the main goal of my research project?

Questions for reflection throughout your project:

• What’s my main argument? How has it changed since I began the project?
• What’s the most important evidence that I have in support of my “big point”?
• What questions do my sources not answer?
• How does my case study inform or challenge my field writ large?
• Does my project reinforce or contradict noted scholars in my field? How?
• What is the most surprising finding of my research?
• What is the most frustrating part of this project?
• What is the most rewarding part of this project?
• What will be my work’s most important contribution?

Research and note-taking

In conducting research, you will need to find both primary sources (“firsthand” sources that come directly from the period/events/people you are studying) and secondary sources (“secondhand” sources that are filtered through the interpretations of experts in your field.) The nature of your research will vary tremendously, depending on what field you’re in. For some general suggestions on finding sources, consult the UNC Libraries tutorials . Whatever the exact nature of the research you’re conducting, you’ll be taking lots of notes and should reflect critically on how you do that. Too often it’s assumed that the research phase of a project involves very little substantive writing (i.e., writing that involves thinking). We sit down with our research materials and plunder them for basic facts and useful quotations. That mechanical type of information-recording is important. But a more thoughtful type of writing and analytical thinking is also essential at this stage. Some general guidelines for note-taking:

First of all, develop a research system. There are lots of ways to take and organize your notes. Whether you choose to use note cards, computer databases, or notebooks, follow two cardinal rules:

• Make careful distinctions between direct quotations and your paraphrasing! This is critical if you want to be sure to avoid accidentally plagiarizing someone else’s work. For more on this, see our handout on plagiarism .
• Record full citations for each source. Don’t get lazy here! It will be far more difficult to find the proper citation later than to write it down now.

Keeping those rules in mind, here’s a template for the types of information that your note cards/legal pad sheets/computer files should include for each of your sources:

Abbreviated subject heading: Include two or three words to remind you of what this sources is about (this shorthand categorization is essential for the later sorting of your sources).

Complete bibliographic citation:

• author, title, publisher, copyright date, and page numbers for published works
• box and folder numbers and document descriptions for archival sources
• complete web page title, author, address, and date accessed for online sources

Notes on facts, quotations, and arguments: Depending on the type of source you’re using, the content of your notes will vary. If, for example, you’re using US Census data, then you’ll mainly be writing down statistics and numbers. If you’re looking at someone else’s diary, you might jot down a number of quotations that illustrate the subject’s feelings and perspectives. If you’re looking at a secondary source, you’ll want to make note not just of factual information provided by the author but also of their key arguments.

Your interpretation of the source: This is the most important part of note-taking. Don’t just record facts. Go ahead and take a stab at interpreting them. As historians Jacques Barzun and Henry F. Graff insist, “A note is a thought.” So what do these thoughts entail? Ask yourself questions about the context and significance of each source.

Interpreting the context of a source:

• Who wrote/created the source?
• When, and under what circumstances, was it written/created?
• Why was it written/created? What was the agenda behind the source?
• How was it written/created?
• If using a secondary source: How does it speak to other scholarship in the field?

Interpreting the significance of a source:

• How does this source answer (or complicate) my guiding research questions?
• Does it pose new questions for my project? What are they?
• Does it challenge my fundamental argument? If so, how?
• Given the source’s context, how reliable is it?

You don’t need to answer all of these questions for each source, but you should set a goal of engaging in at least one or two sentences of thoughtful, interpretative writing for each source. If you do so, you’ll make much easier the next task that awaits you: drafting.

The dread of drafting

Why do we often dread drafting? We dread drafting because it requires synthesis, one of the more difficult forms of thinking and interpretation. If you’ve been free-writing and taking thoughtful notes during the research phase of your project, then the drafting should be far less painful. Here are some tips on how to get started:

Sort your “evidence” or research into analytical categories:

• Some people file note cards into categories.
• The technologically-oriented among us take notes using computer database programs that have built-in sorting mechanisms.
• Others cut and paste evidence into detailed outlines on their computer.
• Still others stack books, notes, and photocopies into topically-arranged piles.There is not a single right way, but this step—in some form or fashion—is essential!

If you’ve been forcing yourself to put subject headings on your notes as you go along, you’ll have generated a number of important analytical categories. Now, you need to refine those categories and sort your evidence. Everyone has a different “sorting style.”

Formulate working arguments for your entire thesis and individual chapters. Once you’ve sorted your evidence, you need to spend some time thinking about your project’s “big picture.” You need to be able to answer two questions in specific terms:

• What is the overall argument of my thesis?
• What are the sub-arguments of each chapter and how do they relate to my main argument?

Keep in mind that “working arguments” may change after you start writing. But a senior thesis is big and potentially unwieldy. If you leave this business of argument to chance, you may end up with a tangle of ideas. See our handout on arguments and handout on thesis statements for some general advice on formulating arguments.

Divide your thesis into manageable chunks. The surest road to frustration at this stage is getting obsessed with the big picture. What? Didn’t we just say that you needed to focus on the big picture? Yes, by all means, yes. You do need to focus on the big picture in order to get a conceptual handle on your project, but you also need to break your thesis down into manageable chunks of writing. For example, take a small stack of note cards and flesh them out on paper. Or write through one point on a chapter outline. Those small bits of prose will add up quickly.

Just start! Even if it’s not at the beginning. Are you having trouble writing those first few pages of your chapter? Sometimes the introduction is the toughest place to start. You should have a rough idea of your overall argument before you begin writing one of the main chapters, but you might find it easier to start writing in the middle of a chapter of somewhere other than word one. Grab hold where you evidence is strongest and your ideas are clearest.

Keep up the momentum! Assuming the first draft won’t be your last draft, try to get your thoughts on paper without spending too much time fussing over minor stylistic concerns. At the drafting stage, it’s all about getting those ideas on paper. Once that task is done, you can turn your attention to revising.

Peter Elbow, in Writing With Power, suggests that writing is difficult because it requires two conflicting tasks: creating and criticizing. While these two tasks are intimately intertwined, the drafting stage focuses on creating, while revising requires criticizing. If you leave your revising to the last minute, then you’ve left out a crucial stage of the writing process. See our handout for some general tips on revising . The challenges of revising an honors thesis may include:

Juggling feedback from multiple readers

A senior thesis may mark the first time that you have had to juggle feedback from a wide range of readers:

• your adviser
• a second (and sometimes third) faculty reader
• the professor and students in your honors thesis seminar

You may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of incorporating all this advice. Keep in mind that some advice is better than others. You will probably want to take most seriously the advice of your adviser since they carry the most weight in giving your project a stamp of approval. But sometimes your adviser may give you more advice than you can digest. If so, don’t be afraid to approach them—in a polite and cooperative spirit, of course—and ask for some help in prioritizing that advice. See our handout for some tips on getting and receiving feedback .

Refining your argument

It’s especially easy in writing a lengthy work to lose sight of your main ideas. So spend some time after you’ve drafted to go back and clarify your overall argument and the individual chapter arguments and make sure they match the evidence you present.

Organizing and reorganizing

Again, in writing a 50-75 page thesis, things can get jumbled. You may find it particularly helpful to make a “reverse outline” of each of your chapters. That will help you to see the big sections in your work and move things around so there’s a logical flow of ideas. See our handout on  organization  for more organizational suggestions and tips on making a reverse outline

Plugging in holes in your evidence

It’s unlikely that you anticipated everything you needed to look up before you drafted your thesis. Save some time at the revising stage to plug in the holes in your research. Make sure that you have both primary and secondary evidence to support and contextualize your main ideas.

Saving time for the small stuff

Even though your argument, evidence, and organization are most important, leave plenty of time to polish your prose. At this point, you’ve spent a very long time on your thesis. Don’t let minor blemishes (misspellings and incorrect grammar) distract your readers!

Formatting and final touches

You’re almost done! You’ve researched, drafted, and revised your thesis; now you need to take care of those pesky little formatting matters. An honors thesis should replicate—on a smaller scale—the appearance of a dissertation or master’s thesis. So, you need to include the “trappings” of a formal piece of academic work. For specific questions on formatting matters, check with your department to see if it has a style guide that you should use. For general formatting guidelines, consult the Graduate School’s Guide to Dissertations and Theses . Keeping in mind the caveat that you should always check with your department first about its stylistic guidelines, here’s a brief overview of the final “finishing touches” that you’ll need to put on your honors thesis:

• Honors Thesis
• Name of Department
• University of North Carolina
• These parts of the thesis will vary in format depending on whether your discipline uses MLA, APA, CBE, or Chicago (also known in its shortened version as Turabian) style. Whichever style you’re using, stick to the rules and be consistent. It might be helpful to buy an appropriate style guide. Or consult the UNC LibrariesYear Citations/footnotes and works cited/reference pages  citation tutorial
• In addition, in the bottom left corner, you need to leave space for your adviser and faculty readers to sign their names. For example:

Approved by: _____________________

Adviser: Prof. Jane Doe

• This is not a required component of an honors thesis. However, if you want to thank particular librarians, archivists, interviewees, and advisers, here’s the place to do it. You should include an acknowledgments page if you received a grant from the university or an outside agency that supported your research. It’s a good idea to acknowledge folks who helped you with a major project, but do not feel the need to go overboard with copious and flowery expressions of gratitude. You can—and should—always write additional thank-you notes to people who gave you assistance.
• Formatted much like the table of contents.
• You’ll need to save this until the end, because it needs to reflect your final pagination. Once you’ve made all changes to the body of the thesis, then type up your table of contents with the titles of each section aligned on the left and the page numbers on which those sections begin flush right.
• Each page of your thesis needs a number, although not all page numbers are displayed. All pages that precede the first page of the main text (i.e., your introduction or chapter one) are numbered with small roman numerals (i, ii, iii, iv, v, etc.). All pages thereafter use Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.).
• Your text should be double spaced (except, in some cases, long excerpts of quoted material), in a 12 point font and a standard font style (e.g., Times New Roman). An honors thesis isn’t the place to experiment with funky fonts—they won’t enhance your work, they’ll only distract your readers.
• In general, leave a one-inch inch margin on all sides. However, for the copy of your thesis that will be bound by the library, you need to leave a 1.25-inch margin on the left.

How do I defend my honors thesis?

Graciously, enthusiastically, and confidently. The term defense is scary and misleading—it conjures up images of a military exercise or an athletic maneuver. An academic defense ideally shouldn’t be a combative scene but a congenial conversation about the work’s merits and weaknesses. That said, the defense probably won’t be like the average conversation that you have with your friends. You’ll be the center of attention. And you may get some challenging questions. Thus, it’s a good idea to spend some time preparing yourself. First of all, you’ll want to prepare 5-10 minutes of opening comments. Here’s a good time to preempt some criticisms by frankly acknowledging what you think your work’s greatest strengths and weaknesses are. Then you may be asked some typical questions:

• What is the main argument of your thesis?
• How does it fit in with the work of Ms. Famous Scholar?
• Have you read the work of Mr. Important Author?

NOTE: Don’t get too flustered if you haven’t! Most scholars have their favorite authors and books and may bring one or more of them up, even if the person or book is only tangentially related to the topic at hand. Should you get this question, answer honestly and simply jot down the title or the author’s name for future reference. No one expects you to have read everything that’s out there.

• Why did you choose this particular case study to explore your topic?
• If you were to expand this project in graduate school, how would you do so?

Should you get some biting criticism of your work, try not to get defensive. Yes, this is a defense, but you’ll probably only fan the flames if you lose your cool. Keep in mind that all academic work has flaws or weaknesses, and you can be sure that your professors have received criticisms of their own work. It’s part of the academic enterprise. Accept criticism graciously and learn from it. If you receive criticism that is unfair, stand up for yourself confidently, but in a good spirit. Above all, try to have fun! A defense is a rare opportunity to have eminent scholars in your field focus on YOU and your ideas and work. And the defense marks the end of a long and arduous journey. You have every right to be proud of your accomplishments!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Atchity, Kenneth. 1986. A Writer’s Time: A Guide to the Creative Process from Vision Through Revision . New York: W.W. Norton.

Barzun, Jacques, and Henry F. Graff. 2012. The Modern Researcher , 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Elbow, Peter. 1998. Writing With Power: Techniques for Mastering the Writing Process . New York: Oxford University Press.

Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. 2014. “They Say/I Say”: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing , 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.

Lamott, Anne. 1994. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life . New York: Pantheon.

Lasch, Christopher. 2002. Plain Style: A Guide to Written English. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

Turabian, Kate. 2018. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, Dissertations , 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Honors Thesis vs. Masters

As of late, I've become a less certain that pursuing a doctorate is the right choice for me. For a long time, I was planning to do just do a BA in Econ/Math with an honors thesis to signal my research ability as well as help me decide if I actually enjoy such extensive research, but recently I've been thinking of graduating with a (STEM designated) MA in econ just to be a better applicant for more jobs. However, my T20 program does not have a thesis component built into the Masters. I'm in contact with the department to see if we can arrange anything so I can have a master's thesis and still graduate in 4 years, but I'm not too optimistic. Basically, here are my options:

Graduate with a BA and an honors thesis (4 years)

Graduate with a BA and an MA (4 years)

Graduate with both BA/MA and honors thesis (4 years, but thesis/grades will likely suffer due to overloading)

Graduate with both BA/MA and honors thesis (4 and 1/2 years, but I'll only consider this if I can retain my scholarship for an extra semester)

Thoughts? I recognize I probably don't need both, but the fact that there isn't a research project for the Master's does make it a bit less appealing. Also, I should add I'm working on a research project to submit to some undergrad journals this semester, I have a research internship with a Fed branch this summer, and I am planning on doing a 2 year pre-doc post-grad if that impacts anything.

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• University of Pennsylvania
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Penn Calendar

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Philosophy politics and economics, honors theses.

PPE majors who enter their senior year with a 3.6 GPA or better in the major are eligible to pursue honors by completing an Honors Thesis.

The honors thesis represents new and novel research as undertaken by you, the thesis writer. Though the final length of the thesis may vary student to student, the average thesis is between 50-90 pages (including references, images, other editorial infrastructure like the table of contents), depending on the methods and analysis used by the thesis writer. It represents sustained and engaged research and the thesis writer’s very best in research and writing. It should be a culmination of your time not just in PPE but at the University of Pennsylvania.

Honors in the major is attained through the completion of 3 steps:

• Submission of a spiral-bound hard copy of the senior thesis to the PPE Program Office
• Receiving an A- or better in PPE 4998
• Presentation of research at the annual PPE Senior Symposium

Who should write an honors thesis?

• Students looking to graduate with honors in the major. Completion of the honors thesis is the only way to achieve honors in the major.
• Students considering graduate school (law, med, or otherwise). The thesis makes for an excellent writing sample and the successful completion of an honors thesis greatly strengthens a graduate school application.
• Students interested in being eligible for a variety of thesis prizes, whether through PPE or through the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships .
• Students interested in applying for highly competitive scholarships, fellowships, grants, and so on (e.g. Rhodes, Marshall, etc.).
• Students interested in publishing their work in scholarly journals, or interested in a career in policy, consulting, communications, writing/journalism, etc.
• Students interested in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to undertake sustained research in a subject area of their choice!

Preparing for an Honors Thesis

• Students interested in pursuing an honors thesis are strongly encouraged to enroll in a PPE capstone (PPE 4XXX) in the spring of their junior year or fall of their senior year. This capstone will introduce you to upper-level interdisciplinary work and give you the opportunity to start thinking in a sustained way about the sort of work you will want to pursue in your honors thesis.
• Students are strongly encouraged to begin working on their proposal, literature review, and research in the semester prior to enrolling in PPE 4998 Directed Honors Thesis, the official honors thesis independent study. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to design a research proposal, undertake said research, analyze resulting data, and write a thesis within the space of a semester.

What do I do with my thesis once it’s completed?

• Students may choose to submit their thesis for consideration in the Penn Journal for Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PJPPE) .
• Everyone who completes a PPE honors thesis may elect to publish it online in the PPE Honors Repository in the Penn Scholarly Commons once it's been approved by the Associate Director. You are able to self-submit your work to the collection by following these steps . Be sure to select Dissertations and Thesis as the item type and select Honors Thesis (PPE) under "Penn Collection(s)".
• PPE also awards its own prize for best thesis . The submission deadline occurs in early April.
• Students interested in submitting their thesis during the awards cycle are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to complete PPE 4998 in the Senior Fall semester. These prizes are highly competitive and students will benefit from the additional refining and polishing possible in the spring.

Process for completing an Honors Thesis

1. identify a topic or set of topics for your honors thesis., 2. secure a willing faculty member to serve as supervisor for the honors thesis..

• This could be someone who taught a class you have taken, or someone you know through some other event, club, or opportunity.
• In addition to standing faculty throughout the University, students may consider PPE Fellows as potential supervisors.
• CURF has a Research Directory with a database of Penn professors who have expressed an interest in working with students.

3. Develop an honors thesis proposal outlining your work and goals for the coming semester.

• Think of this proposal as a syllabus for your honors thesis. It should include a breakdown of what work you intend to do and when; any material you intend to read or engage with during the honors thesis (a reading list); any deliverables produced during the course of the honors thesis and when they should be completed by; and a deadline for the final product. 

4. Complete the PPE Independent Study Application Form.

• Download and complete the Independent Study Application form .
• Submit the completed form here .
• Independent study applications are due NO LATER THAN one week after the first day of the semester. Applications received after this deadline will not be approved.
• Following review by the Associate Director, you will be issued a permit for an independent study with your supervisor.

5. Present a poster at the PPE Honors Thesis Symposium

• You will need to present your work via a poster session, held at the end of April.
• Please ensure the page size in PPT is set to 36”x48” You may refer to these Penn Poster templates .
• It is expected that your advisor will also be there, at least part of the time.
• Class conflict: If you have a course conflict with the symposium, please let us know as soon as possible.

6. Submit final deliverable at the end of the semester to the PPE Program.

• We suggest this layout for your final deliverable.
• In addition to submitting your final product to your thesis supervisor, you must submit a digital and physical copy of that final product to the PPE program .
• Due: last day of the final exam period

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What are the main differences between undergraduate, master's, and doctoral theses?

When I did my undergraduate thesis, my adviser was expected big on students expecting them working really hard, so it ended up as a reduced master's thesis (most of the reviewers said that it was an overkill for a B.E).

So because of this, I did my master's thesis pretty much in the same way I did my bachelor's thesis; the PhD dissertation was a different story.

What are the principal differences between these three pieces of research?

• research-process

• Leon: I've removed the second question, "- What are the mistakes students coming from a master or undergraduate may do when preparing this publication just as an extended part of their previous research?" This really should be asked as a separate question. –  aeismail Commented Jul 3, 2014 at 21:49

2 Answers 2

In a Bachelor or Master thesis, you have to show that you are able to apply the knowledge of your field to solve a typical problem in your field.

In a PhD thesis, you have to show that you are able to extend the knowledge of your field to solve new problems.

The distinction between a Bachelor and a Master thesis may be a bit subtle. Generally I think a Master thesis should show a significantly greater level of independent working. While for a Bachelor thesis your advisor could tell you which methods to use to solve a specific problem, for a Master thesis you could be expected to choose the methods on your own, and maybe adjust existing methods to better fit the problem at hand.

These are the principle differences I see, but of course its also depending on the specific student. A good Bachelor thesis can be better and include more independent work than a bad Master thesis.

I would see the differences as follows:

Undergraduate thesis demonstrates the capacity to apply basic research skills in an area of interest to you. At this level, the focus is on gaining broad competencies (akin to an overview of what research is all about).

Masters thesis demonstrates the capacity to apply advanced research skills (i.e. move beyond basic research skills) in an area of interest to you so that you are able to incorporate some critical insights in your study. At this level, the focus is on developing critical thinking in a subject area.

PhD thesis demonstrates the capacity to apply specialised research skills (i.e. expert knowledge of a particular concept or method) in an area of interest to you so that you can make significant and original contribution to knowledge. At this level, the focus is on identifying a 'gap' in knowledge and addressing it, hence you advance knowledge in a field of study.

These are are arbitrary descriptions as there are overlaps (i.e. all levels require critical thinking); however, the three levels are distinct and require difference level of competencies.

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Honors Thesis

The Honors Thesis is an opportunity to undertake original thinking and to work closely with faculty members on advanced research topics or creative endeavors.

The Honors Thesis is a substantial study of a carefully defined question or problem that’s important to you. This problem may be critical, experimental, applied, or creative in nature.

Every Honors Thesis will take the form of a written document that demonstrates critical thinking, a mastery of disciplinary material, and the communication of complex ideas. For the Creative Portfolio, your document will be accompanied by an artifact such as a musical score, film, computer program, or invention that embodies the work done for the thesis. The completion of an Honors Thesis concludes with a final presentation.

Why do an Honors Thesis?

The Honors Thesis is a comprehensive effort of original scholarship and is the culminating experience of your Commonwealth Honors College academic journey. 

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• Earning Honors College Credits

Thesis Day December 8th, 2023  Program Schedule

Students completing the Distinguished Honors College Scholar Award or the Advanced Honors College Scholar Award are required to complete an Honors thesis.  This page provides an overview of the thesis process; students should download and review the Student Guide to Honors Theses for full details and policies.

What is a thesis?

A thesis project is an extended piece of independent student research typically completed during a student’s final year of undergraduate study. Theses draw on scholarly resources and follow the conventions of research/creative activity in their discipline. A thesis demonstrates a student’s ability to conduct research and write effectively. Students work closely with a faculty mentor to design a feasible topic and an appropriate plan for a thesis project, but the student is responsible for all aspects of the project’s planning and execution.

What is the thesis process like?

Completing a thesis is a multiple-semester process. Ideally, students will develop their thesis proposals by enrolling in HNRS 3500: Honors Thesis Proposal at least 2 semesters prior to graduation. (If this is not possible you can work with your faculty mentor to complete your proposal outside of this class.) After your thesis proposal is approved by your faculty mentor and their department chair, you submit it to the Honors College so you can be enrolled in an independent-study style course for thesis credit.

During the semester you are enrolled for thesis credit, you will meet with your faculty mentor regularly to review your progress and stay on track. At the end of the semester, you will defend your thesis at Honors College Thesis Day.

Each stage in the thesis process is reviewed in more detail below.

Find a faculty mentor.

Thesis projects must be supervised by a full-time, permanent UNT faculty member. Most students complete theses in their major and work with a faculty member in that department. Students often work with professors they have previously taken a course with. Use UNT’s Faculty Information System to find information about UNT faculty members’ research interests and try to take classes early in your undergraduate career with faculty whose research interests align with yours. You will need to identify one faculty member to serve as your primary mentor and a second to serve on your thesis committee. 

Prepare your Thesis Proposal.

The Thesis Proposal provides a roadmap for your research project. It tells your thesis committee and the Honors College what you will do for your Honors thesis project. Most students complete the proposal through HNRS 3500: Honors Thesis Proposal , though this document can also be written as an Honors contract, Mentored Research Experience, or independently (in consultation with your faculty mentor). Speak to an Honors advisor to discuss an appropriate pathway to completing a thesis proposal.

Your Thesis Proposal will include the following information:

• An abstract,
• An introduction that clearly articulates your research question/thesis statement,
• An overview of the most relevant scholarly literature that your project draws on,
• A discussion of the methods you will use to carry out your research,
• A work plan including regular meetings with your mentor and a time table for completing your thesis, and
• A preliminary list of references. 

If your research will utilize human subjects, you must request approval from the UNT Institutional Review Board before beginning your data collection. If your project requires IRB approval, you must submit a copy of your IRB application to the Honors College with your Thesis Proposal.

Complete your thesis project.

Once your Thesis Proposal is approved by the Honors College, you will be enrolled in an Honors thesis course (either HNRS 4951 or a department equivalent, e.g. BIOL 4951). The class will not have pre-assigned meeting times; you and your faculty mentor will meet according to the schedule provided in your Thesis Proposal.

There is no single correct format for a thesis. The norms of your field should guide the writing and presentation. Choose the style manual most relevant to your field of study and use it consistently. Thesis projects must use proper grammar and syntax.

Complete your project and submit it to your thesis committee by the Honors College deadline. Your committee members will review your work and identify revisions that need to be made before your thesis can be defended.

Defend your thesis.

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)
• Opportunity for questions from thesis committee members
• Opportunity for general audience questions
• Committee deliberations regarding project (everyone else leaves the room)
• Student receives feedback (Pass, Pass with revisions, or Did not pass)

Thesis resources, including important dates and faculty and student guides, can be found on the Honors College Canvas page

Jesup Scott Honors College

Honors thesis/capstone/creative achievement.

What Is Involved?

You may work on the thesis, capstone, or creative achievement for one semester or a few - usually as your undergraduate career nears its end. Some majors require you to take a specific class or a slate of them associated with the undertaking while other programs stipulate when the underlying research should be completed, all of which helps determine the project's timeframe . Every Honors student must identify a faculty mentor for the project. This faculty member should be in the department hosting your major and be a full-time employee of The University of Toledo. After identifying the mentor and that person agrees to serve in that role, you will file a proposal for the project (do so no later than by the end of the second week of classes in the semester when you are graduating, but the proposal should be filed ideally right before you begin work on the project). Ideally the proposal will be approved by your mentor, your College Honors Director , and JSHC leadership before you begin your research. It is best to first ensure your approvers won't suggest any changes to your proposed research before you spend significant time conducting it. These approvals will be secured electronically via the automated submission system - as will the approvals of the finished work when you are ready to submit that to the same place. Once your approved research is finished, you will be able to start working on the written or creative portion of the project. It is also acceptable to begin while your research is underway. Those pursuing a creative achievement will instead of writing a paper submit the work in a different medium (e.g., a video file of a movie or a recording of a theatrical or musical performance) to the same system. Submission of this document/file is due by the end of the final week of classes before exams begin in the semester when you are graduating.

What Should I Do My Research on?

Although this question is best posed to your faculty mentor (or any professor in your field) or your College Honors Director , here is some general guidance to get you started. An Honors thesis, capstone, or creative achievement should aim for the scope and depth of a graduate-level research project in your field. You have much flexibility in choosing the topic and the goals of your work, but it will ideally achieve knowledge or an outcome that is relevant to current research in your discipline or responds to the needs of a community. It should achieve something of value and meaning to you but to others as well. Do not select a project that cannot be completed in the time you have left before graduating, but also take care to choose something that can consume at least a semester's worth of focus and labor. It is also helpful to pick a topic that prepares you for your intended career or graduate school and aligns sufficiently with the research interests of an available faculty mentor.

Who Should Be My Faculty Mentor?

You ultimately get to decide! The mentor should be a full-time faculty employee at UToledo (and not a part-time / adjunct instructor or graduate student) in your major department. If you would like to have a faculty member outside of your major/degree-granting college or UToledo serve as your mentor, you must receive permission first from your College Honors Director to do so. Your mentor's research interests should align (at least somewhat) with those of the project. You might begin your search informally as soon as you start taking major classes with your faculty, getting a sense for who among them eagerly supports undergraduate research and has the time as well as bandwidth to do so. Considering how closely you will work with your mentor, you may want to take into account how the person's personality and working style would mesh with yours. It is also important to find a mentor who is readily accessible for questions and guidance. Your College Honors Director or department may be able to suggest a mentor to you if you need assistance.

Are There Requirements for Writing the Thesis/Capstone?

The length, formatting, citation style, and tone appropriate for a thesis/capstone document summarizing the assumptions, aims, methodologies, and findings of your research will be informed by the expectations of your department and degree-granting college. Beyond including a cover page at the beginning of your thesis or capstone document, the JSHC does not have any universal set of requirements applicable to the diversity of disciplines pursued by UToledo Honors students. Consult your faculty mentor, department Honors advisor (where available), and College Honors Director for guidance on these points. Even though pursuing a creative achievement will not entail producing a written document, its expectations will similarly be set by your department and degree-granting college.

What Is the Timeframe for Its Completion?

Submission of the thesis/capstone document or creative achievement to the system linked atop this page is due by the end of the final week of classes before exams begin in the semester when you are graduating. This will allow your approvers enough time to review your work. However, you can complete the project as early into your undergraduate career as you would like - barring any related restrictions imposed by your department (LINK). The proposal for the project is due no later than by the end of the second week of classes in the semester when you are graduating, though some departments require an earlier submission. Ideally, the proposal should be filed right before you begin work on the project - in whatever semester that work is to occur. You can similarly submit your proposal for approval as early as you'd like. We recommend starting your research only after the proposal is fully approved. While it is possible in many programs to complete the proposal, research, and overall project in one semester, many students will take at least two to do so. This often occurs during your last undergraduate year, but sometimes happens earlier or ultimately occupies you for more than a year. The JSHC recommends as a set of general guideposts using your freshman year to become familiar with your major and college life before beginning to consider a faculty mentor in the sophomore year. The junior year then might see selection of a mentor and the beginning of the research while the senior year is usually when you complete and submit the work.

Will I Need to Take a Course for This?

Many programs and degree-granting colleges do have a specified course (or a sequence of them) that allow you to earn Honors credits as you conduct your research or as you produce your thesis, capstone, or creative achievement. These courses are sometimes optional but are often required by your major or degree-granting college to earn the Honors medallion. To see if your program of study has any expectations in this regard and to determine which course(s) you should take and when, head HERE. The instructor of this course is often the same person as your faculty mentor - but not necessarily. Completion of this project is often built into the requirements to earn "departmental Honors" for programs that offer that recognition (which in turn is a necessary condition for earning College Honors ). However, only JSHC students set to earn College Honors should submit anything to the system linked at the top of this page.

Should I Present My Research?

A few programs require a public presentation of your research at a department symposium or through a poster display. Head HERE to see if such expectations exist for your major. Other programs may provide opportunities for sharing your research but don't mandate that you do so.

How Do I Submit the Project?

Submission of the thesis, capstone, or creative achievement happens through the online system linked on this page. The submission process will happen in two stages - the proposal phase and the finalized project phase. Both phases will be managed by the same online form. Only once the proposal is submitted and endorsed by all approvers - your faculty mentor, your College Honors Director , and JSHC leadership - will you be able to upload the finalized project as an attachment to that form. Make sure to include the appropriate cover page ( thesis or capstone ) in your file and to complete both stages by the applicable deadlines . You will be notified by e-mail when the system receives your submissions, when each approver reviews them, and when you are able to upload your finalized project. You can access or review the status of your submission at any time here . The system will automatically manage soliciting these approvals through e-mail and recording them on the form. Because of this, there is no need to submit print copies of any documents to the JSHC, to obtain physical signatures on anything, or to e-mail the Honors College an electronic copy of the project. Your degree-granting college or department, however, may still ask such things of you. Please note - your proposal and uploaded project will not be submitted until you electronically sign the form (during both phases) on its last page by typing in your name and clicking the "Sign Electronically" button.

What Do Engineering Students Submit?

All Engineering students besides those in Chemical Engineering will traditionally submit their Senior Design Project as their Honors thesis or capstone (Chemical Engineers must complete a separate Honors thesis in CHEE 4960 beyond the Senior Design Project). As such, the majority of Engineering majors to earn College Honors must submit a proposal for the Senior Design Project and the written report generated upon its conclusion using the system linked above according to the applicable deadlines . When Honors Engineering students are on Senior Design teams together, each one should submit their own proposal and final report under a separate cover page individually ( thesis or capstone ).

How Do You Submit a Creative Achievement?

Students undertaking a creative achievement instead of a traditional written thesis or capstone will submit their finished video recording, artwork, or audio recording to the same system detailed above . Please contact the Honors College at [email protected] before its final submission to coordinate the upload of your file there.

Although knowledge is valuable for its own sake, we realize its true power only when we share our insight and inspiration with others. Doing so allows us to collaborate and adequately tackle the medical, socioeconomic, artistic, and technological challenges that face us as a society. The Honors College encourages you to share the fruits of your intellectual labor by publishing your thesis, capstone, or creative achievement when possible to OhioLINK . To do so, log-on to its Electronic Theses and Dissertation Center after registering an account as a student submitter. Then, upload your project as a PDF (where possible). Before doing so, please verify that you have the approval of your faculty mentor so as to prevent the sharing of any sensitive research of theirs.

Department of Economics

Honors thesis.

• Undergraduate

Junior year is the time to start thinking about eligibility requirements, topics of interest, and potential advisors for an honors thesis.

An Honors Info Session is held each spring to answer junior’s questions about their senior year, and interested students must fill out the  honors thesis form  by the end of junior year.

We strongly encourage students to write an honors thesis. This is very valuable for students interested in graduate school or careers requiring independent research skills, as well as for students interested in tying together their academic experience with an in-depth investigation of one topic.

More than a good course paper

An honors thesis is more than a good course paper. It must represent a substantial effort in research and exposition. A thesis must be an original contribution to knowledge, beyond a simple replication exercise. The department does not specify page lengths, methods, or topics. Instead, an honors thesis candidate should establish his or her goals – and a timeline to meet those goals – in an understanding with the thesis advisor. To see the range of topics and methods prior students have pursued, take a look at  examples of past honor theses here  or by visiting the academic office in person. To find a faculty advisor who would be a good match for your topic of interest, see their research questions  here. 

Requirements

To graduate with honors, students must satisfy the following requirements  by the   end of junior year ,

• Complete at least 70% of the courses required for the concentration.
• Have earned a grade of “A” or “S with distinction” in at least 70% of grades earned in the economics concentration, or 50% in the joint concentrations in APMA-Econ, CS-Econ, and Math-Econ (excluding courses transferred to Brown without a grade, and those taken Spring 2020).
• Economics Concentrators  must find a faculty thesis advisor in the economics department.
• Joint Concentrators  must find a primary faculty thesis advisor in either economics or the partner department. CS-Econ concentrators must have a secondary reader in the other department by the fall of senior year. APMA-Econ and Math-Econ do not require a secondary reader, unless the primary advisor deems it necessary. Joint concentrators need to satisfy the honors requirements of the economics department if their thesis advisor is in the economics department; while they need to satisfy the honors requirements of the partner department if their thesis advisor is in the partner department.

During senior year , thesis writers must:

• Enroll in ECON 1960 in the fall & spring semesters (Note that 1960 does not count as a 1000-level elective for your concentration). A requirement of ECON 1960 will be attendance at one of two lab sessions each week. 
• Submit a thesis proposal to both your thesis advisor and the Undergraduate Programs Coordinator Kelsey Thorpe, [email protected]  (see below for due date).
• Submit their work in progress to their thesis advisor and Kelsey (see below for due date).
• Depending on the nature of the thesis work, the thesis adviser may require the student to successfully complete one or more courses from among the  data methods ,  mathematical economics  and/or  financial economics  course groups in the fall of senior year, if they have not already done so.
• Complete an honors thesis by the deadline agreed upon with their primary advisor and obtain the final approval of their advisor(s) (see below for due date).
• Thesis writers are encouraged, but not required, to participate in the departmental Honors Thesis Presentation session held in May, with a brief presentation of their work and findings.

For students graduating  Spring 2024 :

• Proposal - September 18, 2023
• Work in Progress - December 18, 2023
• Final Draft - April 19, 2024

For students graduating in  Fall 2024*:

• Proposal - February 2, 2024
• Work in Progress - April 25, 2024
• Final Draft - December 10, 2024

For students graduating  Spring 2025 :

• Proposal - September 16, 2024
• Work in Progress - December 16, 2024
• Final Draft - April 18, 2025

For students graduating  Fall 2025 *:

• Proposal - February 7, 2025
• Work in Progress - April 24, 2025
• Final Draft - December 9, 2025

*Note that for the Requirements listed above, "by end of senior year" means by the "end of Fall semester 2023" for Fall 2024 graduates and "end of Fall semester 2024" for Fall 2025 graduates.

More information

For students interested in finding out more, please attend the information session on honors theses that will be given in the middle of every spring semester. For students interested in undertaking research, but not wanting to pursue honors, the department offers  senior capstone options .

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards

Senior Honors Thesis

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 .

How to Apply

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.

Read past Senior Honors Thesis submissions

Review past theses in the Senior Honors Theses collection in the University of Houston Institutional Repository.

Check out outstanding thesis work

Celebrate the accomplishments of Outstanding Senior Honors Thesis Award recipients!

Expand All Collapse All

Am I eligible for the senior honors thesis?

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.

I do not have any research experience. Can I participate in the thesis program?

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.

I do not meet the GPA requirements. Can I still enroll in the thesis program?

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 .

My department registered me for the class, but I've never corresponded with OURMA. Do I still need to apply to participate in the program?

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.

My prospective thesis director is not a professor in the department of my major. Can they still be my thesis director?

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.

Will I receive credit hours for my thesis? How many?

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.

How many professors are on my thesis committee? Can I pick my Honors Reader?

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.

How long does my thesis need to be?

Please review the College-Specific Information page for details specific to your discipline.

Who is my college contact?

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.

What deadlines do I need to know?

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:

• Submitting the Verification of Eligibility by December 1 or May 15 of the semester prior to beginning the thesis.
• Submitting to OURMA the prospectus, Prospectus Approval Form signed by the first and second reader, and the Thesis Checklist , prior to the start of the semester in which the student begins the thesis coursework.
• Submitting the defense-ready thesis to the committee a minimum of two weeks prior to the defense.
• Submitting the Final Defense and Evaluation Form to OURMA following the successful defense.
• Submitting the revised and final thesis and the Final Defense and Evaluation Form to the college thesis liaison by the college-specific filing deadline.
• Submitting the final thesis to the electronic submission portal by the end of the term.

Do I have to pay for a bound copy of my thesis?

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!

Do I have to be a member of the Honors College to receive the Honors in Major designation?

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.

Who do I contact if I have a question about the thesis program?

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@bucknellu social media accounts, meet our students social media accounts, preparing and submitting a thesis.

A thesis is required for candidates for honors. Candidates in creative arts sometimes submit other works in place of a thesis. In such cases a formal exhibition is required.

Your honors thesis must follow these instructions.  For a thesis being written as a submission for publication in a scholarly work (such as a scientific journal), a prelude chapter should be provided by the student to provide the general audience some background for the scholarly work. This should allow the thesis document to follow the instructions provided on this page, as well as following the publishing requirements.

One electronic copy of your thesis must be delivered to the director of the Honors Program.

Please follow Kate Turabian's A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, Dissertations, 6th ed. , University of Chicago Press, 1996 for style unless your department stipulates otherwise. Also used are the MLA Style Sheet and APA Publication Manual. Writers of scientific papers should follow styles set down by scholarly societies in their fields.

Layout and Formatting:

Margins : Left or inside and bottom margins: 1 1/2 inches. Others: 1 inch. These measurements must be respected for graphs, charts, illustrations, etc., without exception.

Spacing of text : Double-spaced for the body of text. Triple-spaced for all headings. Single-spaced for footnotes.

Type : 10 or 12 point fonts.

Illustrations, tables, charts, graphs, etc.:

Photographs or illustrations should be scanned and added to your original document file. Contact the Technology Desk in the library if you require assistance.

Pagination:

A blank page should precede the title page . It is not numbered.

Prefatory material : Use lowercase Roman numerals. The title page should be counted as iii but not numbered. Subsequent prefatory pages will have Roman numerals in the upper right-hand corner 1/2 inch from the top and 1 inch from the right edge of the paper.

Text : Use Arabic numerals.

Use of LaTex:

For students wishing to use LaTex for their thesis LaTeX, templates and class files are available here.

Order of the Thesis

• Title Page ( see example ): The names of the adviser and the department chair must be typed below the signature.
• Acknowledgments (if any)
• Table of Contents
• List of Tables (if any)
• List of Figures (if any)
• Abstract: A 1-2 page description of the thesis project and major findings. Do not omit the abstract, as it is crucial for librarians to catalog the thesis.
• Body of thesis
• Bibliography
• Appendix (if any)

Submitting a Thesis

Once you have defended your thesis, your work will proudly appear in the Bucknell Commons. Bertrand Library's copy of the thesis is submitted electronically via Bucknell Commons. Instructions for submitting your thesis are below and also available on the library's website .

Students or departments who wish to have a bound copy of a thesis should see the L&IT Graduate and Honors Thesis Guidelines for assistance.

The final copy of your work must be approved by your adviser, co-adviser or second reader and department or program chair. In order to show that they have approved your honor thesis, you will need to attain their signatures on your title page . You should scan this signed title page and then use Adobe Acrobat (not Adobe Reader) to merge your signed title page and the honors thesis document into a final submission-ready PDF. This complete digital copy of your thesis is due by the last day of exams in the semester in which you had your thesis defense. Honors will not be awarded at graduation if your thesis has not been submitted.

You have the option of making your work available to the general public or requiring a Bucknell log-in for access; please discuss these options with your adviser. (For example, if your thesis contains proprietary information or you plan to publish your work, you may wish to restrict access). A copy of your honors thesis must reside on Bucknell Digital Commons and with your adviser(s). The student is responsible for uploading their thesis to the Digital Commons.

You will need to create an account on Digital Commons and then upload your Honor Thesis to Digital Commons .

Enter data in the following fields:

• Title : Use headline capitalization. The title field supports the Unicode standard and HTML. The title should be entered exactly as it appears in the manuscript of your honors thesis.
• Author : Author information is pre-populated with email, name and affiliated institution. Select the green button to add additional authors.
• Date of submission : Select the semester of your defense, fall or spring semester, and the calendar year associated with your defense.
• Thesis type : Select either open access (honors thesis) or restricted access (honors thesis Bucknell access only).
• Degree Type
• Department : This should be your major where this thesis was approved for honors. Do not select a second major.
• Adviser Names : Check with your adviser(s) for their preferred appearance of their name (typically full first name, then initials, then full last name and suffix preferred).
• Keywords or phrases : Enter up to six, separated by commas. Check with your adviser(s) for their thoughts on these keywords.
• Subject categories : Select up to three.
• Abstract : Copy and paste your abstract into the rich text editor.
• Comments : This field may be used to link to an external related resource (related video, website, digital collection, etc.)
• Full text : Upload the digital file and any supplemental files (datasets, video files, audio files, image files, etc.)

Once your submission is complete, your honors thesis adviser will receive and email and will need to complete the submission by approving your submission as the final thesis.

Thesis Submission Process

Contact details, honors council.

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THESIS DOCUMENTS (SYLLABUS, DEFENSE FORMS, ETC.)

Advanced Readings & Research (HON 3100 & 3101)

Please see the description of the Advanced Readings courses, during which students work with faculty mentors to lay the groundwork for their thesis projects .

Honors Thesis (HON 4V87)

Development of the thesis continues in a sequence of courses totaling four credit hours.  HON 4V87, Honors Thesis, is usually taken during the final two semesters.  As a variable hour class, student must register for the class and total number of credit hours, usually two hours each term.  In HON 4V87, students are expected to draft substantial sections of the thesis essay, often around half the thesis during each semester. The first section of the essay is quite often a review of the relevant literature, explored in the Readings courses, that places the thesis in the context of current scholarship. Subsequent sections then proceed to analyze primary sources, data, or laboratory results. At the conclusion of the project, the completed thesis is presented by the student and evaluated by a committee of at least three professors in a one-hour oral defense.

The Honors Program provides a set of specific guidelines and recommended procedures for every phase of the thesis project, but each thesis director may opt to modify the requirements of any thesis course at her or his discretion and evaluate the student's progress accordingly.

Honors Exit Review (HON 4088)

In the final semester before graduation, all Honors Program students should complete HON 4088, the Honors Exit Review. This serves primarily as an administrative check to ensure that all program requirements are fulfilled for a student to be certified as a graduate of the Honors Program. Please see the course syllabus .

Thesis Abstracts

Here is a collection of recent thesis abstracts indicative of the kinds of research and creative work pursued by Honors Program students as part of the thesis project. Browse through this list if you are curious about the kind of project that you might undertake.

Formatting the Thesis Project

Visit the Thesis Formatting Guidelines page  for detailed formatting instructions. This page includes information on the thesis project, how to format the final document to Honors Program specifications, submitting the final copy, and (if desired) ordering professionally bound copies for your own use.

Questions should be addressed to  Dr. Al Beck , Assistant Director of the Honors Program, or  Ms. Mary Ziehe , Honors Program Advisor.

Oral Defense

At your defense, your thesis mentor will need a copy of the  Oral Defense Form  (also known as the thesis defense signature page).  It is your responsibility to provide this form and the  Guidelines for the Oral Defense  (see below) to your thesis advisor prior to the defense.  (It is also a good idea to bring a copy of the Oral Defense Form with you to your defense in case the original form is lost, misplaced, or forgotten.)

Submitting the Final Thesis to BEARdocs

The final steps of the thesis involve submitting an electronic copy of the defended and revised thesis to the Honors Program. View our submission page to learn more. 

Library Resources

A list of library personnel who can direct you to pertinent sources of information in the library or online. Also, if you are having troubling creating a thesis defense committee, these faculty members can sometimes serve as a third reader on your committee.

Scheduling Calculator

Need help scheduling the thesis project? Do you find yourself always playing catch-up with various thesis deadlines? This  Scheduling Calculator  from the Baylor University Libraries will help you develop a timeline for writing each chapter, or for any other writing assignment that you might have. The calculator works best if you use the calculator to develop a schedule  for each chapter or section  rather than for the entire thesis. 

Other Important Documents

This  page  contains additional information regarding the thesis project.  Of particular interest are links  to the syllabus for thesis hours, HON 4V87, as well as guidelines for the oral defense and submission of the final copy of the thesis. 

Video: Thesis Orientation Meeting, 1-25-2021

Honors program.

• Honors College

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Honors vs. Masters

What's the difference.

Honors and Masters are both academic distinctions that recognize a higher level of achievement and expertise in a particular field of study. Honors is typically awarded to undergraduate students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, often by maintaining a high GPA and completing an independent research project or thesis. On the other hand, a Masters degree is a postgraduate qualification that requires the completion of a specific program of study, usually involving coursework, research, and a final thesis or project. While Honors is a recognition within the undergraduate level, a Masters degree signifies a higher level of specialization and advanced knowledge in a particular subject area.

Further Detail

Introduction.

When it comes to pursuing higher education, many students consider the options of Honors and Masters programs. Both of these academic paths offer unique opportunities for personal and professional growth. However, it is essential to understand the differences between the two to make an informed decision. In this article, we will compare the attributes of Honors and Masters programs, exploring their curriculum, duration, admission requirements, and potential career outcomes.

One of the primary distinctions between Honors and Masters programs lies in their curriculum. Honors programs are typically designed for undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional academic abilities. These programs often provide a more rigorous and specialized curriculum compared to regular undergraduate degrees. Honors students may have access to advanced courses, research opportunities, and specialized seminars. On the other hand, Masters programs are graduate-level degrees that delve deeper into a specific field of study. They offer a comprehensive curriculum that combines advanced coursework, research, and sometimes a thesis or capstone project.

The duration of Honors and Masters programs also differs significantly. Honors programs are usually completed within the standard four-year undergraduate degree timeframe. Students may enter the Honors program at the beginning of their undergraduate studies or apply for admission after completing a certain number of credits. In contrast, Masters programs typically require one to two years of full-time study beyond the completion of a bachelor's degree. The duration may vary depending on the field of study, program requirements, and whether the student is enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for Honors and Masters programs vary to reflect the different academic levels. Honors programs often have stringent admission criteria, including a high GPA, standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Some programs may also require an interview or portfolio submission. Masters programs, on the other hand, require a completed bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Additionally, applicants may need to submit their undergraduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and sometimes GRE or GMAT scores. The specific requirements may vary depending on the field of study and the institution offering the program.

Career Outcomes

Both Honors and Masters programs can have a significant impact on career outcomes. Honors programs provide undergraduate students with a competitive edge in the job market. The specialized curriculum, research experience, and close interaction with faculty can enhance critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. Honors graduates often have an advantage when applying for entry-level positions or internships. Masters programs, on the other hand, are designed to provide advanced knowledge and expertise in a specific field. They can open doors to higher-level positions, leadership roles, and increased earning potential. Many professions, such as engineering, business, and healthcare, often require a Masters degree for career advancement.

In conclusion, Honors and Masters programs offer distinct academic paths for students seeking to further their education. Honors programs provide undergraduate students with a more rigorous and specialized curriculum, typically completed within the standard four-year timeframe. On the other hand, Masters programs are graduate-level degrees that require one to two years of full-time study beyond a bachelor's degree. Admission requirements for both programs differ, with Honors programs often having more stringent criteria. Career outcomes also vary, with Honors programs providing a competitive edge in the job market, while Masters programs offer advanced knowledge and expertise for higher-level positions. Ultimately, the choice between Honors and Masters depends on individual goals, academic interests, and career aspirations.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

Honors thesis guidelines: Introduction

Introduction.

• Why write an honors thesis?
• How to begin
• Signature page
• Acknowledgements
• Table of contents
• List of tables or figures
• Literature review
• Methodology
• References/Works cited
• How to submit thesis

The purpose of this LibGuide is to provide guidelines for preparing and submitting your honors thesis through the Centennial Honors College at Western Illinois University . This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the guidelines provided by your academic department. The length and scope of honors theses vary by discipline, but they share some common characteristics:

An honors thesis is  your original research , not a summary of research that has been already published. AI use in an honors thesis is discouraged. However, any usage of an AI tool must be explicitly approved by your thesis advisor, and you must publish the entire input and response used in an appendix (as screenshots). The entire thesis must comply with the  University's Academic Integrity Policy .

An honors thesis is a culmination of your undergraduate study at WIU. It goes beyond any project or paper done for a course, but it may expand upon a term paper written for a course.

An honors thesis has an audience that is wider than that of an assignment written for a class. In writing an honors thesis, you are contributing to the body of knowledge in your discipline.

An honors thesis is a substantial written manuscript of at least 20 double-spaced pages, but the length often is considerably longer. In some disciplines, the length might be shorter. If your thesis is shorter than 20 pages, you should obtain explicit approval by the chair of your department/school. The appropriate length often mirrors the length of a typical journal article in the discipline. 

An honors thesis demonstrates substantial knowledge of a topic, as evidenced by a range of authoritative and appropriate sources in the works cited/references list.

An honors thesis showcases your very best academic work.

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• Last Updated: Jul 26, 2024 3:52 PM
• URL: https://wiu.libguides.com/c.php?g=1412226

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Psychology Thesis Award Recognizes Postpartum Depression Research

VILLANOVA, Pa. – The Villanova University Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is pleased to announce Kerry Buckhaults '23 MS as this year's Ingeborg L. and O. Byron Ward Outstanding Thesis Award winner. This award honors one Psychology master's student each year for a particularly excellent thesis and thesis project. The criteria for nomination and selection of the winner are:

• Quality, creativity and scientific merit of the thesis project
• Scope of student contribution to the project
• Quality of the written product
• Quality of the thesis seminar presentation

Buckhaults conducted her thesis project, "Examining Estrogen Withdrawal Following Hormone-Simulated Pregnancy as a Model of Postpartum Depression and Anxiety in C57BL/6 Mice," under the direction of Benjamin Sachs, PhD.

"Kerry was a phenomenal student and graduate assistant. Her thesis was one of the most work-intensive and technically challenging of any student I’ve supervised," said Dr. Sachs. "Her project utilized mouse models to determine whether the hormonal alterations that occur during pregnancy are sufficient to induce behavioral changes consistent with postpartum depression. This type of research has the potential to explain the biological contributions to mental illness during the postpartum period, which might eventually help identify new treatment approaches for vulnerable individuals. Her study required her to learn surgical and drug-administration techniques that could simulate the hormone fluctuations that occur throughout pregnancy and after childbirth. Following these 'hormone-simulated pregnancies,' she looked for changes in behavior using several behavioral tests. Kerry’s results suggest that exposure to pregnancy-like hormone levels can increase anxiety-like behavior in mice, but the sharp decline in hormone levels that occur following childbirth did not appear to induce depression-like behavior. Her work, along with some molecular analyses performed by a subsequent graduate student in the lab, Ben Swack, was published in Physiology & Behavior last year. 

Buckhaults is a first-year PhD student in Neuroscience at Thomas Jefferson University.

About Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Since its founding in 1842, Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the heart of the Villanova learning experience, offering foundational courses for undergraduate students in every college of the University. Serving more than 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students, the College is committed to fortifying them with intellectual rigor, multidisciplinary knowledge, moral courage and a global perspective. The College has more than 40 academic departments and programs across the humanities, social sciences, and natural and physical sciences.

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J.D. Vance went to Yale Law School. Here's what to know about his time there.

Sen. J.D. Vance is former President Donald Trump's vice presidential pick for the 2024 election, as Trump announced on Truth Social on Monday, the same day the Republican National Convention kicked off.

Trump passed over established GOP politicians like Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota for the relatively young Senate newcomer, 39-year-old Vance.

While he is the junior senator from Ohio now, Vance graduated from Yale Law School in New Haven, Connecticut. Here's a little more about his time there.

When did J.D. Vance go to Yale?

Vance attended Yale Law School from 2010 to 2013 after graduating from Ohio State University with a degree in political science and philosophy.

He would go on to write and publish the best-selling memoir  "Hillbilly Elegy"  in 2016, later becoming the junior senator of the state of Ohio, where he grew up.

Did J.D. Vance mention Yale in Hillbilly Elegy?

Yes, a large part of his memoir is about his time at Yale Law.

According to Vance, he received a generous financial aid package to the prestigious law school due to his disadvantaged economic background.

Vance wrote in his memoir that he did appreciate his education at Yale Law and the people he met there. However, he said he felt the class disparity between him and the others at the school, explaining that many students came from middle class upbringings, whereas he came from a poor family with a parent struggling with substance use.

What did J.D. Vance do while at Yale Law School?

Vance met his wife Usha Chilukuri during their time at Yale Law and later got married in 2014.

According to his memoir, Vance became an editor of the Yale Law Journal , an accolade achieved by former Secretary of Labor  Robert Reich , former National Security Advisor John Bolton and other notable individuals.

Vance had author, corporate lawyer and John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law Amy Chau as one of his law professors. She would give him some sage advice regarding clerkships and career opportunities.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at [email protected]