Honors Thesis

Every Honors student's academic career culminates in an Honors thesis. The Honors thesis should be an outgrowth of the student’s academic work, rooted in their chosen discipline, in most cases in the student’s major or minor. The Honors thesis offers an opportunity - along with the responsibility - for a student to work with a faculty member on a research or creative project that integrates and expands on previous work. The Honors thesis will incorporate relevant, current research/previous work and demonstrate experience with design, execution, analysis, and presentation. 

A major goal of an Honors thesis is for the student to demonstrate a command of the relevant research/discipline/creative area and to document their own personal contributions to the area in a discipline appropriate manner. Typically, the product/output of the Honors thesis is a written report and a public presentation, where the length and level of detail will vary depending on the discipline. While specifics will vary based on the discipline, both a written artifact and presentation are required for an Honors thesis. 

The Honors Thesis Proposal Worksheet (linked below) can be used as a guide ahead of submitting the proposal in the online portal. Please note that more information is required for a proposal for HON 491 than for a major or minor course, since the proposal will also serve as a learning contract between the student and faculty. 

The thesis process is detailed in the Lewis Honors College Canvas shell. Students can also find examples of previous Honors theses in the UKnowledge database. Students should consult with their Honors advisor for specific questions or assistance.