SEARCHING FOR IDEAS

There are many ways to develop a thesis topic. Along with mining your interests, you can look at what else has been done. The Robert D. Clark Library houses hard copies of all honors college theses. (You may Search the Collection for a list of thesis titles from past years.) Your Primary Thesis Advisor can also help you sort through ideas, though you should try to narrow your topic a bit before seeking an advisor.

Another way to get help thinking about and/or designing your thesis is to attend a Thesis Orientation workshop. This one-credit class is held on a Saturday, early in the term. Also, the Honors College sometimes holds Thesis Question and Answer Sessions. Watch the main page of the Honors College website for times.

The challenge is keeping the scope limited enough to be practical. You could consider limitation by time period, geography, works studied, dominant theme, formula, author, or other range limit. As your project develops, the focus may change to encompass more or less of the field.

WORKING WITHIN YOUR MAJOR

Most students choose a topic within their major. In fact, only in rare cases, and only by petition approved by the CHC director, may a student write a thesis outside the major. Students with two or more majors may choose an interdisciplinary topic that integrates material from their majors.

Many departments grant credit for thesis work and count it toward fulfilling major requirements. In some cases, the thesis is the central requirement for departmental honors. Check with your department.

CREATIVE AND PERFORMANCE THESES

Students writing creative and performance theses must have taken coursework in the genre and must have a Primary Thesis Advisor who is a practitioner in the field; for example, if you propose to write an epic poem you must have taken creative writing courses, including poetry writing, and must have a Primary Thesis Advisor who teaches creative writing.

The thesis sometimes takes the form of a performance project, such as an exhibit, a recital, or a play, but in all cases students produce a text of some length. Texts range widely in length, but should be from 20-40 pages.