Honors in Science, Technology and Society

Graduating with honors requires writing senior thesis. This is a major research project in the form of a scholarly paper 50-80 pages in length. The process (see below) of writing a thesis begins in the spring of junior year by taking STSC 420, continues through the summer with research and writing, and is completed at the end of the fall term. Students who complete the written thesis are required to give a presentation about their thesis at the Senior Symposium in April, held on the first day of reading period.

The term "honors" can be misleading. Many students seem to think that if they have done well in the major so far, they should do a senior thesis. However, a senior thesis is different than taking an advanced class. It involves a commitment of an entirely magnitude for almost a year. It demands mentorship and advance planning far in excess of anything required by other research projects. Most importantly, it requires an investment and commitment in the topic that can sustain the student through months of research, writing, and frustration as well as satisfaction. Almost every year we see one or more students who begin the thesis but are unable, for various reasons, to complete it. Some of our most outstanding and accomplished students don't graduate with honors. For various reasons each of these students choose not to write a thesis. On the other hand, some majors who write excellent honors theses don't have the highest GPAs in the major. Writing a thesis is not for everybody, and it isn't necessary for being successful in the major.

Who should do a senior thesis? After many years of supervising honors theses--successful and, well, not quite so successful--our advice would be something along these lines: you don't choose a thesis, a thesis chooses you. If there is a project or a topic that you have been thinking about already, and can't shake--something that has grabbed hold of you and won't let go--and you have (or will have) a solid advising structure in place, go for it. We will support you 100%.

However, if you think you'd like to graduate with honors, but don't have a clear idea of a topic or project to which you are fully committed, you might want to think twice about pursuing a thesis. Topics that come together late, with a late or incomplete support structure, tend to result in theses that are very difficult to complete in a satisfactory manner, even with help from the advisor.

The Senior Thesis Process

1) Fall Term of Junior Year
*Formulating a general idea and identifying potential thesis advisors and talking to them
*Meeting the requirements of GPA and submitting an application to enroll in STSC 420.
*Registering for STSC 420

2) Spring Term of Junior Year
*taking STSC 420 and focusing the project

3) May/June
*Submitting an application and project proposal
*Getting permission from the instructor of STSC 420 to move on to the next step

4) Summer
*Researching existing literature and new material
*Obtaining IRB approval for any research with human subjects

5) Fall Term of Senior Year
*Registering for STSC 498
*Establishing a schedule for completion by end of fall term with advisor (Sept)
*Submitting form of intent to complete thesis (Sept)
*Writing the thesis itself (50-80 pages) (Fall of senior year)
*Completing the thesis (December of senior year)

6) April of Senior Year
*Attending the full day of Senior Symposium (on the first day of Spring reading period) and presenting your work to your advisor and peers.

Requirements

*The first semester of the thesis, STSC 420, fulfills the Capstone requirement.*

Application for 420 (Dec)

Senior Thesis Application (MAY)

Confirmation of Intent to Write a Senior Thesis (Sept)