How to Choose a Topic
What inspires you? What troubles you? What makes you curious?
What do you love to think about?
What do you want to know?
What paper did you most enjoy writing?
What project would you love to design?
What piece of prior work do you want to develop further?
The Honors Program accepts three different types of thesis projects.
Conventional Research Paper
A conventional research thesis builds on existing scholarly research while making an original contribution to an academic conversation. Students begin by identifying a significant research question and conducting a thorough review of relevant scholarly sources. They then analyze, interpret, evaluate, or synthesize that research to develop their own argument.
An Honors Thesis differs from a typical course paper in its rigor, scope, complexity, and depth. Rather than simply summarizing existing scholarship or compiling a literature review, students are expected to engage critically with sources and produce a sustained, well-supported argument that advances understanding of the topic in some meaningful way.
A conventional research thesis may take different forms depending on the discipline. In the humanities and social sciences, it often consists of an extended analytical paper based on scholarly research. In mathematics, the natural sciences, or related fields, the thesis may involve original research, data collection and analysis, experimentation, modeling, or other forms of scholarly investigation. Regardless of discipline, the completed thesis should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, independent thinking, mastery of relevant scholarship, and the student’s ability to contribute thoughtfully to a field of study. (20-40 pages, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font)
Creative Project
Creative theses consists of two components:
- An original creative project.
- A written research component that explains the project’s scholarly foundation and the ways in which the research informed the creative work.
Students pursuing a creative project will produce a substantial original creative work, such as a collection of short stories, a novella or novel, a work of visual art, a musical composition, a film, a game, a performance, or another approved creative project. Because an Honors thesis is grounded in scholarly inquiry, all creative projects must include a significant research component.
The research phase must be completed before substantial work begins on the creative project. Students should conduct research that provides the intellectual, historical, theoretical, technical, cultural, or disciplinary foundation for their creative work. Depending on the nature of the project, this research may include scholarly articles, books, archival materials, interviews, artistic precedents, or other appropriate sources.
The purpose of the research is not merely to accompany the creative work but to inform and shape the creative process. Students should be able to demonstrate how their research influenced creative decisions, including the project’s themes, design, structure, methodology, aesthetics, mechanics, or execution.
In addition to the creative artifact itself, students must submit a written research essay or critical reflection that documents the research process, synthesizes relevant sources, and explains how the research informed the development of the final creative project. The written component should demonstrate the student’s ability to engage critically with existing scholarship and to connect that scholarship meaningfully to their creative practice.
Both components will be evaluated as essential parts of the thesis. (artistic work + 10 pages, double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font)
NOTE: Students may not use creative work for which they are already receiving credit toward their degree. For example, music performance majors may not use their senior recital, since this is a credit-bearing component of their performance degree. A film that is created for a Film and Television course cannot also serve as a thesis project. The creative thesis option is for original work created specifically for the Honors Thesis.
Applied Project
An applied project is an action-oriented thesis that uses scholarly research to address a real-world problem. Rather than focusing primarily on theoretical analysis, this type of thesis culminates in the development of a practical product, proposal, plan, or intervention designed to produce meaningful change in a particular context.
Examples of applied projects include policy proposals, advocacy or public-awareness campaigns, curriculum designs, program assessments, strategic plans, community initiatives, training programs, or other evidence-based solutions. Students begin by identifying a specific problem or issue and conducting research to understand its causes, significance, and existing approaches. They then use that research to design and justify a proposed solution.
The final thesis must demonstrate that the project is grounded in relevant scholarship and informed by disciplinary knowledge. Students should explain the context of the problem, review and analyze relevant research, and provide a clear rationale for the proposed action. The practical component of the project must be accompanied by a substantial written essay that discusses the project’s development, theoretical foundations, implementation considerations, and potential impact. Appropriate scholarly sources must be incorporated throughout.
Like other Honors thesis options, an applied project should demonstrate intellectual rigor, independent inquiry, and the student’s ability to connect academic research with real-world applications. The completed thesis, including any supplemental written components, is typically equivalent to 20–40 pages of scholarly work.
NOTE: For any of these thesis types, a project from a previous course may provide inspiration for the thesis or serve as a springboard to develop your scholarly and creative endeavors. However, the thesis is required to be an original and unique project created specifically for the Honors Thesis. Students may not submit a project created for another class or paper from a major capstone course. If the thesis draws on material submitted for another course, it must be thoroughly and substantially revised.