To submit a proposal for a Senior Thesis in the College of Arts & Sciences, you must have earned at least 90 credit hours, with a cumulative overall GPA of 3.5 (or higher).

Senior thesis projects are meant for completion over the course of the final year of students' undergraduate studies, whether that is a fourth year, third year if graduating early, etc. Thesis timelines can accommodate summer and December graduations.

Once completing the thesis process, if you have maintained a final cumulative overall GPA of 3.5 or higher, you will graduate from the College of Arts & Sciences with Highest Distinction.

Pursuing a Senior Thesis will allow you to conduct an independent undergraduate research project about a subject of particular interest to you. With the help of a supervising faculty mentor, this process can lead to a number of benefits:

• Eligibility for graduating With Highest Distinction from the College of Arts & Sciences
• One-to-one interactions with faculty mentors
• Excellent preparation for graduate and professional schools (research skills, writing skills, oral defense process)
• Excellent preparation for careers in research
• Opportunity to publish your finished work in ThinkIR to contribute to the body of work in your topic field
• Present your original findings at conferences
• Strengthen graduate/professional school application or portfolio
• Provide an excellent writing sample for future employers
• For students in the University Honors Program, it can contribute to University Honors Scholars

Completing a Senior Thesis involves several key steps:

1. Connect with departmental contacts to identify a faculty mentor
2. Submit a thesis initiation form
3. Develop and submit a thesis proposal
4. Conduct your research with faculty guidance
5. Form a thesis committee
6. Schedule and complete your oral defense
7. Submit your final thesis

View Detailed Process Guide