For May 2025 graduates, approved theses are due by May 2, 2025, in Quest.
For August 2025 graduates, approved theses are due by August 31, 2025, in Quest.
For December 2025 graduates, approved theses are due by December 5, 2025, in Quest.
For December 2024 graduates, approved theses are due by December 6, 2024 in Quest.

Your Honors thesis represents the culmination of your Honors academic career. When you are finished, you will have produced something that is a unique contribution to your field. While you will work with multiple people who will support your efforts, your thesis is your own. For many students, the thesis is the first time they have attempted a project of this scale, so it should be viewed as a learning experience—no one starts out knowing how to do a thesis!

Depending on your major and your academic and professional plans, your thesis may consist of a traditional research project, piece of scholarship, or a creative product. The exact requirements (such as format or page length) are set by major departments and Honors advisors, and your thesis must include some written document that will be submitted to the Honors Program via the Quest system and must be approved by the thesis supervisor and Honors advisor.

Required thesis submission – All graduating Honors students are required to submit the final version of your Honors thesis/project, after all updates have been made, in the Quest system for approval from your thesis supervisor and Honors advisor.  Please allow time for approval of your thesis supervisor and Honors advisor by the deadline above based on your graduation date.

Other requirements

Graduation as an Honors Scholar requires at least 3 Honors credits toward your thesis. These credits may be through independent study or some other course in your major; you and your Honors advisor will designate your thesis credits on your Honors Scholar Preliminary and Final Plans of Study. Some departments require more than 3 thesis credits, typically in the form of a two-semester sequence. Check with your major Honors advisor on your thesis requirements.

You will designate a thesis supervisor to mentor you through your project. This information, along with your thesis title and abstract, will be included in your Honors Thesis Plan by your final semester, but you should establish this relationship much further in advance.

Thesis support

If you have questions about the thesis process, talk with your Honors advisor—they will have the most accurate information for your major. You can also contact Dr. Jaclyn Chancey, Enrichment Programs Director for Curriculum, Assessment, and Planning.