That’s not really a question. It’s also completely OK and even expected. No one knows how to write a thesis when they start!

That’s still not a question.While it’s helpful to start on your thesis early—some people start research as early as their second year—it is not always necessary. The most important thing you can do is talk with your Honors advisor (and your thesis supervisor if you already have one) to make a plan. Remember that there are a lot of differences between majors. Don’t be concerned if, for example, you are in political science and feel behind compared to your friends in biology.

The official due date for your thesis is the final day of the semester in which you will be graduating. If you need any extension beyond this date, you must first get the approval of your thesis supervisor and your Honors advisor.

• Two-week extensions only require the approval of your thesis supervisor and your Honors advisor. You do not need to notify the Honors Program.
• If you, your thesis supervisor, and your Honors advisor agree to an extension beyond two weeks, email honors@uconn.edu to learn your options. Extensions beyond a certain point will result in postponement of your degree conferral.

If you have any questions about submitting your thesis and graduating as an Honors Scholar, email honors@uconn.edu.

One of the goals of UConn Honors is for students to move from consumers of knowledge to producers. Your thesis is your opportunity to contribute something unique to your field.Along the way, you will learn knowledge and skills related to your field and thesis topic, far beyond what is normally included in classes. You also learn how to manage a large independent project; multiple people are involved, but you own the process. All of this adds value to your undergraduate experience, which translates to a stronger resume, graduate or professional school application, portfolio, or interview.Your thesis also gives you the opportunity to cultivate a mentoring relationship with a faculty in your field. This person’s guidance will be valuable in many ways, beyond simply completing your thesis, and you will gain experience in seeking out and maintaining professional relationships.Past Honors Scholars have talked about the feeling of accomplishment when they completed their theses. Before you start, the task may look overwhelming, but you can do it—and it will feel great!

Beyond having a printed document to turn in to the Honors Office, there are no standard requirements for your thesis. Your department may have requirements or expectations for format and length. Talk to your Honors advisor (not just your thesis supervisor).

Many Honors Scholars have more than one undergraduate major. Most of them only pursue Honors in one of them. If you decide to complete Honors in more than one major, you will usually need to write a separate thesis for each of them. However, in some cases, all of your Honors advisors may agree to accept a single thesis as meeting their departments’ requirements. More information about how multiple majors affects your coursework selection, plans of study, and thesis.

There are several opportunities through UConn’s Office of Undergraduate Research as well as external programs that may fund undergraduate research. Your department or school/college may also provide some funding support. Students who received a Presidential Scholarship when they were admitted to UConn may also use their enrichment award to support thesis research.

Each department grants thesis credit in different ways. Speak with your Honors advisor and look at the courses offered for your major. Some majors have a dedicated senior thesis or Honors thesis course, which may or may not carry the W designation. This is usually your final thesis course, but you may also need independent study or research coursework in one or more previous semesters. In all cases, make sure you are receiving Honors credit for at least 3 credits of your thesis work, or as many as you intend to count on your Honors final plan of study. If the course is not listed for Honors credit when you register, file a conversion.

It depends. Many Honors advisors will allow a student to complete their thesis under the guidance of a supervisor in a different department as long as the research is sufficiently related to the major. However, some departments have policies limiting thesis supervision to their own faculty. Talk to your Honors advisor.

We get a lot of requests to survey Honors students. If part of your research question involves Honors, we will help distribute your survey. In other words, are you specifically interested in some aspect of the Honors experience or Honors students, or are you trying to compare Honors and non-Honors student responses? If Honors is not part of your research question, we will not forward survey links to Honors students. This keeps everyone’s email from being bombarded with surveys.

If you think that your survey should be sent to some or all Honors students, email Dr. Chancey to discuss. We recommend doing this before completing your IRB protocol.

There are other ways to distribute your survey, including the UConn Daily Digest and your and your friends’ social media profiles. The #1 way we have found to increase your response rate? Include your incentive in the subject line, not the topic of your research!

• Your thesis supervisor can assist with your research and writing process, including your thesis subject matter.
• Your Honors advisor can answer questions about graduating with Honors in your major, including thesis formatting and coursework.
• The Honors Program staff can provide general support and assistance with the thesis process and answer questions about deadlines and submitting your thesis.
• Other campus resources include:
  • UConn Library: Honors Toolbox links to useful resources
  • Research Carrels: Dedicated space at Homer Babbidge Library (Honors and/or University Scholars are the only undergraduates eligible for carrels!)
  • Writing Center: Guidance with the organization and writing of your thesis
  • Statistical Consulting Services: Assistance with research design, statistical analysis, and interpretation