The Honors Thesis will be one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences you’ll have as an Honors student. It might feel daunting at first, but Commonwealth Honors College offers a number of ways to help you succeed, including how-to workshops, advising support, a dedicated faculty writing coach, and faculty mentoring.
Honors Thesis Workshops
This series of workshops will give you an excellent overview of what to expect and how to prepare for the Honors Thesis, from the development of an idea through submission of the final paperwork.
Thesis workshops generally occur the last Tuesday of each month during the school year. Click through to the Events page to find details about upcoming sessions.
The workshops cover a range of topics:
Timeline for completing an Honors Thesis
Scope of the Honors Thesis
Difference between a Thesis Seminar and an Individually Contracted Honors Thesis
Creating a committee for an Individually Contracted Honors Thesis
Choosing a Thesis Seminar
How to approach an Honors Thesis
- In social and behavioral sciences
- In a STEM field
- In the arts and humanities
Developing an Honors Thesis concept and proposal
Research resources
Time management skills
CHC Writing Coach
Writing is a central part of the Honors College experience, and the CHC Writing Coach is a great resource for help with your written assignments and your Honors thesis.
The Writing Coach offers a range of services:
Timeline for completing an Honors Thesis
Brainstorming and developing your ideas
Setting writing goals
Developing a writing schedule to meet your deadlines
Working through writer’s block
Narrowing or broadening the scope of your writing project
Feedback on the argument, flow, and content of your writing
Strengthening your thesis statement
Editing and revising drafts
Timeline for completing an Honors Thesis
Learning and implementing a particular citation style
Strategies for framing challenging topics and themes
Strategies for identifying relevant and appropriate sources
Reviewing the CHC proposal and thesis requirements
Formatting your proposal and thesis to meet the CHC requirements
Writing an abstract to share your research at a conference or in a journal
Reworking your writing into a presentation for a class, conference, or other form of presentation
Research Guide
Research is the hallmark of the Honors College student. Through research, you will gain meaningful skills and experiences that have the potential to advance your future graduate school or career aspirations.
How-To Guides
Each Honors Thesis receives a grade and is preserved in the University Archives.
All Honors Thesis work must be documented according to specific guidelines.
Research Funding Opportunities
You can apply for the Commonwealth Honors College Research Grants and Research Assistant Fellowships as early as your first year.
Honors Advisors
One of the advantages of being an Honors College student is our highly individualized advising. Your Honors Advisor is a great resource for planning for your thesis and to help you charting your academic journey.
Department Honors Program Directors
Each department has an Honors Program Director who approves, advises, and assists students pursuing the Departmental Honors thesis track. The Honors Program Director also reviews and approves applications for Departmental Honors and for Departmental Independent Study Honors courses.
