Timeline for Individually Contracted Honors Thesis

This timeline provides a handy overview of basic deadlines and expectations for the completion of the Individually Contracted Thesis. Keep in mind that your Thesis Committee may customize the timeline and/or you may start or complete your thesis on a different schedule.    

499Y Semester Plan   

Anytime 

  • Initiate conversations with faculty regarding potential Honors Thesis topics.  
  • Attend the Honors Thesis workshops, preferably starting in the first semester of junior year.  

April of Junior Year 

  • Recruit a faculty sponsor for the Thesis Committee, 
  • Discuss your 499Y Semester Plan Proposal with faculty (Honors Thesis Part 1), which addresses: 
    • Statement regarding the goal of the Research Manuscript or Creative Portfolio 
    • Key readings 
    • Communication with committee 
    • Specialized training 
    • Methodology, Approach or Process
    • Timeline  
  • Submit your 499Y Semester Plan Proposal using the online Honors Thesis Proposal Contract Course process via CHC Paths. (See the PATHS landing page for deadlines.) 
  • Get detailed instructions on creating and submitting the 499Y Semester Plan Proposal. 

September - December of Senior Year 

  • Conduct 499Y Semester Plan Proposal work. 
  • Initiate the research or creative endeavor as appropriate.  

499T/P Honors Thesis Proposal 

November - December of Senior Year  

  • Thesis Committee evaluates 499Y Semester Plan Proposal work and determines if student may proceed with the 499T/P Honors Thesis Proposal (Honors Thesis Part 2). 
  • Discuss and draft 499T/P Honors Thesis Proposal, which addresses: 
  • Introduction 
  • Literature review 
  • Methodology, Approach or Process 
  • Evaluation 
  • Communication with committee 
  • Timeline 
  • Recruit second Committee Member 
  • Submit your 499T/P Honors Thesis Proposal using the online Honors Thesis Proposal Contract Course process via CHC Paths. (See the PATHS landing page for deadlines.) 
  • Get detailed instructions on submitting the 499T/P Honors Thesis Proposal. 

January - March of Senior Year 

  • Continue 499T/P Honors Thesis Proposal Research Manuscript or Creative Portfolio. 

March of Senior Year 

  • Create draft of Research Manuscript or Creative Portfolio artifact, for Thesis Committee review. 

April of Senior Year 

  • Present your final presentation to the Thesis Committee. 
  • Finalize Research Manuscript or Creative Portfolio with artifact.
  • Submit properly formatted Research Manuscript or Creative Portfolio with artifact by the end of classes via CHC Paths.

Students intending to complete all 6 credits in one semester should use only the Part II contract to submit their Contract and Registration request and complete proposal.