“Think of this as your Passion Project”: Honors College Hosts “Let’s Talk Thesis” Workshop

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On Tuesday, September 28, the Honors College held a thesis workshop titled “Let’s Talk Thesis.” The first of a three-part series, the event introduced students to the thesis itself and broke down all the different approaches they can take with it.

The Honors Thesis is an undertaking Honors students complete in their final year at UMass. The thesis is a crucial part of the overall Honors program and is a culmination of what Honors students have learned during their time here. In this process, the students pursue advanced study in a topic of their choice and record it either as a manuscript or a portfolio.

Director of Advising Dominick Usher hosted the event and started the evening by saying, “I want you to think of this as your passion project.” He explained that the thesis is a platform through which students can pursue any of their passions on their own terms, and is a way for them to explore an interest in greater depth.

According to Senior Academic Advisor Peter Woodsum, there are two thesis pathways—students can either take the thesis seminar class, or they can do an individually contracted thesis where they work on an interest they’ve had from a prior research experience. Irrespective of the option chosen, Honors students are also required to do an oral defense presentation upon completion of their thesis.

The thesis is not binding to one’s major, added Woodsum. Students can explore their interests in any field and it can even be multidisciplinary. “You can take a straight path or you can take a detour, [but] all of it will [bring] relevant, useful skills [to you],” he said. There are theses examples available to view on the Honor’s College’s website.

The Commonwealth Honors College offers numerous thesis resources, such as a concentrated research guide, a how-to guide for deadlines and general formatting, and an in-house Honors writing coach. For students pursuing thesis research that requires funding, there are research grants and scholarships for Honors students, which they can apply for through PATHS (the college’s student portal) or even general scholarships through AcademicWorks, the university’s scholarships portal. For general advising, the Commonwealth Honors College and major advisors are available to provide general guidance, and the departmental Honors program directors can also help depending on thesis subject.

Dr. Elena Carbone, associate dean for curriculum and academic oversight, also gave advice to Honors students at the thesis workshop. “The other way to look at [the thesis] in the big picture is: You’re telling a story,” explained Carbone. “That’s a weird way to think about it, but you’ve got a beginning, you’ve got a middle, and you’ve got an end, and the topic of your story is going to be something that you’re passionate about.”

“I’m going to say something that’s going to sound stupid—have fun with it!” Carbone concluded. The entire thesis process doesn’t necessarily have to be a giant burden for the students, she said, but a process through which they can be creative and learn more about themselves. “The idea is to think creatively,” she added.

The night ended with a Q&A session, where members of the audience clarified any doubts they had about the thesis and its process.

Peer Advising Assistant Jillian Stern and Peer Advising Program Coordinator Claire Harrison responded to the students’ questions, providing insights from their personal experience to give students a sense of what the process would be like.

Hannah Davis, sophomore and Honors College geology major, described how she felt about the thesis after attending the workshop: “Before going into it, I knew that the Honors Thesis involved conducting research and writing a paper, but I didn’t know there were so many other options…that allows for more creativity. I also didn’t know there would be a year-long seminar specifically for the thesis, which is useful to know now so I can plan ahead for my classes,” Davis said.

There are still two more thesis workshops coming up that will offer different insights into the process as well. The next one, on October 26, will include a student panel discussion where attendees can listen to and directly ask questions of Honors students who are currently doing their theses. Details for the final session are yet to be announced, but stay tuned to this space to learn more about it.