Honors Thesis Policies
Overview and Enrollment Structure
The Honors Thesis is a six (6) unit academic project completed over two (2) semesters.
University policy does not permit students to enroll in more or fewer than three (3) honors thesis units in a single discipline in any given semester.
Summer may count as one of the required semesters; winter session may not.
Students may not petition for an exception to this policy.
Timing of the Honors Thesis
Students are expected to complete the honors thesis during their final two semesters at the university.
This expectation ensures that students have completed sufficient coursework in their major or minor to be prepared to produce honors thesis level work within the discipline.
In limited extenuating circumstances, students may begin the honors thesis earlier.
Common examples include students completing clinical rotations or student teaching during their final semester, as well as students completing more than one honors thesis.
If a student begins the thesis one semester early, with three semesters remaining before their expected graduation date, and the home department approves, the Franke Honors College will support the early start.
Students seeking to begin the honors thesis with four semesters remaining before their expected graduation date must consult with their Franke Honors advisor and submit a Franke Honors General Petition.
The petition must explain the need for an early start and demonstrate the student’s preparedness.
The petition will be reviewed by the Franke Honors Thesis Committee and may be discussed with the home department.
Honors Designation
Students may complete an honors thesis in either their major or their minor.
The designation of graduation “with Honors” is awarded in the discipline in which the honors thesis is completed.
Honors theses may not be completed in thematic minors such as pre health, pre law, or other general thematic minors.
Multiple Honors Theses and the da Vinci Award
Students in the W. A. Franke Honors College who have multiple majors or minors may choose to complete a second honors thesis in a second discipline, making them eligible for the da Vinci Award at graduation.
Each honors thesis must be completed in a major or minor and must comply with all applicable departmental policies.
For each additional honors thesis, the student’s honors unit requirement increases by six (6) units.
Each honors thesis must represent a discrete and independent body of work, equivalent to approximately 270 hours of effort, with distinct labor and final products.
If projects overlap in subject matter, methodology, mentorship, or other areas, students must proactively address these overlaps with both faculty mentors and their Franke Honors advisor.
If concerns remain, Franke Honors staff may request clarification from the student.
Prospectus materials and any supplemental clarification will be reviewed by the Franke Honors Thesis Committee. If the committee determines that the projects are not sufficiently distinct, the matter will be referred to the Dean of the Franke Honors College, relevant program heads, and faculty mentors.
Final authority for granting the da Vinci Award rests with the Dean of the Franke Honors College.
Prospectus and Faculty Mentorship
Students must submit an Honors Thesis Prospectus to the W. A. Franke Honors College in the semester prior to beginning the honors thesis.
Students may not petition for an exception to this policy.
Each student must select a faculty thesis mentor to supervise the project.
The mentor must be affiliated with or approved by the department in which the student will graduate with Honors.
Students may request approval to work with a faculty member from another department; such requests must be approved by the academic department in which the student will complete the honors thesis.
Registration and Course Numbers
Students must register for honors thesis units during each semester in which they are actively working on the thesis.
The standard course number for honors thesis is XXX 498H, though exceptions may exist by department.
Registration for honors thesis units occurs through the student’s academic department.
Capstone Projects
Some majors require all students to complete a two semester capstone project. In many cases, Franke Honors students in these majors may use the capstone project to fulfill the honors thesis requirement.
Extended Thesis Option
In rare cases, a student may extend the honors thesis for a third semester, completing a total of nine (9) honors thesis units within a single department.
The final three (3) units may count toward the student’s honors unit requirement.