Honors Thesis Faculty Mentor

Finding a faculty mentor for your Honors Thesis.

The faculty thesis mentor is a vital part of the honors thesis process. And when we say “mentor,” we mean it. They are there to help you develop your project, to guide you, and to facilitate your growth as an emerging scholar. As an experienced academic in your field of research, they can also assist you in forming a research plan, outlining the goals of your project, and counseling you as you go.  

Student-mentor relationships will differ from thesis to thesis—some might be more independent while others will require working closely together—but remember that your mentor can guide you and provide their expertise to make your work even better! 

You will work with your mentor to:  

  • Define the scope and format of your thesis  

  • Decide specific milestones involved with your project, including due dates and items to be submitted to them throughout the project 

  • Use information ethically, employing the proper academic research standards in your field 

Importantly, your mentor will also be grading your work. They must provide you with a letter grade for each of the two semesters that you work on this project, which is why we recommend discussing expectations for assessment and due dates at the start of the project. 

Below, you can learn more about how to find and approach a potential mentor.  

NOTE: There are exceptions for mentorship! College of Engineering, CAPLA, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, English and Creative Writing students, and some others have a different process regarding thesis mentorship. Check with your department to find out what mentorship looks like in your area of study. 

 

Who is a mentor?  

  • A faculty member

    • Faculty member = a University of Arizona professor or professor of practice (not a graduate student, staff member, or visiting scholar)  

  • If you are planning to work with a faculty member that is going on sabbatical or will be retiring soon you must speak with your department about this opportunity.  

  • Typically, the mentor is faculty in the student’s home department, but it can vary. ELIGIBILITY FOR FACULTY THESIS MENTOR IS ULTIMATELY AT THE DISCRETION OF YOUR DEPARTMENT. If you have questions about whether your mentor is eligible for that role, please contact your academic advisor for the major or minor in which you are doing your honors thesis.  

  • In some departments, it is required that you work with someone from your same department. In other departments, it may be possible to work with someone from another college or department on campus. Check with your academic advisor or honors faculty liaison! 

    • Example: Max is doing their honors thesis in their major in Biology, and they want to study maximal oxygen consumption during exercise. They chose a mentor from the College of Medicine and confirmed they can work with that mentor through their major advisor in Biology.  

  • Your mentor should have some research experience or knowledge of your thesis topic, so they can best assist you; however, they don’t necessarily have to be an expert on your exact subject matter. 

  • A mentor! Someone who can guide and advise you during your research. 

  • If your department does not have restrictions about who you can work with, you can look for mentors whose research and work styles align with yours.   

  • The individual who will be your faculty thesis mentor must be able to be listed as the instructor of record on your honors thesis units. However, you may work with supplemental mentors like grad students in labs, community partners, even additional faculty members to consult on your project.  

Exceptions - College of Engineering, CAPLA, Finance, Entrepreneurship, Accounting, English and Creative Writing students have a different process for assigning mentors. Follow directions from your department.  

There may be further exceptions as well. Again, check with your department to see if there are any restrictions or requirements for mentorship. 

 

How to find a mentor

Once you have even a general idea of what kind of project you want to do, you can start approaching potential mentors. Consider these options: 

  • Reflect on your favorite instructors so far. Reach out to professors that you liked or those whose research you found interesting in previous years of school to discuss their work and your ideas. 

Tips:  

  • In their K-Map profile, you can look at a professor’s “Research Areas” to see if some might match your interests.  

  • Click into the profile’s “Research” tab to view their collaborators, grants, and publications. We recommend checking out some of their publications, for sure!  

  • Under “More,” you may find whether the instructor has overseen student research before! 

  • Many departments have an official Honors Faculty Liaison who can help if you are unsure how to get started finding a mentor. 

 

How to connect with potential mentors

  • We recommend that you initially email 3 to 5 potential mentors to request meetings, just in case not all are able to get back to you. Use those informational meetings to figure out which professor will be the best fit for your project.  

  • You can then ask them to be your mentor if it feels right! 

  • Always double-check with your department that you can work with that instructor as your honors thesis mentor.  

  • If you find you are having trouble with this process, you can reach out to your Franke Honors advisor for assistance.