Working on your senior thesis project is an exciting and rigorous experience, and there are many resources to help you through the process!
You’ll have a Thesis Sponsor, the faculty member in your AOC who will guide and support you through the entire process. Once you’re done writing your senior thesis, you will present and defend your work to your thesis sponsor and at least two additional faculty members (your Thesis Committee) at your Thesis Baccalaureate Defense. What happens in between is individualized based on your AOC(s), your specific project, and your timeline for graduation. Here are some additional resources to help you along the way!
Quick Links
Perspectives on the Senior Thesis Experience
Thesis Resources and Guidelines
- Required: 5th Contract (including transfer credit)- Complete the Thesis Prospectus form, which informs the Registrar’s office you will be thesising next year.
- AOC-specific: Enroll in a pre-thesis or methods course, if required by your AOC.
- Recommended: Spring – Attend the Pre-Thesis Fair hosted by the Student Success Center
- Recommended: If conducting empirical research with vertebrates or human subjects, visit the Institutional Review Board (IRB) site to review the deadline for submission for when you’ll be conducting your research (e.g., there is a spring deadline for fall research).
- Recommended: 6th Contract – Meet with your Thesis Sponsor to discuss your thesis topic, committee, and deadlines for the next year.
FALL
- AOC-specific: Enroll in a thesis course or tutorial, if required by your AOC.
- AOC-specific: If conducting empirical research with vertebrates or human subjects, submit protocols to IRB in the fall for spring research.
- Recommended: September – Attend the 4th-Year Kickoff event hosted by the Center for Career Engagement and Opportunity.
- Recommended: ISP – Attend the WRC-hosted Thesis Camp, a 1-week thesis-focused writing group.
SPRING
- AOC-specific: Enroll in a thesis course or tutorial, if required by your AOC.
- Recommended: If your AOC does not require a thesis course or tutorial, enroll in Advanced Research Writing, a Rhetoric and Writing course designed to support students as they finish their thesis.
- Recommended: Visit the WRC for weekly accountability appointments to write your thesis and practice your Baccalaureate presentation.
- Recommended: Visit the SSC accountability appointments.
- Required: If graduating in January, your Baccalaureate Oral Defense must take place by the end of the last full week of ISP.
- Required: If graduating in May, your Baccalaureate must take place by the last day of Spring classes.
- Required: Bacc Days – half of the 12th week of Spring is set aside for thesis students to schedule their Baccalaureate defenses. Aim to “bacc” during these days, otherwise it is very difficult to align everyone’s availability.
- Required: Once you coordinate with committee and office manager to choose a time a baccalaureate time and space, announce the date and time of your Baccalaureate defense to the campus community through the Baccalaureate announcement form.
- Required: Day of the Bacc Defense – Fill out and print the Baccalaureate Student Audit, print your unofficial transcripts, and bring them to your Baccalaureate defense for your committee to review.
- Required: By the Monday of Finals Week – Submit a digital copy of your thesis to the Library at [email protected].
- Required: Once the Baccalaureate is passed – Submit an Application of Graduation.