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Honors Thesis

Juniors and seniors who have completed a minimum of three upper division courses (some specifics may apply: see department and/or Honors Program office) may propose and complete a research project resulting in a substantial paper called an Honors thesis.  The Honors thesis is required of all students who desire Research Honors.  Most typically, the Honors thesis is completed in a student's academic major over the course of two consecutive semesters and results in the student's earning 6 hours of upper-division course credit.

Procedures for the Honors Thesis are as follows:

  1. At least one semester before the project is to begin, the instructor who will direct the project should be identified.
  2. A proposal stating questions that the project will investigate and research procedures to be followed should be submitted.  This should include a proposed bibliography of readings.  There are forms and guidelines for proposals in the Honors Program Office.
  3. So that it can be reviewed by the Honors Executive Committee for approval, the proposal should be submitted to the Honors Program Office by 5:15 p.m. on the last day to withdraw from classes ("W" Day) of the semester prior to the semester in which the research class will be taken.
  4. The student will be asked to attend the next meeting of the Honors Executive Committee, where she/he will make a two-minute oral presentation of the proposed research project and will answer questions from the Council.
  5. If required by the Honors Executive Committee, revisions to the proposal are made and approved by the Director.
  6. The student enrolls, typically in consecutive semesters, in Honors Thesis Research and Honors Thesis Writing courses within his or her department.  The Honors staff will provide course and computer numbers.

Honors thesis projects are produced over two semesters for at total of 6 hours credit.  Typically, the first course is a readings/research course, and the second is spent writing the thesis.  Upon completion, the thesis is submitted to the thesis director, the department, and the Honors Program Director for approval.  Four copies are then bound – one for Georgia State's Pullen Library, one for the Honors Program Office, one for the directing professor, and one for the student.