Explore

Special arrangements must be made for students who wish to undertake a fiction or poetry Thesis. You must be on the "creative writing" track in ENG, or be a creative writing major or minor, and have taken a creative writing workshop in the medium you wish to pursue in your Thesis : poetry or fiction. This could be the Honors workshop (HNR 340 Introductory Workshop in Creative Writing Fiction/Poetry), or ENG 215 or 217. Taking such a course in the fall of your junior year would qualify.

Develop

The Development phase is critical for creative writing projects.  The proposal in Creative Writing is a bit different.  First, refer to our Thesis Proposal Guidelines for details on what our expectations are for your proposal document, and then submit the standard Thesis Proposal Form, and include a sample of your writing.

• Fiction: one story, not longer than 20 pp.
• Poetry: 6 – 8 poems.
• Do NOT ask a faculty member to be your advisor and sign your proposal; just submit the form on-line.

You need to have completed - or be currently taking - a Workshop class (Honors or ENG) in order to apply. Preference will be given to students in the Creative Writing Track, but in rare cases students who have taken CW workshops can be approved for a Thesis with the permission of the professor who taught the workshop. The Creative Writing Faculty will evaluate the proposals we receive, determine who among their faculty is available to serve as Thesis advisors, and let us know which proposals they will accept. This will be a competitive process; if you apply and your proposal is not accepted, you will need to come up with a “plan B” – either a critical Thesis in ENG (i.e. a critical analysis of a text), or a Thesis in another major, if you have one.  So give that some thought.  Remember that creative projects cannot be considered for “Distinction” in English.

Late proposals for creative writing Theses will not be considered. If you intend to do a “standard” ENG Thesis (e.g. a critical analysis) you follow our standard “A&S: Social Science & Humanities” process for your Thesis .

Implement

You will devote considerable time and energy to your Thesis, and you want to get academic credit for your work.  The  ETS 499 registration is how you do that.  Everyone is required to register for one to three credit hours for the Thesis in their final semester. That puts one to three credits for the Thesis on your transcript, and provides your advisor with a mechanism for grading your work. It's also a requirement. Everyone must register for at least one credit of 499.

Complete

The A&S: Creative Writing Thesis follows the standard process for completion, which typically takes place over senior year, so make sure you understand all the steps here.

There are two paths through Distinction/Honors for eligible candidates. The preferred path: Honors students will entering the Distinction program your Junior year, completing your Distinction project and the 494-5 sequence by the end of that year. In your Senior year, you will take your graduate course (for Distinction) and revise your Distinction project (you will not need to expand it), with the option of submitting it for Honors prize consideration in April.

However, if your schedule or circumstances make this route impossible or inconvenient, you may elect to do the Distinction/Honors requirements entirely in your Senior year since Honors will accept your Distinction Thesis as an Honors Thesis. In this case, however, you will not be able to graduate early (you must be enrolled both semesters) and you will likely miss the deadline for Honors prize consideration. You will also need to take the graduate course for Distinction simultaneously with the 494-5 sequence.

You may wish to discuss the best path with your Honors adviser and/or Crystal Bartolovich, who directs the Distinction program in the English Department. As you contemplate what is best for you, please note that being abroad in the Fall semester of your Junior year does not make it impossible to do ENG 494, the first course in the Distinction sequence, but being abroad in the Spring is not recommended. We can, however, accommodate any number of circumstances, so please do consult with your adviser and the Director of the Distinction program as needed.

 Explore

Science students will likely already be involved in lab work, having secured a place by sophomore year. Now you will work with your P.I. to design a project of your own within the lab’s larger operation.   You will likely design your own experiments; you will certainly conduct them, collect your own data, analyze it, and write it up in the context of existing research in the field. Your Thesis will follow the standard format of a journal submission in your discipline.

1. If you are still exploring your field and are searching for a lab, start by identifying some of the research being done in your field at Syracuse.  Make sure you also follow our guidelines for connecting with faculty.
2. Work with your Honors Thesis Coordinator if you are having trouble, but you should have already done the step above.

Develop

Fields within A&S and the Natural Sciences follow the standard process for developing your Thesis, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the development process, specifically as they pertain to natural science and research-oriented work. You should also complete the required Thesis Development module on this site.

Implement

A&S Natural Science theses follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your project's research aims, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process, specifically as they pertain to natural science and research-oriented work.

Complete

A&S Natural Science theses follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process, specifically as they pertain to natural science and research-oriented work.

 Explore

To get started exploring the social sciences and humanities, you'll want to start by identifying some of the research and other work being done by faculty in your field at Syracuse.  Make sure you also follow our guidelines for connecting with faculty.

1. Work with your Honors Thesis Coordinator if you are having trouble, but you should have already done the step above.

Develop

Theses in A&S Social Sciences & Humanities follow the standard process for developing your project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the development process, specifically as they pertain to social sciences and humanities-oriented work. You should also complete the required Thesis Development module on this site.

Implement

A&S Social Science & Humanities theses follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your project's goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process.

Complete

A&S Social Science and Humanities theses follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting your final project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.

 Explore

Your Honors Thesis is based on your senior Directed Research work, and the entire project must be a particularly high quality piece of work, worthy of Honors in the scope of its conception and in its execution.

To get an idea as to the quality and scope expected, you can browse and search our Thesis archives for previous Architecture projects.

 Develop

By early November of your senior year, submit your proposal to Honors describing plans for ARC 499.  This includes identifying your Honors Reader, a faculty member from another discipline at SU, who will supervise your 499 research and critically engage with your work. The reader should have agreed to work with you at this point.

 Implement

By March of your senior year, register for one credit of ARC 499. To qualify for Honors, you must earn a B or higher in ARC 499.

 Complete

The final result of your directed research plus ARC 499 will be both a design thesis and a fully researched document accompanying it. A Critical Statement Essay is not required for Architecture students. Complete ARC 499 on the official Thesis Turn In Day.

Turning in and presenting your research is largely the same for students in all schools and colleges; you need to follow the Honors format (please see below). Here’s what  you need to turn in:

An e-copy of your book and of your final design project (if the two are in some way distinct) in the final format you produce them in. Most of these will not be in standard 8 ½ x 11, and that’s fine. Whatever you hand in as the final product to Architecture, we’d like a copy as well;

Explore

The demands of student teaching are very high in the junior and senior year, so we’ve designed a special Thesis process for EDU students. You will create auto-ethnographic projects on your development as a teacher as your thesis. This will include research in the theory of auto-ethnography and also address the cultural/social context of current educational practice, as well as incorporating your own experience as teachers, your model unit/lesson plans, etc. The project might include various forms of media – blogs, videos, etc.

We will hold a special meeting during the fall of your junior year, well before thesis proposals are due, to help in understanding the auto-ethnography approach.

A faculty member who serves as your subject coordinator will help you select an advisor. Be sure to meet with your subject coordinator by the last week of September in order to stay on track with the fall timeline.

Music Education students may elect to follow the procedure for other EDU students, but most prefer to base their thesis on their senior recital, or to come up with a differen original thesis.

Develop

You will need to do preliminary investigation and planning, but you don’t need a fully detailed plan for the entire auto-ethnography thesis. You need a clear exposition of your idea, and an advisor who attests that this is a “workable” thesis and has agreed to mentor you. Your proposal should be your best current understanding of what the auto-ethnography involves, and how it relates to your goals of becoming an accomplished teacher.

Implement

Education thesis projects follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your project's goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process.

Complete

Education thesis projects follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting your final project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.

 Explore

Engineering & Computer Science students will likely already be involved in lab work, having secured a place by sophomore year. At this point, you should work with your P.I. to delineate a thesis of your own within the lab’s larger enterprise.  It will be a “piece” of the lab’s project for you to manage independently, within the team context of the lab.

You may design your own experiments; you will certainly conduct them, collect your own data, analyze it, and write it up in the context of existing research in the field.Your Thesis will follow the standard format of a journal submission in your discipline.

• Mechanical Engineering students may elect to pursue an individual design project that is based upon the group project completed in MEE 332 Introduction to Machine Design & Manufacturing in spring of your junior year. You would take one aspect of the design and extensively research and develop it, producing a report modeled on the MEE 332 final project report as the substance of your Thesis Project – this time produced by you alone. This will mean getting a later start on your project, however, which can be additionally challenging. To pursue this option, contact Prof. Fred Carranti at the close of your MEE 332 course.

Develop

Theses in Engineering & Computer Science follow the standard process for development, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the process, specifically as they pertain to engineering & computer science work. You should also complete the required thesis Development module on this site.

Implement

Engineering & Computer Science theses follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your project's goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process.  Juniors should try to secure funding to work on their projects over the summer following junior year. Many engineering students are supported through REU (Research Experience for Undergraduate) programs, Stevens Awards in Engineering, and SOURCE or departmental summer grants for undergraduate research. Ask your Program Director for information about LCS summer funding – in February of your junior year

Complete

Engineering & Computer Science theses follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.

 Explore

To get started exploring the social sciences and humanities, you'll want to start by identifying some of the research and other work being done by faculty in your field at Syracuse.  Make sure you also follow our guidelines for connecting with faculty.

The iSchool has a number of research centers that are led by faculty in the iSchool.

• See the full list of Research centers led by the iSchool here.
• Your thesis advisor must be a full faculty member in the iSchool. Adjuncts and part-time instructors can serve as 'readers' and informal mentors, but they may not serve as your primary faculty thesis advisor.

Develop

Theses in the iSchool follows the standard process for developing your project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the development process, specifically as they pertain to social sciences and humanities-oriented work. You should also complete the required Thesis Development module on this site.

Implement

iSchool theses follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your project's goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process.

Complete

iSchool theses follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting your final project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.

 Explore

• Sport Management (SPM) majors: you will spend spring semester of your senior year in an internship, so you need to complete your Thesis, and present it, by December of your senior year. You will want to follow our alternative December timeline for Thesis projects.
• Food Studies majors: you should take FST 485 “Research Experience in Food Studies” in your junior year. The result of this course will be a fully researched seminar paper. This paper will serve as the basis of your Thesis; it will be combined with additional work (1-3 more chapters) for the Honors Thesis in Food Studies.
• Public Health Majors - Honors Thesis options for Public Health majors are here in this linked document.

Develop

Theses in Sport & Human Dynamics follow the standard process for developing your project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the development process, specifically as they pertain to this type of work. You should also complete the required Thesis Development module on this site.

Implement

499 Enrollment:

• If you are in Food Studies, you will enroll in 1-3 credits of FST 499 for the additional work of completing the Theses, typically in spring of the senior year.
• Sport Management majors register for SPM 499 in April of your junior year.
• All other Falk majors will enroll in their departmental prefix 499 (e.g. SWK 499 or other).

Complete

Sport & Human Dynamics theses follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting your final project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.

 Explore

Your first step is to meet with the department chair associated with your topic area.  They will discuss your areas of interest with you and guide you to a suitable faculty member to serve as your thesis advisor. When you have secured a thesis advisor who has approved your general topic, inform Lindsay Rapp in the Whitman Undergraduate Studies Office. Then you work with your advisor to research and write the actual thesis proposal. You submit it to Honors, who will share it with Whitman to make sure it meets their approval as well.  There are many good resources that will help you start planning your thesis.

Develop

When you’ve secured a thesis advisor who's been approved by the Whitman Office of Undergraduate Studies and have developed a topic, submit a thesis Proposal Form through the Honors thesis web site, signed by your thesis advisor by mid-October.

You will need to do preliminary investigation and planning, but you don’t need a fully detailed plan for the entire project. You need a clear exposition of your project idea, and an advisor who attests that this is a “workable” project and has agreed to mentor you. Your proposal should be your best current understanding of what the project involves.

Implement

You will devote considerable time and energy to your thesis , and you want to get academic credit for your work.   499 registration is how you do that.  Everyone is required to register for one to three credit hours for the Thesis Project in their final semester. That provides your Advisor with a mechanism for grading your work.

• Plan to take EEE 475 in the fall of your Senior year, so you won't be taking it in the same semester that you are completing your thesis.

Complete

The Whitman thesis follows the standard process for completion, which typically takes place over senior year, so make sure you understand all the steps here.

 Explore

Newhouse Honors students complete the Honors thesis and their “Newhouse thesis course” but the two are distinct (except for TRF majors – see below). Your Newhouse thesis is a course most often taken in your senior year, but Honors requires a multi-semester, independent project that you’ll begin in your junior year. For example, MDP 426 or MDP 478 will not qualify as Honors thesis, because they are only taken in your senior year.

• TRF will allow you to count your 3 credit Honors thesis as a TRF thesis.
• All other Newhouse majors should see these two requirements as separate and distinct.
• Completing both the Newhouse thesis course, and the Honors thesis has not been a significant problem for our strong Newhouse Honors students!

Theses in Newhouse follow the standard process for development, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the development process, specifically as they pertain to Newhouse and communications work. You should also complete the required thesis development module on this site.

Develop

Theses in Newhouse follow the standard process for developing your project, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the development process, specifically as they pertain to communications work. You should also complete the required thesis Development module on this site.

Implement

Newhouse thesis projects follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process.

Complete

Newhouse thesis projects follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.

 Explore

Your Honors thesis builds upon a standard I&ID senior thesis, with the caveat that Honors I&ID Thesis must be a particularly high quality piece of work, worthy of Honors in the scope of conception and in execution. You must submit it in the Honors format, and include an Executive Summary.

Develop

To assure that you create an Honors-quality thesis , you will start the process in your fourth year – one year ahead of the standard I&ID thesis. You’ll submit a thesis proposal through the Honors thesis web site, approved by your thesis advisor by the 3rd week of March.

Implement

VPA I & I Design theses follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process.

• You will sign up for IND 574, and Honors will accept that in lieu of a 499 course.

Complete

VPA I & I Design theses follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.

• Your thesis does NOT require a critical statement.

 Explore

To get started exploring the visual & performing arts, like other fields you'll want to start by identifying some of the  work being done by faculty in the performing arts at Syracuse.  Make sure you also follow our guidelines for connecting with faculty.

1. Work with your Honors thesis coordinator if you are having trouble, but you should have already done the step above.

Develop

Drama & Musical Theater theses follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the development phase of the process.

Implement

Drama & Musical Theater theses follow the standard process for implementing and carrying out your goals, so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the implementation phase of the process.

Complete

You will spend spring semester of your senior year in the Tepper Semester, in NYC, so you need to complete your thesis, and present it, by December of your senior year. Make sure you follow the ‘December Graduate’ timeline for completing your thesis.

Visual & Performing Arts theses follow the standard process for finalizing, formatting, and submitting,  so make sure you understand the general steps involved in the completion phase of the process.