Senior Thesis/Project
Students in the Honors Program will conduct independent research, engage in problem-solving projects, and pursue the creative expression of ideas via the Senior Thesis/Project requirement. The Honors Senior Thesis/Project is meant to be the culmination of a student’s Honors experience. It gives the student an opportunity to conduct original research or a project with a Faculty Advisor. The regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees of the California State University System define a thesis and a project as follows:
A thesis is the written product of a systematic study of a significant problem. It identifies the problem, states the major assumptions, explains the significance of the undertaking, sets forth the sources for and methods of gathering information, analyzes data, and offers a conclusion or recommendation. A thesis can include evaluating existing literature via a literature review. It does not require experimentation and testing on human subjects.
A project is a significant undertaking appropriate to the fine and applied arts or to professional fields. It evidences originality and independent thinking, appropriate form and organization, and a rationale.
To help in distinguishing between a thesis and a project, it may be useful to think in terms of their differences in purpose. At the most basic level, the purpose of a thesis is to study a problem, not to create a product. The purpose of a project is to produce a product (i.e., portfolio, business plan, etc)
The Honors Senior Thesis/Project prepares undergraduate students for the rigors of graduate programs and enhances their overall learning experience. This is students' opportunity to be a scholar--someone who contributes to knowledge. Our students have presented their papers and projects at national and international conferences and we encourage publication of students' original work.
The Honors Senior Thesis/Project is expected to take 1-2 semesters to complete; it is the culmination of the Honors Program curriculum and must comply with all the relevant policies and procedures set forth in the Honors Senior Thesis/Project Guidelines.
University Honors Program