Advance Your Creativity and Scholarship
The Honors Thesis is the culminating academic experience of the Honors College. It gives students the opportunity to pursue an in-depth research, scholarly, or creative Honors Thesis under the guidance of a faculty mentor and demonstrate the skills they have developed throughout their undergraduate experience.
Completing an Honors Thesis is a multi-semester process. Students should begin planning early, identify a faculty mentor, and make sure they have the research preparation necessary to undertake an independent project. The process moves through six major steps: demonstrating research readiness, submitting an Honors Thesis Proposal, completing a Directed Study, completing the Honors Thesis course, and successfully completing the oral defense and written submission.
STEPS TO COMPLETE AN HONORS THESIS
There are six steps in completing and defending an Honors Thesis. They are listed below in order, from first to last.
Students must demonstrate,
- foundational research knowledge and experience needed to undertake an independent project with a faculty mentor
- research readiness by completing IDH Showcasing Knowledge with a grade of B or higher AND/OR a Directed Independent Study OR a preparatory research course in their major
- other relevant research experience approved by the Honors Thesis Coordinator
At this stage, students should identify and start working with a faculty mentor for the thesis. The student and mentor should discuss the proposed project, expectations for working together, and the mentor decides whether the student is prepared to begin a Directed Study.
Prior to submitting the Honors Thesis proposal,
- students must meet with their mentor to review the proposal and the mentor agrees to supervise the Honors Thesis
- students must assess their research readiness (eg. completion an approved preparatory research course or research experience)
A completed proposal must address the project's introduction, background, anticipated results or study outcomes, and references. The goal is not to have the entire thesis completed before you begin. Instead, the proposal should demonstrate that you have identified a feasible and meaningful project, understand its scholarly context, and have a reasonable plan for moving forward.
After submission, the proposal will be reviewed to confirm the student's eligibility and readiness to proceed.
- If approved, the student moves forward to complete a Directed Independent Study with their faculty mentor.
- If the proposal is not approved, the student meets with their faculty mentor, revise the proposal as needed. Resubmit after revisions.
Once the proposal is approved,
- students enroll in a Directed Independent Study (DIS) under the supervision of their mentor
- students meet regularly with their faculty mentor and make consistent progress toward completion of the DIS
After completion of the DIS, students proceed to the Honors Thesis course (next step). If incomplete, students must take another DIS until they are successful.
After satisfactory completion of a DIS, students enroll in IDH 4973/4974/4975. The number will be decided on the nature of your thesis.
- IDH 4973 - Honors Thesis: Masterpiece, for an Honors Thesis focused on cultural activities including, but not limited to, arts, music, and theatre can register for 1-3 credit hours.
- IDH 4974 - Honors Thesis: ServiceLead, for an Honors Thesis focused on identifying and/or solving problems in communities and society through service and leadership activities can register for 1-3 credit hours.
- IDH 4975 - Honors Thesis: Research, for Honors students working to complete an Honors Thesis focused on research using empirical evidence in the sciences can register for 1-3 credit hours.
This is the final Honors Thesis course in which students,
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build on their research or project
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continue working closely with their faculty mentor refining the analysis and conclusions of their scholarly or creative work
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plan their oral defense and prepare the written thesis submission
This the final stage of an Honors Thesis. It includes both an oral defense and a written submission.
- In the oral defense, students present their work and respond to questions on the research, their findings, and conclusions.
- The written submission should reflect revisions based on feedback received at the oral defense and meet all Honors College requirements for final submission.
Once the student has successfully completed the required coursework, oral defense, and written submission, the Honors Thesis is complete.
Timeline
Because the Honors Thesis involves research preparation, proposal approval, at least one Directed Study, IDH 4975, an oral defense, and a final written submission, students should begin planning well before their intended graduation semester. Students can start this process in their junior year or earlier.
PLANNING
- Demonstrable Research Experience
- Identify Faculty Mentor
- Submit Honors Thesis Proposal
- Wait for Proposal Approval
FIRST SEMESTER
- Register for a Directed Independent Study
- Earn a 'Satisfactory (S)' grade
Note: If the grade is 'Unsatisfactory (U)', student must re-enroll in the Directed Independent Study OR reconsider completing an Honors Thesis
SECOND SEMESTER
- Complete IDH 4973/4974/4975 during the semester of your defense
- Complete oral defense
- Submit final written version of your thesis
- Once your mentor approves, the college will review formatting issues
- Honors Thesis will be available in the Library
WRITTEN THESIS
The template below must be used for your written submission. If you have any questions for specific use cases, please contact the Thesis Coordinator or the college.
THESIS PRESENTATION
Under construction. Will be available soon.
Guidance
Students will receive guidance both from the college and their mentor(s) during the
entire process toward a successful defense.
The point of contact in the Honors College for the Thesis Coordinator (Mr. Santiago (Santi) Luaces; sluaces@fgcu.edu ). The Thesis Coordinator will assist with,
- general questions on the steps to complete an Honors Thesis
- questions on course requirements i.e. registering for Directed Independent Study and IDH 4973/IDH 4974/IDH 4975
- scheduling the oral defenses
- meeting final requirements toward completion
Note: The Thesis Coordinator will not be able to assist with the content of the Honors Thesis. Only the faculty mentor can provide expertise related to a thesis.
Recognition
- Students will be recognized during the Honors Graduation Ceremony for defending an Honors Thesis.
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Student defense will be published in the Honors Thesis collection in the Wilson G. Bradshaw Library to the public and global recognition. Approval from the student, their mentor and thesis defense committee, and the college is required to publish.
Contact Information
Thesis Coordinator
The Thesis Coordinator is located within the Office of Scholarly Innovation and Student Research (SISR).
Honors College
Reed Hall 155 | (239) 590-7490 | honors@fgcu.edu
