Honors Thesis
The honors thesis is an important option for becoming a Reaud Honors College graduate.
If you are an inquisitive student who wants to demonstrate job readiness,
the honors thesis presents an opportunity for you to pursue in depth an area of study or research that is personally important or intriguing.
If you plan to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree,
the honors thesis gives you a course of action to demonstrate your ability to complete a major research/creative project. Your honors thesis can easily become the foundation for post-graduate research, facilitating the acquisition of grants and other support in graduate school.
- Letter of intent to the dean of the Reaud Honors College
- Thesis prospectus outlining the project envisioned for the thesis, including proposed length
- Letter from the intended thesis supervisor indicating his/her willingness to serve in this capacity
After you submit these items, you and your thesis supervisor will meet with the Reaud Honors College dean to discuss the process.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
- Only Reaud Honors College students who have achieved senior standing through the completion of 90 hours of course credits, inclusive of at least 12 hours of honors credits, are permitted to enroll for HNRS 4360 or 4361 (Honors Thesis).
- Special arrangements are available in those disciplines, such as Studio Art, in which a senior thesis is part of the degree plan.
- The request for HNRS 4360 or 4361 must include:
- Signatures of all thesis committee members (see Thesis Committee).
- Clear definition of final products to be completed by the end of the term (see Research and Writing).
- When appropriate, the thesis student may submit a request for research funds from the Honors Council. Request forms and guidelines are available from the dean of the Reaud Honors College.
- If the product designated for HNRS 4360 is not completed on schedule, the student will not be permitted to enroll for HNRS 4361.
- A grade of "incomplete" will be assigned for 4360 until the completion of 4361. Any student who does not make adequate progress to enroll in 4361 will be assigned a grade of NG for 4360.
THESIS COMMITTEE
A Thesis Committee must be formed before the request for HNRS 4360 or 4361 will be approved. This committee will include:
- Thesis supervisor as chair of the committee. The supervisor must be a full-time Lamar University faculty member with the rank of assistant professor or above.
- Another faculty member of the student’s choice.
- Dean of the Reaud Honors College or an alternate designated by the student with the approval of the dean.
- Copies of thesis materials will be forwarded to the full committee only after initial approval of the thesis supervisor.
RESEARCH AND WRITING
The following elements will normally form part of the student's progress toward the completed thesis:
- Thesis Prospectus is due with the application for enrollment in HNRS 4360.
- During the 4360 semester, the student will complete a literature review/annotated bibliography and submit a research design no later than mid-semester.
- Summary statement on research completed and a thesis outline are due by the end of the 4360 semester.
- Draft of the thesis is due by midterm of the 4361 semester. A finished copy of the thesis must be submitted to the thesis committee at least two weeks before last class day at the end of the term.
PRESENTATION
The student must make a public presentation of the thesis findings before receiving final approval of the thesis committee. The time and place of presentation will be coordinated by the dean of the Reaud Honors College.
APPROVAL
Signatures of all members of the thesis committee must be secured before the date designated for submission of grades so that the thesis supervisor may assign a grade for both HNRS 4360 and HNRS 4361.