Faculty guide to the Honors thesis
Mentorship is a process and a relationship
The Honors College values the time faculty invest in thesis students.
A strong mentor helps a student define a workable question, develop the project, and make sense of feedback along the way.
Expectations of Mentors
Mentors should
- Provide holistic support to students
- Help prepare them for their careers
- Communicate expectations and the culture of your research team
- Challenge them with support
- Hear them and see them
Undergraduate vs Graduate Students
- Levels of independence/autonomy
- Experience in the discipline
- Scope of the projects/tasks
With the right mentorship, new undergraduate mentees can matriculate into well-trained graduate students
Common Pathways
- Undergraduate research
- Internships/Assistantships
- Project-based learning
- Community-engaged experiences
- Others (student employees, study abroad, etc.)
The Thesis Advisor's Role
Project guidance
Review the proposal and help the student develop the work.
Committee and evaluation
Work with a second reader who holds faculty status.
Department requirements
The advisor and student coordinate any additional requirements.
Courses Associated With The Thesis
Two independent study courses
XXX 491 Honors Readings and XXX 490 Honors Thesis.
Three semester credit hours each
Both appear under your name and department in the schedule.
HC 350
Honors thesis students take HC 350 instead of HC 300 Thesis Seminar.
XXX 491 Honors Readings
Course goal
A completed Honors thesis proposal aligned with Procedure 1.
Completed proposal
Assign a letter grade, typically an A, at your discretion.
Proposal still in progress
Assign an I (Incomplete). Change it after proposal submission.
XXX 490 Honors Thesis
Course goal
A completed written or performed Honors thesis.
Public demonstration
Present the work through an option outlined in Procedure 2.
Grading
Completed work may earn a letter grade. Ongoing work may earn I.
Proposal requirements
Length and format
Procedure 1 specifies a minimum of 3–5 content pages.
Core content
Research question or idea, literature review and projected results.
Discipline-specific approach
Include methodology or the requirements suited to the discipline.
Proposal approval and submission
Advisor review
The advisor reviews and approves the proposal first.
Honors thesis proposal form
The student uploads the proposal and research training records.
Signatures and review
The form routes to the advisor, then the Honors College Office.
Proposal timing and research approval
Submission deadline
Last class day of the semester before graduation.
Example
Spring graduates submit by the preceding fall deadline.
Before data collection or analysis
Obtain Honors Office and other required approvals, such as IRB.
Public Demonstration Options
Annual Research Symposium
Required for all graduating seniors completing a thesis.
Comparable scholarly venue
An exhibition, juried conference presentation or similar event.
Traditional thesis defense
A live defense, held virtually or in person.
Presentation Planning
Format selection
Advisor and student confer. The advisor makes the final decision.
Presentation of Final Thesis form
The advisor submits this form early in the final semester.
Traditional defense
At least two faculty committee members attend live.
High and Highest Honors
Symposium presentations
Students must present on a conference-style panel or individually.
Comparable venues
Presentation quality and juried evaluation may inform the award.
Poster presentations
Posters are not eligible for High or Highest Honors.
Committee Evaluation
Holistic review
Consider the thesis or creative output, presentation and growth.
Honors College rubric
The committee recommends the level of Honors.
Honors Thesis Results Form
The advisor records the recommendation. The second reader signs.
Final thesis submission
Honors Thesis Results Form
Submit the outcome by the semester's commencement deadline.
Final revisions
Complete all corrections and suggestions to the written work.
Signature Page form
Submit the final written work for library upload.
Mentor checklist
Before research
Approve the proposal and confirm all required permissions.
Before the presentation
Confirm the committee, format, schedule and required form.
After the presentation
Complete results, revisions, library submission and course grades.
Honors thesis resources
Project Databases
Add yourself so students can find you!
Faculty Entry Form for Research
East Texas A&M Internship Database