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Honors
Program hosts annual senior thesis conference
By Shelly Lutton '05
On Feb. 13 the Honors program hosted its annual
Senior Thesis Research Conference in the St. Augustine Center. The
conference,
 open
to all members of the Honors community, allowed many students the
opportunity to present their research to friends, family, faculty and peers.
This provided an ideal atmosphere for students to not only describe their
own research topics, but to explore and exchange ideas with their colleagues
as well. Each presentation lasted approximately 15 minutes and briefly
described the topic, the research conducted thus far and any tentative
conclusions that have been drawn. A short discussion between the thesis
author and his/her audience followed; however, numerous discussions
continued long after the presentations were finished.
The Honors Senior Thesis is the final requirement
for all students pursuing the degrees of bachelor of arts, Honors or
bachelor of science, Honors and consists of a two-semester research project
conducted under the guidance of a primary advisor and a secondary reader.
Dr. Edwin Goff, director of the Honors program, believes that the faculty
members are “the backbone of the program,” providing both academic
assistance and encouragement for the students throughout the project.
Participating faculty members are selected by the students and receive
nothing but gratitude and a celebratory luncheon in exchange for all of
their time and commitment. However, for most faculty members, the experience
of watching students grow and learn is rewarding enough.
Goff explained the significance of the research
conference to the Honors program by defining it as two culminating
experiences integrated as one. First, the conference provides an opportunity
for Honors students to understand what comprises a major research project,
including the organization of time and exhaustive resources that are
necessary. Even the presentation of the research project is taken into
account, as the structure of the conference resembles the atmosphere of a
formal professional conference. Secondly, the conference functions as a
capstone event for both the Honors experience as well as one’s academic
career, as it offers a wide range of cross-disciplinary understanding.
Students are permitted to conduct their research projects in any area of
academic interest, which presents the opportunity to pursue a thesis in
virtually any discipline. However, students quickly discover that oftentimes
disciplines overlap and what may initially seem to be a communication thesis
somehow becomes a philosophy thesis instead.
While students generally feel overwhelmed at first,
there is a real sense of accomplishment by the end of the day; however,
there is still work to be finished. After presenting at the conference,
Honors students must write and present a formal paper on their research
project. During the presentation, others may challenge the author’s ideas
and raise questions about the project overall. This resembles the structure
of a master’s thesis defense or a doctorate dissertation, which better
prepares students for what they may face in graduate school. As a matter of
fact, most students refer to the experience of their senior thesis when
applying for graduate studies or seeking employment. However, a number of
students go on to accomplish something more substantial with their findings.
Several students have chosen to continue their research once enrolled in a
graduate program, while others have even been published. |
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