Honors Senior Theses

The Honors Senior Thesis serves as a culminating academic experience for students in the Drake University Honors Program. It provides an opportunity to delve deeply into a question of personal interest, potentially extending beyond one's major field of study, demonstrate the interdisciplinary learning fostered by the Honors Program, and showcase advanced research and critical thinking skills.

This capstone project offers students a specially designed time and structure to develop ideas prompted by coursework or those that have grown out of other learning experiences. It is an opportunity to do reading and pursue interests outside the structure of the classroom. The directed research involves a project that results in a product, such as a research paper, scientific experiment, or creative work. The interdisciplinary project, which is typically outside the student's academic concentration, is coordinated with the Honors Program and completed in conjunction with a Drake faculty adviser from outside of their major.

The thesis must be an original work, culminate in a tangible deliverable that adheres to professional standards of the chosen field(s), and be the result of work with a faculty mentor knowledgeable in the chosen field(s). Successful Theses address a question or issue that benefits from the integration of multiple disciplines (interdisciplinary) and demonstrate a level of intellectual intensity exceeding typical undergraduate work.  

Honors Senior Thesis students who fulfill all of the Honors Track requirements, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.2 by the end of their graduating year, and successfully complete Honors Senior Thesis earning a grade of "B" or higher are eligible to graduate with University Honors.

University Honors Requirements

To graduate with University Honors—to be designated as such on the transcript and diploma—an Honors student must satisfy the following requirements by their graduation date at Drake:

1. Successfully complete all Honors Program track requirements of the Drake Curriculum.
2. Maintain a 3.2 GPA or higher by the end of the graduating year.
3. Complete Honors 199 – Honors Senior Thesis with a grade of B or higher.

The information that follows concerns item 3, above, and outlines the steps to begin and complete your Honors Senior Thesis (HST).

Purpose and Importance

The Honors Senior Thesis serves as a culminating academic experience for students in the Drake University Honors Program. It provides an opportunity to:

• Delve deeply into a question of personal interest, potentially extending beyond one's major field of study.
• Demonstrate the interdisciplinary learning fostered by the Honors Program.
• Showcase advanced research and critical thinking skills.

Thesis Characteristics

• Interdisciplinary Approach: The thesis must address a question or issue that benefits from the integration of multiple disciplines.
• Intellectual Rigor: The project should demonstrate a level of intellectual intensity exceeding typical undergraduate work.
• Concrete Product: The thesis must culminate in a tangible deliverable, adhering to professional standards of the chosen field(s). Examples include written theses (suggested length of 30 pages), performances, films, or artwork/art installations.
• Faculty Mentorship: Students must secure a faculty mentor — outside of their major —knowledgeable in the chosen field(s) to guide their work.
• Originality: The student must be the primary creative force behind the project. While collaboration with a research or artistic mentor is permissible, the final product should represent the student’s individual work and achievement.

Combining with Major Capstone

Combining the Honors Senior Thesis with a major capstone project is possible under certain conditions:

• The project must demonstrate a strong interdisciplinary character.
• It must exceed the expectations of a standard major capstone.
• Approval from the Director of Honors.
• Two advisors, one from within and one outside the other capstone department.
• A meta-analysis examining the project's interdisciplinarity is required.

Process and Timeline

• Course Registration: Enroll in HONR 199: Honors Senior Thesis (3 credits).
• Faculty Mentor Selection: Identify a faculty member with relevant expertise who is willing to serve as the thesis advisor.
• Contract Submission: Complete and submit the online Honors Senior Thesis Contract Form by the end of the second week of the semester in which the project is undertaken.
• Project Approval: The Director of Honors reviews and approves all proposals.
• Thesis Research & Writing: After approval, student will conduct research and begin writing in conjunction with their thesis advisor’s guidance.
• Presentation: Deliver a 20-minute presentation on the completed thesis to the Honors community, faculty mentor, and other interested attendees during a scheduled session in the final weeks of the semester. A 10-minute question and answer period will follow the presentation.
• Final Submission: Submit the final thesis to the faculty mentor by the agreed-upon deadline, allowing sufficient time for evaluation before final grades are due.
• Presentation Submission: A final version of the presentation must also be submitted to the Honors Director.

Additional Information & Resources

Key components of a successfully developed project proposal:

1. Clear description of the project.
2. Explanation of the methodology for answering the research question or achieving the project objectives.
3. Articulation of the interdisciplinary nature of the project.
4. Headings to structure the proposal effectively.
5. A specific section that explicitly addresses the project’s Interdisciplinarity.