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The UF Undergraduate Honors Theses Collection includes undergraduate Honors theses from UF starting with the Fall 2014 academic term. Work is underway to add theses written prior to Fall 2014 to the IR@UF . The UF Undergraduate Honors Theses Collection joins the larger UF Theses & Dissertations Collection  with graduate theses and dissertations in the  IR@UF , an Open Access digital library and repository.

Additional Resources:

• UF Undergraduate Honors Theses collection in IR@UF
• Undergraduate Honors Theses Library Guide
• Open Access

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Undergraduates benefit from participating in research in many ways. You become a more competitive applicant when applying to graduate schools. You deepen your understanding of your field. You develop a relationship with a faculty mentor. You gain confidence and experience in research, writing, and presentation skills. You may receive academic credit for your research. The University of Florida is one of the leading public research institutions in the nation, and many opportunities for undergraduate research await you.

How to Find a Research Position

There are several ways to get involved in research: 

• A good starting point is to visit  this page  from the  Center for Undergraduate Research . 
• Another way is to collaborate with a faculty member in your area of interest. A professor you resonate with may need an assistant for their current research project. If you're not sure whom you'd like to work with, try asking in your department about available research positions with faculty. Bulletin boards may also post openings.  Click here for tips on approaching faculty .
• You might design you own research project with a professor mentor. See these tips on building the student-mentor relationship.  
• Another option is to apply to an outside institution to participate in research. It is possible to receive UF credit for this sort of research. There are countless programs around the country geared towards science and engineering research, but opportunities exist in all fields. The Career Resource Center, Honors advisors, and the Internet are all good starting points to find outside research opportunities. 

Academic Credit

Students are encouraged to register for research credit through their own departments. Contact your undergraduate coordinator for details. If research credit is not offered by your department, apply for research credit through Honors using the  IDH 4912 Request for Honors Undergraduate Research Credit Form .

Research Opportunities

Special opportunities for undergraduate research are available, including funds, accolades, conferences, and scholarly journals that might publish your findings. Some UF examples include the University Scholars Program , the Science for Life program, and the  McNair Scholars  program. 

Many departments offer support for undergraduate research, so start with your department's undergraduate coordinator. Many faculty take undergraduate students on for research, so check with your favorite faculty working on things of interest to you.

There are national programs as well. One of the largest is the  National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates  (NSF REU).  

Publishing Your Work

The University has the  Journal of Undergraduate Research .  This monthly journal updates the university community on the various achievements of featured University Scholars in every department.

You can also publish your thesis in the Institutional Repository ( IR@UF ). The Undergraduate Honors Theses collection now holds over 5,000 items and the Libraries are happy to provide this free publishing and archival service. You can learn about the submission process at the Undergraduate Honors Theses library guide page.

Submission Process for Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Honors Program no longer handles this process for colleges and departments. Please see the Undergraduate Honors Theses library guide page for further instructions.

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The Honors Thesis

The honors project involves independent research under the supervision of a faculty director. The goal is to give you an opportunity to write a large-scale paper and investigate a single philosophical issue in more depth than you may have had an opportunity to do in course work. Doing such a thesis can be a very rewarding experience, although you should understand that it is not a project to be undertaken lightly. The rules below are designed to ensure that you will be sufficiently prepared to succeed in the project.

Overview of the process

The process of undertaking an honors thesis will take nearly two semesters. In the first semester you need to research your topic and form a reasonably specific plan as to what you will do in the thesis. Ideally you will do this by working with the faculty member who will be your supervisor in a 4000-level course he or she is teaching or in PHH 4911 Undergraduate Research in the History of Philosophy or PHI 4911 Undergraduate Research in Philosophy. In the second semester, you actually write the thesis while enrolled in PHI 4912 Honors Thesis. In both semesters you need to work with a faculty director who officially sponsors your thesis. When the thesis is completed, you will be subjected to an oral examination and defense of your work.

The proposal

In order to register for PHI 4912, it is mandatory that you submit and have approved a proposal for the thesis by the end of the preceding semester. More precisely, the proposal must be submitted by no later than the last day of classes of the semester preceding that during which you hope to take PHI 4912. The proposal, which you should develop in consultation with a faculty director, is to be submitted to the Undergraduate Coordinator by that date.

The proposal will primarily consist in a description of the project, including a statement of thesis you hope to defend, where that statement must be relatively specific. The following two statements, for example, are not adequate specifications of your thesis:

• My goal is to argue against utilitarianism.
• My thesis is that mind-body dualism can be defended against materialist attacks.

By contrast, the following two statements display an appropriate scope and specificity:

• My goal is to argue that utilitarianism cannot account for the value of friendship or other personal relationships.
• The most common objection against mind-body dualism is the claim that it cannot account for causal interaction between the mental and the physical. My thesis is that this objection can be successfully answered.

The statement of the thesis should be accompanied by a discussion (750–1000 words) of the issue in which you explain your preliminary thoughts on the matter, which questions you plan to pursue, what arguments you expect to address, and so on. While it is not required that the completed thesis adhere strictly to what you provide in the proposal, we do insist on a proposal that will give you a substantial starting point in your investigation.

When the proposal is submitted, it must be accompanied by three further things: (i) the explicit approval of the faculty director who agrees to work with you on the project (this may be provided simply by having the faculty member email his or her approval to the Undergraduate Coordinator); (ii) a bibliography of relevant readings, accompanied by a brief statement of which items you’ve already read and which you plan to read in the near future; and (iii) an indication of what courses you have taken or are taking that provide you with relevant knowledge in the field.

Completion and oral defense

A completed thesis, approved by the faculty director, needs to be handed in to the Undergraduate Coordinator (who distributes it to the undergraduate studies committee) at least two weeks before the last day of classes in the semester you’re writing your thesis. The two week time period is needed in order to allow that committee to review the thesis and to schedule an oral examination. At the same time that you submit your thesis to the Undergraduate Coordinator, you should also submit an electronic copy of your completed thesis to UF’s Institutional Repository. You will find guidance on how to do through  IR@UF Honors Thesis , opens in a new window  page. Please see the instructions listed under the tab labeled, “How do I submit?”

After the oral exam the committee will arrive at a judgment as to whether the thesis merits awarding honors, high honors, or highest honors. The Undergraduate Coordinator will notify you of your level of honors by email, and will also alert the college of your honors designation.

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Graduating with Honors

Graduating with honors from mae.

Three honors distinctions are available at the University of Florida:

• cum laude (with honors)
• magna cum laude (with high honors)
• summa cum laude (with highest honors)

Each college/school/department has its own standards for graduating with honors.  For the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, the requirements for the three graduation honors designations are as follow:

• Cum Laude: 3.3 GPA in all upper-division courses
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.5 GPA in all upper-division courses and completion of a Honors Thesis
• Summa Cum Laude: 3.8 GPA in all upper-division courses and completion of a Honors Thesis

The upper division GPA is based on all courses taken at UF after you become a 3-EG (i.e. after 60 hours).

Honors Thesis

An undergraduate Honors Thesis is completed in order to graduate magna cum laude or summa cum laude. Students interested in completing an Honors Thesis should follow these steps:

• Identify an MAE professor to serve as your Honors Thesis Advisor and Chair. This must be an MAE faculty member.
• Work with your Honors Thesis Advisor to form a 3-person supervisory committee comprised of your Chair (Honors Thesis Advisor), an MAE faculty member, and a faculty member external to the MAE department. Once you confirm all members of your committee, please fill out the  Appointment of Supervisory Committee Form
• Make a formal oral presentation of your results to your supervisory committee. You must submit the final oral exam forms to our advising office via email at [email protected] .

The Honors Thesis normally takes two semesters to complete. Students may be enrolled in up to 6 credit hours of research (EGN4912) to earn academic credit while working on their Honors Thesis. This is not required, but if you would like to be enrolled, this can be done by emailing the completed research application to [email protected] . The application must be signed by the faculty member and student to be enrolled in the course. Research credit counts as a technical elective toward the degree. While the Honors Thesis may contain work with a design emphasis, students are not allowed to submit work done primarily as a part of a senior design course(s) to count as their Honors Thesis.

Political Science

Undergraduate honors.

Requirements and Guidelines

High Honors and Highest Honors

Students seeking high and highest honors must complete a thesis. The following are the requirements for completing a thesis in the Department of Political Science:

Grade Point Average  – Student must have a 3.5 or better upper division grade point average to be eligible for the honors program.

POS 4934 Honors Preparation – Typically, students choose an advisor – and take honors preparation with – a professor they have already taken a course with. A less common option is to find an advisor who you have not taken a class with, so long as that faculty member is willing to advise you. Students will receive a letter grade for this course. Assignments and grades are at the discretion of the thesis advisor. Students must see the department’s honors coordinator ( Professor Sebastian Wang ) to register for this course, which is governed by the University’s add/drop policy.

POS 4734 Research Methods in Political Science  (3 credits) – See course catalogue for description or click  here  to go to the Registrar’s course description page.  The Department offers both Quantitative and Qualitative sections of the course, so be sure to read the description of the course section before registering.  Students must meet and receive approval with the department’s honors coordinator to register for this course, which is governed by the University’s add/drop policy.  Though a requirement for department honors, the course is open to students not interested in writing an honors thesis.

POS 4970 Senior Thesis  (2-4 credits, variable)- Written under the direction of the student’s thesis advisor. Students will receive a letter grade for this course. Assignments and grades are at the discretion of the thesis advisor. Students must see the department’s honors coordinator to register for this course, which is governed by the University’s add/drop policy.

Suggested Course Rotation  – Typically, students take POS 4934 (honors prep) in fall of their senior year.  We encourage students to take POS 4734 (Research Methods) the spring of junior year so as to get a head start on the thesis over the summer, but students may take the course in the fall of their senior year.  The final step in the honors program curriculum is the “Honors Thesis Writing Course” (POS 4970). This is typically taken in the final semester of senior year. This is the course in which the honors thesis is actually written under the direction of the student’s faculty supervisor.

Determination of Honors Designation  – Students who successfully complete the prescribed courses and write a thesis, are candidates for either “high” or “highest” honors. In evaluating the student’s thesis, the following criteria will be used:

The student’s mastery of the relevant academic literature.

Originality of the student’s research.

The contribution of the student’s research to the field of political science.

It is possible that students may complete the course work and a thesis and not obtain high or highest honors.

Faculty Responsibility and Evaluation of Theses

Faculty thesis supervisors agree to meet with students on a regular basis and provide feedback on the progress of the student’s project.

The responsibility for mentoring the student’s project lies with the faculty thesis supervisor.

The faculty supervisor is primarily responsible for evaluating the student’s thesis and determining if a high honors designation is warranted. The faculty supervisor may also recommend highest honors to the honors council. Where the faculty supervisor recommends highest honors, the honors coordinator will forward the recommendation to the honors council which will decide if highest honors is warranted. Highest honors is generally given only for those theses which make a significant contribution to the field.

Thesis Submission Guidelines

Final copies of theses are due to the faculty supervisor and the honors coordinator 3 weeks before the last day of class in the semester that the student is completing the thesis. Exact dates will be announced each semester by the honors coordinator.

Find: UF Theses and Dissertations by Department

Following the catalog upgrade in 2021, the process for finding theses and dissertations by department is now much simpler:

• Go to the Catalog
• Example:  “Dissertations, Academic — UF — English”
• Click on the left-side options for “Resource Type” and select “Dissertations”.
• This will bring up all theses and dissertations, and nothing else.
• Click on the left-side options under “Availability” and select “Available online”.

If you want to look for examples from other programs, these are some program names:

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• Clinical and Health Psychology
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• Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• Counseling Psychology
• Counselor Education
• Criminology and Law
• Criminology, Law, and Society
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Graduation with Honors

Every graduate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with an upper-division grade-point average (GPA) of 3.50 or better receives at least a cum laude (honors) designation on his or her diploma; students not meeting this GPA criterion are ineligible for honors designations. (“Upper-division GPA” is defined as the the GPA computed from all non-S/U courses taken at UF starting with the first semester in which the student enrolls after he/she has completed 60 hours. The courses themselves may be at any level.)

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General Guidelines

Complete guidelines are available for

A brief overview is provided below.

The thesis must be neatly typed and formatted. The Graduate School’s thesis style is recommended as a target for the quality of the format. The thesis should be grammatically correct and without spelling errors. The thesis must be mathematically correct and must represent independent work by the student. Mathematical results need not be original, but the sources for unoriginal results must be clearly referenced. An abstract is required, and it should begin with a definitive statement of the problem or project treated by the thesis. The purpose, scope, limits, and significance of the thesis should be clearly delineated, and the research methods, design, major findings, and conclusions should be described as concisely as possible.

It is not permissible to submit the same thesis to multiple departments.

Past Honor’s Theses can be located at the UF Undergraduate Honors Theses Collection .

Remark: Students who begin working with a faculty mentor early enough in their academic careers are encouraged to apply for the Undergraduate Scholars Program (USP) .  There is a University program as well as a CLAS program .  The USP application deadline is usually in February, and only students who will graduate no earlier than May of the following calendar year are eligible to enter the program. A single research project may be used to satisfy the requirements of both the honors thesis and the USP.

Timeline and Submission Process

It is highly recommended that the student begins work on their thesis at least one semester prior to their final/graduating semester.  The student must agree to adhere to the following deadlines and procedures:

• The Undergraduate Coordinator of the department in which the thesis is to be submitted shall be notified in writing (or email) of the intent to submit a thesis between the first day of classes and no later than the last day of add/drop of the graduating semester. Attached must be an abstract of the work to be submitted.
• An Honors Thesis Submission Form must be submitted according to the instructions and deadlines found under CLAS Advising Graduation and UF Libraries Honors Theses.
• March 30th for spring semester graduates,
• July 6th for summer graduates, and
• Nov 13rd for fall semester graduates.
• April 13th for spring semester graduates,
• July 20th for summer graduates, and
• November 30th for fall semester graduates.
• April 24th for spring semester graduates,
• August 9th for summer graduates, and
• December 5th for fall semester graduates

Department of English

Honors for the english major.

For all undergraduates at UF, there are two different kinds of honors program:

The University Honors Program

The University Honors Program is a university-wide program structured in two parts: the Freshman Honors Program (FHP) for first-year students and the University Honors Program (UHP) for upper-division students.

Prospective freshmen are encouraged to apply to the Freshman Honors Program in tandem with their main University of Florida application. Conversely, the Upper-Division University Honors Program is open to rising sophomores, as well as students who have successfully completed the Freshman Honors Program requirements.

The University Honors program is located in 201 Walker Hall, where there are Honors Program housing facilities, classrooms for Honors Program courses, and an office for the program where students will find Honors Program advisors. Find out more about the University Honors program.

Upper-Division Departmental Honors

Upper-division gpa requirement.

Beyond the University Honors Program are the various college and departmental upper-division honors programs that permit students to attempt to graduate  cum laude  (with honors),  magna cum laude  (with high honors), or  summa cum laude  (with highest honors). Because English majors are students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, they must fulfill the minimum requirement established by the college to graduate with any level of honors. That minimum requirement is a 3.5 upper-division UF GPA. Upper-division GPA’s are calculated on the basis of the grades students earn in all the courses they take starting in the semester they are ranked 3LS–or to put it somewhat differently, they are calculated on the basis of all the courses students take starting in the semester after the one in which they pass the 60-hour mark. It does not matter if these courses are taught at the upper- or the lower-division level; nor does it matter if the courses count for the major or not. It only matters  when  students take them.

Honors Seminar and Honors Thesis Requirements

If an English major has an upper-division GPA of 3.5 or better, he or she will graduate  cum laude . Majors who establish an upper-division GPA of 3.5 or better once they are ranked 3LS are eligible to take honors seminars and write honors theses in order to attempt to graduate either  magna  or  summa cum laude . To graduate  magna cum laude , students must have an upper-division GPA of 3.5, have earned an “A” or “B” in at least one semester of ENG 4936 (Honors Seminar); and have completed one semester of ENG 4970 Honors Thesis, earning at least a “B+.”

To graduate  summa cum laude , students must have earned no less than a “B” and at least one “A” in no fewer than two semesters of ENG 4936, as well as an “A” in one semester of ENG 4970. Completion of an honors seminar with a grade of “B” or better is prerequisite to registering for an honors thesis.

Honors Seminars (ENG 4936)

The honors seminars are 15-student classes offered only in the fall and spring semesters. Enrollment for honors seminars is limited to students who meet the 3.5 upper-division GPA requirement. The topics of the seminars change from year to year. Because enrollment is limited to students who have 3.5 upper-division GPA’s, the seminars are typically more intensive and more interactive than the Department’s standard 35-student classes. They will often be organized in ways that anticipate graduate-level courses, and require students to complete assignments that are more demanding than those assigned in standard 35-student classes. Enrollment for honors seminars is controlled by the Department.

The Honors Thesis (ENG 4970)

Honors theses give students the opportunity to work independently on original scholarly, critical, or creative projects under the direction of faculty members who work in the relevant fields. Students’ honors theses can be the culmination of their undergraduate experiences, and even anticipate the interests they will pursue in graduate studies.

In the English Department, honors theses may take a variety of forms. Most often, students write essays of 30–50 pages in length dealing with topics in literary criticism, history, or theory; film and media studies; or, cultural studies. Such essays are appropriate for students who hope to go on to graduate or professional degree programs. However, students who have pursued the Creative Writing model of study may write short stories, poetry, or even a novella to fulfill the thesis requirement, and students who have followed the Film and Media Studies model of study can produce a short film or video (often accompanied by a brief essay providing a rationale for the project).

Students who register for honors thesis projects must have a 3.5 upper-division GPA, and have earned a grade of “B” or better in at least one English Department Honors Seminar (ENG 4936). Students work with two readers (known as the first and second readers), whom they choose from among the members of the English Department faculty. These two readers may co-direct the thesis, or the first reader may direct the work, with the second reader offering suggestions for revision and improvement only when the project is fairly well-advanced.

Take a look at this video for information on the English Honors thesis process and other research opportunities:

Planning to Graduate magna or summa cum laude

Because students must complete one honors seminar with a grade of B or better before writing an honors thesis, and honors seminars are taught only in the fall and spring semesters, they need to plan ahead in order to fulfill the requirements to graduate either  magna  or  summa cum laude . They must expect that it will take them at least two fall/spring semesters to complete the requirements. So, at the very least, students will need to devote time in their last two fall/spring semesters to fulfilling the requirements. Indeed, depending on seat availability in the seminars, students may want to try to secure seats in honors seminars as second-semester juniors. Students need not worry that the honors seminars and the thesis will impose an extra course burden over and above the 10-course requirement for the major. Honors seminar and thesis registrations count toward fulfillment of that 10-course requirement.

Undergraduate Research as Preparation for the Honors Thesis

Many faculty members who serve as first readers on scholarly, critical or theoretical honors thesis projects encourage (and, in some cases, require) the students whose work they direct to register for undergraduate research (ENG 4911) in the semester prior to the one in which the students will be registered for the honors thesis course. Independent Study registration permits students to pursue preliminary research, reading, and drafting for the thesis project itself so that it is possible to use the thesis registration almost exclusively for writing the thesis. Students should, then, have at least preliminary ideas about their thesis topics before they enter their final two semesters at UF, and they should discuss with the English Department faculty members who will be directing their projects whether or not undergraduate research registrations would benefit them. If a faculty member believes undergraduate research registration is warranted, then the student should follow the  instructions  to register for ENG 4911. As long as a student registers for ENG 4911 for 3 credits, it will count toward fulfillment of the ten-course requirement for the English major.

The Honors Thesis Registration

Once students have worked out the focus and scope of their theses with their readers, they must submit completed Undergraduate Registration Request Forms in order to be registered for ENG 4970 Honors Thesis. These forms provide space in which students must describe their thesis projects. Students and readers must sign and date the forms. Copies of the Undergraduate Registration Request Form are available from an undergraduate departmental advisor in Turlington 4012, and must be returned to Turlington 4012 once they are completed. After students submit completed forms, and the Undergraduate Coordinator approves their projects, they will be registered for ENG 4970.

In Fall and Spring semesters, final copies of honors theses must be submitted to the English Department Undergraduate Coordinator in Turlington 4012 no later than the last day of classes for the semester.  In Summer B/C semesters, final copies are due approximately 10 days before the end of classes.Students must also submit their theses to the institutional repository at UF.  Submission instructions are available at “ Honors Thesis .

In the semester in which they are registered for ENG 4970 Honors Thesis, students must establish with their two readers schedules for completing and submitting their projects by the final deadline, keeping in mind that the final copy submitted to the Department on the last day of classes must already have been given approval by the two readers. If students submit first completed drafts no later than week 12 of the semester, that would typically give their readers time to read and respond to those drafts, and students time to make the necessary changes before submitting the final versions on the last day of classes. Given that most students do not get truly settled into their work for a semester until sometime in the second week of classes, a week 12 deadline for a completed first draft means that students have approximately 10 weeks in which to complete 30-50-page projects. This is a tough task if one is simultaneously trying to keep up with deadlines for other courses. So, students need to establish schedules and keep to them.

Deciding Whether or Not You Want to Pursue High or Highest Honors

Before embarking on pursuit of graduation  magna  or  summa cum laude , students should think seriously about their motivations for doing so, and about the level of commitment they can give to the work. Honors seminars are generally demanding, and the honors thesis is a project unlike any other they will have undertaken in their work as English majors. The thesis, in particular, requires a level of dedication and a compelling interest in the topic that together make the research and writing pleasures as well as requirements to be fulfilled. Students need to be able to say to themselves, “I can’t imagine completing my undergraduate degree without writing a thesis on this topic,” if they are to make worthwhile use of the opportunity presented by the thesis course.

Those students who attempt to graduate  magna  or  summa cum laude  simply in order to be able to list this accomplishment on their resumes rarely have a rewarding experience in the upper-division honors program. They often find the demands too great, and sometimes end up looking to do the minimum amount of work to fulfill the requirements. This is not a recipe for success. By contrast, students who hope to go to graduate school for English, for Film and Media, or for Creative Writing should seriously consider taking honors seminars and writing honors theses. Undergraduate honors seminars provide students with an experience of the seminar setting typical of graduate education in humanities disciplines, and a scholarly honors thesis ideally will prepare students to write the kind of complex extended arguments expected in coursework at the graduate level. This is not, by any means, to say that only students interested in going to graduate school should take honors seminars and write honors theses. For students who excel in English, and who have a passionate interest in their studies, the seminars and the thesis project can be the perfect culmination of their experience as majors, giving them the opportunity to do the kind of advanced independent work for which their earlier coursework has been preparing them.

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• Review your degree audit on ONE.UF before and after you register for your final semester to make sure all requirements will be met.
• Questions about your audit? Get a graduation check! Meet with your advisor!
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• Review the Commencement website for more information.
• Questions? Email [email protected] .

The Fall 2024 Degree Applications deadline is September 13th.

• Select DEGREE if you intend to graduate with the Bachelors.
• If you have a certificate on file and would also like to obtain that at the same time as the degree, please submit another application – this time selecting CERTIFICATE.
• After the degree application deadlines has passed, you will need to complete a late degree application . The late degree application will be available on this page after September 13th.

Theses Submissions

Commencement information.

For complete Commencement information—including schedules, regalia (cap and gown), and further instructions—please see the Commencement website .

Certificates

Students who have been admitted to, and have completed the requirements for a certificate program and would like it to be awarded, must complete a Certificate Application on ONE.UF under the “Academics” tab by the published certificate/degree application deadline.

Additional Information

• Honor Cords
• Senior/Graduating Students

Degree Requirements

Psychology majors can specialize in General Psychology, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, or Behavior Analysis. Each specialization requires coursework in psychology, statistics, mathematics, and biology, and each offers the option to conduct a senior honors thesis if desired.

For degree requirements outside the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements:   Structure of a CLAS Degree .

Follow the respective link below for an overview of the program requirements!

Residential: Bachelor of Science in Psychology

General psychology  specialization .

General psychology requires courses in four core areas within the discipline as well as elective psychology courses.

BEHAVIORAL AND COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE  SPECIALIZATION 

Behavioral and cognitive neuroscience focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses, allowing students to take limited approved non-psychology courses relevant to contemporary neuroscience. This specialization also requires more math and biology courses than general psychology.

BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

Behavior analysis also focuses more specifically on natural science-oriented psychology courses and how the environment around an organism can be modified to change behavior.

UF Online: Bachelor of Arts

General psychology.

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Create opportunities for your future with an Honors Thesis.

An honors thesis a sustained, independent research project in a student’s field of study. the thesis is an opportunity to work on unique research under the guidance of a faculty advisor. it often provides a writing sample for graduate school, and is also something you can share with employers to show what kind of work you can do. , what is an honors thesis.

Most of your work in college involves learning information and ideas generated by other people. When you write a thesis, you are engaging with previous work, but also adding new knowledge to your field. That means you have to know what's already been done--what counts as established knowledge; what's the current state of research; what methods and kinds of evidence are acceptable; what debates are going on. (Usually, you'll recount that knowledge in a review of the literature.) Then, you need to form a research question  that you can answer given your available skills, resources, and time . With your advisor, you'll plan the method you will use to answer it, which might involve lab work, field work, surveys, interviews, secondary research, textual analysis, or something else; research methods will depend upon your question and your field. Once your research is carried out, you'll write a substantial paper (usually 20-50 pages) according to the standards of your field. 

When and how should I register for my thesis?

Register for your major's Honors Thesis course (often numbered 799) in the spring and/or fall of your Senior year. In most cases, departmental permission is needed to register, and you will need to have a commitment from your thesis advisor in advance. The thesis course is an independent study, overseen by your Thesis Advisor. Your advisor sets the standards, due dates, and grades for your project. You must earn at least a B to qualify for Honors. Your thesis must count for at least 4 credits (some majors require that the thesis be completed over 2 semesters, and some require more than 4 credits).

What do theses look like?

The exact structure will vary by discipline, and your thesis advisor should provide you with an outline. As a rough guideline, we would expect to see something like the following:

1. Introduction 2. Review of the literature 3. Methods 4. Results 5. Analysis 6. Conclusion 7. Bibliography or works cited

In 2012, we began digitally archiving Honors theses. Students are encouraged to peruse the Honors Thesis Repository to see what past students' work has looked like. Use the link below and type your major in the search field on the left to find relevant examples. Older Honors theses are available in the Special Collections & Archives department at Dimond Library. 

Browse Previous Theses

Will my thesis count as my capstone?

Most majors accept an Honors Thesis as fulfilling the Capstone requirement. However, there are exceptions. In some majors, the thesis counts as a major elective, and in a few, it is an elective that does not fulfill major requirements. Your major advisor and your Honors advisor can help you figure out how your thesis will count. Please note that while in many majors the thesis counts as the capstone, the converse does not necessarily apply. There are many capstone experiences that do not take the form of an Honors thesis. 

Can I do a poster and presentation for my thesis?

No. While you do need to present your thesis (see below), a poster and presentation are not a thesis. They may be part of a different Culminating Experience, however. 

How do I choose my thesis advisor?

The best thesis advisor is an experienced researcher, familiar with disciplinary standards for research and writing, with expertise in your area of interest. You might connect with a thesis advisor during Honors coursework, but   Honors advisors can assist students who are having trouble identifying an advisor. You should approach and confirm your thesis advisor before the semester in which your research will begin.

What if I need funds for my research?

The  Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research  offers research grants, including summer support. During the academic year, students registered in credit-bearing thesis courses may apply for an  Undergraduate Research Award  for up to $600 in research expenses (no stipend).  Students who are not otherwise registered in a credit-bearing course for their thesis research may enroll in  INCO 790: Advanced Research Experience,  which offers up to $200 for research expenses.

What if I need research materials for a lengthy period?

No problem! Honors Students can access Extended Time borrowing privileges at Dimond Library, which are otherwise reserved for faculty and graduate students. Email [email protected] with note requesting "extended borrowing privileges" and we'll work with the Library to extend your privileges.

What happens with my completed thesis?

Present your thesis.

Many students present at the  Undergraduate Research Conference  in April; other departmentally-approved public events are also acceptable.

Publish your thesis:

Honors students are asked to make their thesis papers available on  scholars.unh.edu/honors/ . This creates a resource for future students and other researchers, and also helps students professionalize their online personas.

These theses are publicly available online. If a student or their advisor prefers not to make the work available, they may upload an abstract and/or excerpts from the work instead.

Students may also publish research in  Inquiry , UNH's undergraduate research journal.

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Dissertations and Theses

Doctoral dissertations and Masters' theses are the terminal projects of advanced degrees, representing years of research. Undergraduate theses are written by undergraduate students in order to graduate with honors distinctions. All dissertations and theses are reviewed by a committee of faculty members before a degree is awarded. 

Finding Dissertations and Theses by UF Students

• Browse UF graduate dissertations and theses in the library catalog
• Browse UF undergraduate honors theses in the UF Digital Collections
• Browse recent graduate dissertations and theses from the UF Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• Search the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Portal 
• Explore other dissertation databases listed on the Smathers Libraries website
• If all else fails, contact the author directly and ask for a copy. It usually works! 

Graduate student writing your dissertation or thesis? Visit the  UF Graduate School Editorial Office . 

Undergrad looking to get started with research check out the uf center for undergraduate research.

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• Last Updated: Jun 11, 2024 5:26 PM
• URL: https://guides.uflib.ufl.edu/mse