Suggested timeline for thesis topic selection, writing and defense

Sophomores, juniors: Many times, students discover their thesis topic while performing an Honors Contract. We suggest the student discuss these ideas with their professor and Honors Program director as it may be possible to expand on initial ideas during Honors Contracts.

Juniors: No later than junior year, the Honors student must attend at least one Thesis Writing Workshop (provided at least twice each academic year). This must be done as a prerequisite to registering for HONS 4001 (4002). The workshop guides students through the
thesis writing process. At least one workshop is mandatory. However, students may wish to attend additional workshops as refreshers to assist them in their thesis writing endeavors.

Seniors (Suggested timeline based upon May graduation):

• The Honors student selects a faculty thesis director.
• The Honors student, under the oversight of the faculty thesis director, completes a Thesis Proposal Form (provided in Student Handbook) and submits completed proposal form (with attached 5-20 page formal proposal) to Honors Program director for approval. The Honors Program director must receive the completed Thesis Proposal before mid-term the semester preceding intended graduation.
• The Honors student contacts the Honors Program director to meet and discuss a plan of action for thesis writing.
• The Honors student coordinates an initial meeting with both the thesis director and Honors Program director to discuss the proposed thesis writing process for the following semester. Both thesis and Honors Program directors will discuss with student any specific department or program expectations that must be included in the thesis.
• Depending upon the timeline agreed upon between the Honors student and the thesis director, the student may begin data collection, literature review or writing. (In some instances, an Honors Student may – with Thesis Director’s approval and if allowed in their major –t ake an independent study the semester preceding HONS 4001. These details need to be coordinated between Honors student and thesis director).
• During fall advising week, register for HONS 4001 (4002).

• The Honors student begins spring semester with some solid literature, methodology or data collection and is ready to begin working toward the final round of this process: actually writing the thesis.
• The faculty thesis director selects at least two faculty members to serve as thesis advisors and as voting committee members on the student’s thesis defense committee.
• The Honors student provides regular updates to the Honors Program director on thesis progress,
• The Honors student coordinates a meeting with both thesis director and Honors Program director to discuss the progress of the thesis writing process and proposed defense date.
• Thesis director sets a defense date that is mutually agreeable to all Defense Committee members. The defense date should be set no less than two weeks from the end of the semester, allowing time for revision and thesis binding.
• At least one week prior to defense date, the Honors student provides a final thesis draft to each committee member (Thesis Committee must include a thesis director and at least two other faculty members and Honors Program director. Additionally, the committee may include a non-voting member of the Honors Committee who would serve only at the request of the Honors Program director).
• At least one week prior to defense date, the Honors student initiates a meeting with the Honors Program director to discuss oral defense presentation.
• The defense must be attended by all voting committee members who will meet immediately following student presentation to discuss both oral and written work, make suggested edits (if any), and to decide whether or not student passes “as is”, "with minor edits”, “substantial changes under oversight of thesis director”, or “needs to make major changes in written and oral work.” Should the committee suggest the latter, the student and thesis director would need to set another defense date – meeting the same timeline expectations provided for the first defense. In this case, the student either could defend before semester’s end (if the second defense date allows sufficient time before semester’s end).
• With a final draft approved, the Honors student follows the thesis printing guidelines on the CSU Libraries Web site.