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For Honors College students, the senior thesis serves as a remarkable opportunity unlike any other at the University. Although the thesis is a requirement towards graduation "with honors from the South Carolina Honors College," we encourage our students to think of it as an opportunity to draw their undergraduate learning experience together and to express the quality of their intellectual development.
There are several fundamental points to the Honors College senior thesis, the first of which is the student's flexibility in selecting a topic. Honors students are encouraged to delve deeply into the subject matter of their own majors or to pursue something entirely unrelated to their chosen degree. Because we prefer to keep their options thus unrestricted, the Honors College relies heavily on the Thesis Director to provide guidance in conducting research, to oversee the writing process, and to ensure that our students produce high-quality work.
Secondly, it is very important to remember that these are undergraduate students-high achieving students to be sure, but undergraduates nonetheless.With that being said, directing an Honors College senior thesis cannot be approached in the same way as a Master's thesis or dissertation. While we have high expectations of our students, they have not had the same level of coursework and instruction as required of a graduate student. Honors students often produce amazing projects, but we do not require graduate-level work from them. Misunderstandings can occasionally occur, and they may result in much stress and frustration for both the student and the faculty member.
Finally, the senior thesis should be something to which students can point with great pride and satisfaction. It should serve as an example of their finest work that can be shown to potential employers, as well as graduate and professional schools. It is for this reason that the thesis requirement was instituted, and it has proven beneficial to our students.
We hope this handbook will serve to answer some of the basic questions you may have about the senior thesis/project.
A senior thesis does not necessarily follow a strict timetable. A student may begin research as a freshman that culminates in a thesis project. They may enroll in a class during their sophomore year that captures their interest and inspires them to pursue further study. Hobbies in which a student has engaged for most of his or her life may be very appealing as potential thesis topics. The Honors College encourages a variety of avenues in approaching this project. With that in mind, we have devised a set of tentative "deadlines" for completing certain portions of a student's senior thesis.
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A major hurdle in commencing with the senior thesis is the selection of a Thesis Director. Often, students wish to work with a professor with whom they previously took a class. Students may choose to work with their major advisors or may select someone with whom they have been working in a lab. The only requirement by the Honors College is that the Thesis Director be a full-time faculty member on the USC-Columbia campus. We also encourage our students to seek a Director whom they already know so they are familiar with that professor's teaching style and grading methods. Occasionally, students are forced to seek out a professor from a department with which they are unfamiliar. This is particularly true in the case of interdisciplinary thesis topics and projects that fall outside the student's major course of study. This is not something we discourage, but it is important that both the Thesis Director and student clearly understand each other's expectations at the outset.
The Thesis Director provides guidance in research, establishes the criteria for grading, and is responsible for entering a grade via VIP at the conclusion of the project. He or she must meet regularly with and be accessible to the student throughout the course of the project. Since work on the thesis typically begins in the second semester of a student's junior year and does not conclude until the student graduates, it is important to try to anticipate time conflicts that may arise between the student's commencement of SCHC 390Z and his or her submission of the final copy.
Students are expected to remain in close contact with their Thesis Director and Second Reader. Writing should be submitted for review on a regular basis, and corrections or suggestions should be returned to the student in a timely manner. Likewise, the student must allow a reasonable amount of time for the Thesis Director and Second Reader to review his or her work, particularly immediately prior to the thesis defense.
The selection of a Second Reader is required before a student may be enrolled in SCHC 499. In addition to the advice of their own Directors, there are typically two principal rationales that students use in deciding upon a Second Reader. First, students may wish to choose a Second Reader who will be the "technical expert" during the writing process for the thesis. Since the Thesis Director is primarily responsible for supervising the content of the thesis (e.g., the student's research and conduct during this undertaking), the Second Reader in this instance would give guidance in the mechanics of writing the resulting paper (e.g., correcting grammar and punctuation, suggesting changes in syntax, etc.).
The second rationale for choosing a Second Reader is most appropriate for students pursuing an interdisciplinary thesis. In this case, the Thesis Director is chosen from one field while the Second Reader is chosen to represent the second field. The Director and Second Reader complement each other and, together, help to ensure that the student includes appropriate material from each discipline.
Unlike the Thesis Director, a Second Reader need not be a USC faculty member. Students are free to choose any person who has the required expertise in the discipline. In fact, the Second Reader may be a person in the local community and does not have to be affiliated with USC in any way. However, the Second Reader, like the Thesis Director, needs to be accessible to the student during the entire senior thesis process and must attend and participate actively in the student's defense of the thesis.
A final note on the selection of the Thesis Director and Second Reader: Family members and friends of the student are prohibited from serving in either of these positions. SCHC 390Z and 499 are courses like any other. Both the Second Reader and, particularly, the Thesis Director are responsible for grading this coursework. The conflict of interests that would inevitably arise must be avoided. Students having trouble finding a suitable Thesis Director or Second Reader should contact the SCHC Director of Student Services for assistance.
Students occasionally have trouble in deciding whether to do a traditional thesis or a project and are often unclear as to their differences. A thesis involves extensive research resulting in what amounts to an extended term paper. Projects generally involve a performance, an exhibit, equipment design and construction, or other "hands-on" activities. A few examples of projects include a musical composition and performance; an art exhibit; writing a collection of short stories or a collection of poetry; creating an advertising, public relations or marketing campaign; writing and directing a play; building a small car, dam, robot, or computer; illustrating and/or designing a book; developing and programming a computer game; etc.
The written portion of the project (i.e., the paper) usually is considerably shorter than a thesis. However, students often underestimate the time required to complete their projects. In fact, projects may require considerably more time than the traditional thesis. Students should be sure they have allowed enough time to complete their work before undertaking such an endeavor. Students who complete a project may wish to include as a part of their papers a self-assessment of a performance, a commentary on an exhibit, etc. In any case, their theses or papers will be presented during their defenses and will be subject to possible revision.
Students who hold an exhibit must also submit photographs and/or videotapes of the exhibit to SCHC. Likewise, students who do a performance such as a musical recital, dance performance or play must submit an audiotape or a videotape of the performance and a copy of the program, if available. This material will be sent along with the papers to be bound.
Often, students choose a Thesis Director before they have solidified a topic for their senior thesis. In these cases, the Honors College urges its students to discuss all the topics they are considering with their Director. Honors students look to their Thesis Director for guidance in deciding which topics would be most manageable, practical, and interesting for them to pursue. Students are encouraged to pursue topics outside their major coursework. However, they should be reminded that the senior thesis is not the time to attempt to learn a new field. Creativity is encouraged, provided both the student and Director feel the chosen topic is manageable.
Occasionally, two or more students wish to work together on a project. This is permissible, provided the project warrants giving each student a minimum of 3 hours credit for the work involved. It is important for students to realize that carrying out a project over the long term with multiple people can significantly complicate matters in terms of scheduling time for research, writing, revisions, and the defense. Students should carefully consider these factors before undertaking this project with a classmate.
SCHC 390Z: Thesis/Project Planning Course was developed to help Honors students have an earlier, smoother, faster start on their senior theses/projects. It helps prevent procrastination and allows students to become aware of how to do the type of research necessary for their theses/projects. The Thesis Director is asked to assist in acquiring the necessary resources and information to enable a student to write an appropriate proposal, which will ensure success in the senior thesis course, SCHC 499. The Honors College expects that a professor who serves as the faculty member of record for SCHC 390Z will be the same person who ultimately directs SCHC 499.
SCHC 390Z is required to graduate with SCHC Honors, but there are several groups of students who are exempted from this course:
Students are advised to confirm with the SCHC Director of Student Services if they think they may be exempted from completing SCHC 390Z.
SCHC 390Z is a one-hour, pass/fail course offered in the second eight-week session of each semester. Students typically enroll during the second semester of the junior year. In order to enroll in SCHC 390Z, students are required to attend a thesis workshop and to turn in a completed Pre-Enrollment Contract Form to the SCHC Director of Student Services by the deadline posted on the SCHC website. Thesis workshops are offered at a variety of times early in the fall and spring semesters. It is the responsibility of the student to find a workshop that fits his or her schedule.
The course is considered complete when the student has submitted a satisfactory thesis proposal. This proposal, typically 2-6 pages in length, is due to the Thesis Director by the last day of classes. Any requirements more specific than the completion of the proposal are left entirely to the discretion of the Thesis Director. At the completion of the course, the student's grade (an S or U) should be entered on VIP by the Thesis Director.
The Honors College senior thesis course, SCHC 499, has been designed as a full-year course. Students are expected to spend their entire senior year on its completion. Typically, the grade for SCHC 499 is due during the semester in which the student plans to graduate. This means the grade for a student who enrolls during the fall may not be due until the subsequent spring semester.
To meet the requirements for graduating "with honors from the South Carolina Honors College," students are required to enroll in SCHC 499 for a minimum of 3 credit hours. Although most of our students enroll in the course for the minimum hours, a few elect to enroll in 6 hours. BARSC students are required to complete a 9-hour thesis. The exact number of credits the student will receive is, ultimately, determined by the Thesis Director. In a typical university course, a student is expected to work approximately 3 hours per week for every credit in which the student is enrolled. Hence, students who enroll in SCHC 499 (a year-long course) for three credits should work on their thesis/project for an average of 4.5 hours per week throughout their senior year.
Students may enroll in SCHC 499 by completing the Senior Thesis/Project Contract form and submitting it to the SCHC Thesis Director of Student Services by the posted deadline. All work (e.g., research, final paper, and defense) must be completed by the grade submission deadline during the semester in which the student intends to graduate. Failure to do so will likely result in the student's inability to graduate on time. Therefore, it is extremely important that every part of the thesis process, from research to the defense, is timely.
Students are advised to begin work on their senior theses/projects as early as possible, even before the semester officially begins. Many SCHC students have found that getting a head start on their theses has saved them from getting behind in their work later in the semester. Directors and Second Readers are asked to encourage students to start as early as possible on their senior thesis, which may include undertaking an independent study or a research fellowship before enrolling in the senior thesis.
Some Honors College students may be required to complete a senior design project or thesis as part of their major requirements. The Honors College considers such courses to be equivalent to SCHC 499. For example, a history major may be required to enroll in HIST 499, or a chemistry major may be required to enroll in CHEM 499. Provided the student submits a proposal and the Senior Thesis/Project Contract to the SCHC Director of Student Services and follows SCHC procedures as stated in the Senior Thesis/Project Handbook, the Honors College will count that thesis/project towards fulfilling the requirements to graduate "with honors from the South Carolina Honors College."
The Honors College has a small fund available to support extraordinary expenses associated with a student's senior thesis/project. The Honors College will provide a maximum grant of $1,500.00 for students to purchase needed materials for their senior thesis/project. Such items can include but are not limited to chemicals, rats, equipment, the rental of exhibit space, and travel expenses. Items purchased through a senior thesis/project grant become property of the Honors College, and we request that a student purchase items covered by the senior thesis/project grant through the Honors College. Specifics about the thesis grant, such as required forms and deadlines, can be found on the SCHC website. Students are also free to seek financial support from sources such as the SCHC Undergraduate Research Fellowships, the SCHC travel grant, or other research funding available on campus.
Because students often want to know how long their theses/projects should be, the Honors College has established a general rule: for a three-credit senior thesis, students in humanities or social science disciplines will write a thesis consisting of approximately forty-five to sixty pages. In fact, their theses tend to be quite a bit longer than those of students writing in math, natural science or pre-professional disciplines. The latter may have theses consisting of only twenty-five to forty pages; however, the content in these theses tends to be more tightly packed. Thesis Directors and Second Readers may find it useful to visit (or to have the student visit) Level 5 of Thomas Cooper Library to examine the bound theses of students who previously have completed an Honors senior thesis. Cataloguing of theses also began in 2006, so a great deal of information may be found in the library's online catalog.
Students who elect to complete a project rather than a traditional research paper or who are using an equivalent departmental course are still required to submit an accompanying paper as part of their senior thesis/project. Depending on the work involved in completing the project itself, it is likely the written component will be quite a bit shorter than a traditional research paper.
The Thesis Director is primarily responsible for guiding a student's research and writing. Therefore, most questions of style and formatting will be addressed to the Director. In addition, the student is required to use a style manual that is appropriate to the discipline of his or her thesis (e.g., The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, The MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, A Short Guide to Writing About Biology, etc.).
However, some disciplines follow no particular style manual; in such cases, the Honors College recommends that students acquire Kate L. Turabian's book, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations. Turabian's manual is easy to follow and applies to most disciplines.
The following is the standard format for an Honors thesis or project paper. While not every thesis paper will include the same sections and items, the following can be used as a general guideline. NOTE: The title page (and its specific formatting), Table of Contents, and Thesis Summary are required for ALL senior theses regardless of discipline or project type. Copies that fail to contain those three elements will not be accepted by the Honors College. Additionally, final copies must be printed on the proper paper with the appropriate margins and page numbers. It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to ensure that the final copy meets all formatting requirements.
Margins
Margins are to be one inch at the top, bottom and right and one and one-half inches on the left (on all pages) to permit binding. Margins less than one and one-half inch on the left result in the deletion of much of the text, graphs, photographs, tables, etc. along the left margin. Final copies submitted without these margins will not be accepted.
Page numbers
The pages must be numbered consecutively.
Paper Type
The final thesis paper, including the title page, must be printed on standard, white (ivory and light beige are also acceptable) 25% OR HIGHER cotton bond paper. This type of paper is easily found at copy shops and office supply stores. It is a heavier weight paper with a watermark that will resist deterioration.
Ink Type
The final thesis paper must be printed in black ink with the exception of photographs, maps, charts, graphs, figures, tables and similar items, which may be printed in colored inks.
A senior thesis defense must be held before the Thesis Director assigns a final grade. Attendance by the Thesis Director, Second Reader, and student is mandatory.
The purposes of the defense are:
The student must submit one copy of the pre-defense draft, complete with scholarly apparatus (e.g., appendices, graphs, maps, etc.), to the Thesis Director and one copy to the Second Reader. An additional copy (along with the completed Defense Confirmation Form) should be emailed to the SCHC Director of Student Services at least two weeks prior to the defense. This step gives everyone time to review the thesis and to prepare questions for the defense. Since thesis defenses are considered public events, it is important to understand that any interested persons may attend, though they may not actively participate in the defense. Advanced notice of the defense allows SCHC to publicize the event on its website.
The length of a defense usually ranges from thirty minutes to an hour. The Thesis Director and Second Reader determine the format, but the usual procedure is for the student to make a ten-minute presentation on the thesis/project and then respond to questions. Suggestions for revisions will be made both during and after the defense. At the defense's conclusion, the student and public are excused while the two readers determine the modifications which must be made before the thesis is accepted. Finally, the student is recalled and informed of the required modifications. If the Thesis Director so chooses, the student may be informed of the grade received for the thesis. However, the Thesis Director may instead choose to delay assigning a grade until after the revisions have been made to the paper. Arrangements are also made for delivery of the final thesis or project paper to the Thesis Director and Second Reader to acquire their signatures on the title page.
Grades for SCHC 499: Senior Thesis/Project may range from "A" to "F" and should be posted on VIP as with any other course. It is likely that, for students registered in SCHC 499 during the fall semester, a grade will not be due until the end of the next semester. Under no circumstances should a grade be posted before the student has conducted a defense or before the Thesis Director has approved the final copy. If the student cannot complete ALL PORTIONS of the thesis before the deadline for submission of grades, the Thesis Director should consider posting an "Incomplete" or an "NR".
SCHC students have been informed in their Senior Thesis/Project Handbook that any student who completes the requirements to graduate with SCHC Honors (including all portions of the Senior Thesis/Project) AFTER they have graduated from the University of South Carolina will NOT be able to have the distinction "with honors from the South Carolina Honors College" retroactively added to their transcripts or to their diplomas. This is part of a policy established by the University Registrar's Office ending the awarding of any kind of honors (Dean's Honor List, President's Honor List, cum laude, SCHC, etc.) after a student has graduated from USC. Therefore, it is imperative that SCHC students complete ALL requirements for the senior thesis BEFORE they graduate from the University, including holding their defenses, receiving their final grades, and submitting the final copies of their theses/project papers. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the Thesis Director to ensure that the grade for SCHC 499 (or equivalent course) is posted in a timely manner.
At least one hard copy of the revised (post-defense) thesis/project paper must be submitted to the SCHC Director of Student Services in the SCHC office. This copy must have the title page in the required format, contain all required elements of the paper in the exact order as stated in the section of this handbook entitled "Format," and must carry the signatures of both readers. SCHC will obtain the signature from the SCHC Dean; a line at the bottom of the title page should be left for this purpose. Students will also be responsible for providing the University with a CD-ROM version of the senior thesis/project for the future creation of an online thesis database.
When students submit their copies of the thesis/project papers, they will be asked for a completed Binding Form and a check (made out to the USC Educational Foundation) in the amount of $15.00 to cover the expense of binding one copy of the thesis/project paper. Please note that this copy of the thesis/project paper is not for the student; instead, it will be shelved in the Thomas Cooper Library. Students may purchase one additional copy of the thesis/project paper for $15.00. Additional bound copies beyond the first two (such as a copy for the Thesis Director) are $15.00 per copy. Students must submit all copies they wish to have bound as the staff of the Honors College will not make copies.
Failure to submit final thesis copies will result in a student's inability to graduate "with honors from the South Carolina Honors College."
From time to time, unavoidable circumstances may occur while Thesis Directors and Second Readers are involved in guiding Honors students pursuing the senior thesis.
Two examples of unforeseen conflicts which most often arise are:
Change in topic or reader
Sometimes the topic a student originally intends to pursue does not work out. In this case, the student is advised to discuss the possibility of choosing a different, more viable topic with the Thesis Director and Second Reader. Often, a change in topic necessitates a change in Director, Second Reader or both. Whether students change the topic, reader, or both, a new Senior Thesis/Project Contract Form must be submitted to SCHC with the signatures of both readers. Students changing topics are also required to submit a new proposal.
Emergencies
If there is still a significant amount of time left before the student completes the Senior Thesis/Project and you become seriously ill or hurt, leave town, or experience some other emergency that prevents you from completing the required responsibilities of your role as Director (or Second Reader), please contact the student and the SCHC Director of Student Services as soon as possible. It would be very helpful for you to suggest another person, if possible, who may be willing and able to step into your role to guide the student through the completion of the Senior Thesis/Project. This change in personnel will require the student to submit a new Senior Thesis/Project Contract Form with the signatures of both the Thesis Director and the Second Reader.
If you are able to complete all your duties with the exception of participating in the student's defense, please send a memo to the SCHC Director of Student Services naming a proxy. This person will take on your role during the defense (either you or the student should give him or her a copy of the pre-defense paper well before the defense) and will sign the final copy of the thesis/project paper where you would have signed. Someone serving as the proxy for a Thesis Director will also assign a grade for the thesis/project. The original Thesis Director and the proxy may wish to confer before a grade is assigned.
Should the student experience an emergency that prevents him or her from completing the thesis on time, an Incomplete may be granted at the discretion of the Thesis Director. If a student feels he or she is unable to complete the thesis, a withdrawal may be granted by the Honors College only in a case with extenuating circumstances (e.g., a lengthy illness, death of a family member, etc.). For more information, refer to the section on "Dropping a Course" in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
The Honors College staff and other members of the USC community continue to be impressed by the amazing and thoughtful projects engineered by Honors students. Without the support of USC faculty and members of the community, these projects may well not exist at all. Thesis Directors and Second Readers serve as an inspiration to Honors College students. Your efforts are instrumental in helping them reach an important milestone in their academic careers. We gratefully acknowledge the vital roles played by Thesis Directors, Second Readers, and other mentors. From cancer research to the composition of original musical albums, Honors College students consistently demonstrate that they are the product of great teaching and leadership. Thank you.
Additional questions are welcomed and can be addressed to:
Brooke Roper Director of Student Services 803-777-6280 brooke@schc.sc.edu