1. Can I take the thesis course for less than 3 credits?
a. No, you can’t. The minimum you can take the 499 course is for 3 and the max is 15.
You can’t break up the 3 credits either. It must be taken all in 1 semester, like a regular class.
2. Can I take 390Z/499 the same semester?
a. Yes, you can. Its not advisable to do so, but for those seniors who haven’t done 390z
and are graduating that May, it can be done. Only for seniors.
3. Do I really need the signature of my major advisor?
a. Yes, if it will be an overload for you. If its not an overload (18 credit hours for most),
then you DO NOT need it.
4. What ID number do you need?
a. Your Social. Until we have another way to identify you for us..its your social.
5. Can an adjunct be my director?
a. As long as they have the power to give a grade, then yes. No power to give a grade, no.
6. Who can be a second reader?
a. Anyone can be EXCEPT for your family and friends. Grad students, PhD candidates, TAs,
other faculty members, people in the community, etc. If you have a question about them, just ask.
7. Do I need to get the dean’s signature?
a. No. The Director of Student Services gets that.
8. Why do I need to turn in another copy of the proposal?
a. Because I want it all together. If you turn in a copy at the end of 390Z, then it will go into your folder.
I’m not going to dig it back out and attach. There are too many sections of 499 to be able to do that.
9. When is the last day to turn in 499 forms?
a. Last day to turn in forms is the LAST day of drop/add by 12 noon. No later.
10. When do I need the dean to sit on my committee?
a. If you have a 6 credit hour thesis OR MORE, then you will need a dean to sit on the committee.
11. Can I get an extension?
a. If you come and talk to me and have a legitimate reason (I forgot or I’m too lazy won’t work),
then we may be able to work something out.
12. Does this actually meet as a class?
a. No. This is on your honor. You set up meetings with your director and that is your “class” time.
13. What happens if I need to turn it in late?
a. For your thesis, come and talk to me. We will work something out, especially if data
went awry or something else has occurred.
14. Do I need to attend a 390Z workshop?
a. YES!!! How else are you going to know about your thesis and the process?
Your friends are usually not right about this….so come to one of these and hear it straight
from our mouths as to what we want.
15. What do we do to pass 390Z?
a. 2 things:
i. find a second reader
ii. write a 1-2 page proposal talking about the basics of your thesis (who, what, when, why, where)
16. How does my instructor give a grade?
a. Your instructor will go on to VIP and submit the grade there in whatever semester you took
the course. If you are not finished, your director will need to go on and give you and Incomplete (an I).
Once an I is given, they need to contact the Director of Student Services for the
form to change the grade from I to an A-F.
17. What if I don’t recognize the name of the instructor of record listed on my schedule?
a. If there is a problem and you don’t recognize the instructor listed, please let the Director of
Student Services know. Chances are, its just a mistake and needs to be fixed.
It won’t take long to do, but we need to give the Registrar time to alleviate the situation.
18. When do you offer 390Z workshops?
a. The Director of Student Services offers workshops 2 times a school year—once in the fall,
and once in the spring. Usually, 6 to 8 workshops are offered at different times and at different days.
Please check the email sent to locate dates, times, and locations.
19. What if I can’t make a 390Z workshop.
a. Email the Director of Student Services and set up an appointment with them in order to answer any
questions you have about the thesis process itself.
20. Where can I find all of this information about the thesis (formatting, etc)?
a. In the Student Thesis Handbook
21. Help Me! I can’t find a director! What do I do?
a. The first thing you do is not panic.
If your thesis is in your major, then I’d start with your favorite professor to brainstorm
possible directors. If it is outside of your major, I’d still start with one of your professors to see if they know
anyone in that particular department they can recommend to you. Then, I’d meet with that professor to
see if it would be a good match. I always recommend starting with someone you actually know, but if you
can’t, going on recommendations will be much better than just cold calling a professor. If you have any
questions, please ask the Director of Student Services who is in charge of all things senior thesis.
22. What if my director has to leave/withdraw their help from my project?
a. Again, ask the professor for any recommendations they have for you.
They might have already told their colleagues about you and the work you are doing.
If not, I’d ask other professors you’ve had or have enjoyed for help. They might have colleagues that can
help you as well, if they couldn’t take the project over themselves.
24. Is anyone exempt from 390Z?
a. Yes. Students who study abroad during the SECOND SEMESTER OF JUNIOR YEAR are exempt
from having to take the actual 1 credit course. They will have to complete the proposal part of 390Z at
the beginning of their time in SCHC 499, the actual thesis course itself. That will be discussed with
the student and with the Director of Student Services to set a date when that will be due.
25. What about ENGR students who have their senior design project?
a. Any student who has a senior design project to their major (ex. BMEN, ECHE, etc) can use their
senior design project as their SCHC senior thesis. However, they will still need to hold their defense
(aka, presentation) during the day that their group presents to the class. They will still need a director
and second reader on their project. They will be exempt from taking 390Z (most of those projects
have 1 semester planning elements incorporated into them anyway). They will have to turn in a copy
of the 499 thesis contract form to the Director of Student Services, letting them know about their desire to
use their design project as their senior thesis. They will have to adhere to SCHC formatting guidelines
when turning in their final copy to the SCHC for binding. If you don't want to use that project as your
senior thesis, you can certainly do another one using the SCHC 499 course instead.
26. What if I want to graduate with distinction by taking my Major Department's thesis course
(ex. MATH 499, HIST 499). Do I have to do a separate thesis?
a. Then, you may use your department's 499 course as your SCHC senior thesis. You will still
turn in a 499 contract form to the Director of Student Services and follow all formatting guidelines
when submitting your final copy for binding. Your department may have different formatting/turn in
requirements, so pay attention to each set of them when turning in your final copy.