Thesis Process and Requirements

Students must go through the following steps to begin a thesis:

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1. Find A Topic

Find a topic you are passionate about and are willing to work on for an extended period of time. The Honors Course 4390A Senior Seminar: Thesis Development can greatly assist in helping you narrow the topic area for your thesis. This class can be found on the Current Course Offerings page
2. Find a Thesis Supervisor

All Honors College theses should be supervised by faculty at Texas State. Faculty appointed with the title of Senior Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor are automatically considered qualified to serve as the supervisor for a student’s Honors College thesis. All other requests for a supervisor with any other title (such as Research Professor, Lecturer, or Clinical Associate Professor) will be checked first by the Honors College staff and then approved by the Chair or School Director associated with the proposed supervisor. No specific qualifications are required for the Second Reader of an Honors thesis.
Make sure that you have the thesis supervisor sign the Honors Thesis Application found in step three.
3. Complete a Thesis Application

Students must complete this form and the accompanying thesis planning form to begin a thesis:

Honors-Thesis-Application.docx

Honors-Thesis-Planning-Form---2-July-2018.pdf

If a course substitution is needed to satisfy your degree audit, complete this form:

Honors-Thesis-Substitution-Form---2-July-2018.pdf
4. Schedule a Meeting

E-mail Dr. Ron Haas at rmh109@txstate.edu to request an appointment. This appointment will discuss the viability of your proposed thesis topic and is necessary in order to receive approval for your topic. Be sure to bring the signed thesis application to this meeting.

For General Studies (BGS) majors only
BGS majors with an Honors minor should meet jointly with representatives from both the BGS program and Honors if interested in substituting HON 4390B for GNST 4350.
5. Enroll in 4390B: Honors Thesis

After the Honors College approves your thesis topic you must enroll in the 4390B Honors Thesis Course. While this course does not have an official meeting time you are expected to meet up with your supervisor periodically during your enrollment.
6. Get IRB Approval (If You Have Human Research Subjects)

Check out the Institutional Review Board's site and discuss with your faculty supervisor if you are required to have IRB approval for your Honors Thesis.

While You Work

The following is information relevant to time that you are working on your thesis. This includes information on the thesis class, research and funding resources, and how to format your thesis.

Structure of Thesis Course

Normally, thesis students meet with thesis supervisors weekly. It will be your responsibility to apprise your thesis supervisor and your second reader of your work and progress. Having a second reader is optional.

Midway through the semester, you will turn in a rough draft to both the thesis supervisor and Dr. Ron Haas. Should a report indicate that your work is unsatisfactory, you will be asked to drop the course.

Thesis students are required to present at the Honors Thesis Forum held at the end of the Fall semester or the Undergraduate Research Conference held at the end of the Spring semester.
Grading of Thesis Course

Your grade for Honors 4390B will be recommended by the thesis supervisor, who needs to send your grade in writing via campus mail or e-mail to Dr. Ron Haas, the teacher of record for Honors 4390B. Your grade will be sent to the Registrar by our office after receiving both the grade from your thesis supervisor and the two copies of your honors thesis, signed by your thesis supervisor.
Funding For Thesis

Undergraduate Research Fellowship (URF) grants of up to $1000 are available for thesis research. Please see URF for more information and the application instructions.
Format of the Thesis

Use the documentation format, as well as paper type, margins, and table of contents format followed in completing a master's thesis or its equivalent that is used in the academic department of your thesis supervisor or most closely related to your thesis. Your thesis should have an abstract. The Graduate College guide to preparing a thesis is located here. However, the signature and title page are a little different so please use the examples below as your guide for those items. The most common errors in thesis formatting are incorrect margins and professor names and titles, so please check these carefully.

Download examples:
Thesis Signature Page with Second Reader

Thesis Signature Page without Second Reader
Thesis Title Page

Before You Are Done

The following information includes how to submit your thesis and other final requirements.

Turning in Your Thesis

Honors students may either use the back desk computer and staff printer in the Honors College to print their theses, or make other arrangements to print at professional printers such as FedEx. Students must print two copies of their theses. One of these will be filed in the Honors College and one will remain in the University Archives at special collections area of Alkek Library.

Students must then have their theses signed by their thesis supervisors, and take their theses to Dr. Galloway, the Dean of the Honors College for her review and signature. Students will then take the signed thesis copies to the circulation desk in Alkek Library to be bound. Though the Honors College pays for the first two copies, students may purchase extra copies from Alkek.

The binding process takes about six weeks. Alkek Library will mail you any extra copies you ordered.
Present Your Research

Completing your thesis also involves presenting your research. This is done through the Honors Thesis Forum in the Fall or the Undergraduate Research Conference in the Spring.

Do you have other questions regarding the thesis process?

Please contact Dr. Ron Haas at rmh109@txstate.edu for additional information or clarification.