Fall
- You are required to enroll in an Independent Study with your advisor for the fall semester, and it is advised, though not required, that you also enroll in an Independent Study with that person during the spring semester. Your research timetable should be organized in consultation with your thesis director.
- By the end of the second week of the semester, you should submit a preliminary proposal of your thesis, which should include a clear statement of your theme, purpose, and methodology, as well as a tentative bibliography.
- By the end of the sixth week of the semester, you should submit a formal proposal of your project (a polished-up version of your preliminary proposal), a chapter-by-chapter outline of your thesis, and a detailed time table of completion.
- Before the end of the semester, you should submit a 10-to-20-page paper designed to be a chapter of your thesis. Upon reviewing this paper, the thesis director will decide whether your research project should be turned into an honors thesis.
- Your honors thesis committee will be composed of your thesis director or pair of directors and one or two other faculty members of the Philosophy department or from another department, if approved by your thesis director. It is the responsibility of you and your director(s) to arrange for these other faculty members to create a three-member committee. Immediately upon receiving the approval of your director(s) to write the honors thesis, you should work with your director(s) to request faculty member(s) with relevant expertise or interests to be on your thesis committee.
Spring
- Continue working on your thesis with your director(s) according to your schedule, with the option of enrolling in an Independent Study.
- Throughout the spring semester you should also maintain regular contact with the members of your committee and give progress reports.
- Schedule a thesis examination in April. It is strongly advised that you schedule the date and time as early as possible.
- Submit a complete draft of your honors thesis to your committee by the first weekday of April, unless granted an extension by your thesis director and committee.
- Prepare a 10-15 minute summary of your thesis to present at the beginning of your thesis examination. The remainder of your examination will consist of questions and discussions with your committee.
- Your honors thesis committee will evaluate whether your thesis merits distinction and will also recommend the appropriate distinction level, based on the quality of your thesis and on your performance in the major program. The three levels of distinction are: Distinction, High Distinction, and Highest Distinction.