Senior Thesis for Graduation with Distinction

Senior Thesis for Graduation with Distinction

Graduation with distinction in the College of Education and Human Ecology is possible for students who complete a senior honors thesis. This document describes the application process, criteria for a senior honors thesis, and requirements for graduation with distinction. Successful candidates will have their degrees conferred with distinction in a particular area of study and their diplomas so inscribed.

Application Process for Graduation with Distinction

In order to be admitted to candidacy for a degree with distinction, the candidate must have a 3.3 grade average at the time of the application. Typically, students initiate the steps necessary to achieve graduation with distinction in their junior year. Although students who apply to graduate with distinction are encouraged to be in the EHE Honors Program, this is not a requirement for graduation with distinction. (Note: The student will be required to maintain a 3.2 grade average while completing requirements for graduation with distinction.)

The student applicant must plan with a faculty advisor a program of coursework of exceptional strength. Frequently, this will correspond with the list of courses on the student's major program and honors contract, if applicable. It is possible, however, to graduate with distinction in a field other than that of the major, provided that there is sufficient academic preparation in the view of the other department involved.

The planned coursework must include 8-15 credit hours of research work. The work should be taken under EDU H599 Honors Course, or in combination with EDU PAES 693 or EDU T&L 693, independent study with the faculty advisor or another faculty member who will supervise the candidate's project (i.e., project advisor: the faculty member who has agreed to work with the student on the honors project).

Application forms for Graduation with Distinction are available in the Students Services offices. Applications for distinction in a specific field should be completed in consultation with the project advisor. The application must include a brief abstract of the project to be carried out. Customarily, three quarters of the senior year should be allowed for research.

The student and the project advisor must sign the application form. The application and description of the project are then submitted to the Student Service Office. The Honors Director will review the application. Upon approval, copies are distributed to the student, the project advisor, and the Coordinator of the student's major.

Senior Honors Thesis

The student must submit a research proposal to the project advisor after the application for graduation with distinction has been approved. The research proposal is due by the Friday of the fifth week of the first quarter of the research project. The project advisor will evaluate the proposal (see Undergraduate Research Proposal Evaluation Form) and submit the form to the student's academic advising office. Before beginning the honors research, the student must have an approved application and a proposal evaluation on file and approval from The Office of Research Risks Protection, if applicable. A copy of the Research Risks Protection approval form and the protocol number must be filed with the Student Services Office. The program of work for distinction must provide for a minimum of 8 credit hours of collateral reading, laboratory experiment, or research work. The student planning distinction in a specific field limits the research and thesis to that field.

During the second quarter of the research but no later than the 9th week of that quarter, the student and advisor each must submit interim reports (attached) on the progress of the research to the Honors Director through the student services office. The purposes of the reports are to provide formative reflection and feedback on the advancement of the project.

Toward the end of the senior year, the student's research is expected to culminate in a senior honors thesis. Occasionally, a department may substitute some other evidence of scholarship or creativity for the written thesis. Applicants are invited to browse among copies of senior honors theses on file in the permanent storage area in 110 Arps Hall.

No later than the 9th week of the student's final quarter, a committee of three members of the teaching faculty will administer the oral examination that will certify the student for graduation with distinction. The examination may be both written and oral, but must include a one-hour oral examination. The committee should consist of the student's project advisor, one other faculty member (usually from the same department), and the Honors Director or a designated representative. The student must submit the completed thesis to each committee member one week before the oral exam. It is the responsibility of the student in consultation with his or her project advisor and/or Student Services personnel to arrange for the oral examination. Students who wish to graduate with distinction are also expected to submit abstracts to the OSU Denman Undergraduate Research Forum or a comparable outlet for the dissemination of research results, such as regional or national professional conferences.

After completion of the examination, the student is expected to submit a copy of his or her thesis to the Honors Director, who will arrange to have the thesis filed in the permanent storage area in 110 Arps Hall. A report of the results of the exam will be sent to the Director of Student Services by the end of the 9th week of the quarter of graduation.

Specific Criteria for Graduation with Distinction

  • Maintain a cgp of at least 3.3 during the quarters of the honors project (If the student's cgp falls below a 3.3, he or she will receive a warning letter from the Honors Director. The student will have one grace quarter to bring the cgp back up.)
  • Complete 8 to 15 credit hours of EDU H599 Honors Course or 693 over the span of three quarters, typically the last quarters before graduation unless the student is completing an internship.
  • Submit an interim report on the research project during the second quarter of the research but no later than the 9th week of that quarter.
  • Successfully complete an oral examination no later than the 9th week of the final quarter of the project.
  • Submit the thesis to the Honors Director within one week of completing the oral examination.

Key Tasks and Deadlines

Task Deadline/ Time Frame
Have a 3.3 cumulative GPA At the time of application
Maintain a 3.3 cumulative GPA During the honors research
Developed program of study with project advisor (included 8-15 credit hours of research over three quarters) Typically during junior year
Complete Application for Graduation with Distinction and research proposal abstract Typically during junior year
Submit application and abstract to your academic advising office Typically during junior year
Enroll in and complete 8 to 15 credit hours of EDU H599 or 693 Over the span of the three quarters of the research
After application is approved, submit research proposal to project advisor Before the Friday of the 5th week of the 1st quarter of the research project
Student an project advisor submit application for approval to conduct research to the Office of Research Risks Protection After the research proposal is approved by advisor
Project advisor completes Undergraduate Research Proposal Evaluation Form and submits this form and the research proposal to the student's academic advising office Within two weeks of receiving student's proposal
Submit Research Risks Protection approval form and protocol number to the student's academic advising office Within one week after receiving Research Risk Protection approval
Student and project advisor each submit an Research Interim Report interim report By the 9th week of the 2nd quarter of research
Complete a senior honors thesis Typically during the last quarter of research
Arrange for the oral examination of the thesis By the middle of the last quarter of research
Submit the thesis to the examination committee one week before the oral examination
Complete an oral examination of the senior thesis By the 9th week of the final quarter
Submit a final copy of senior thesis to the EHE Honors director Within one week of completing the oral examination

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