Capstone Experience and Theses

Student presents poster about thesis.

All honors majors complete a two-credit thesis as one of their honors preparations, and as their comprehensive experience.

Students select the focus of their thesis work; theses typically build on coursework and methods training in Educational Studies (and the other department in the case of majors with partnering departments). Honors major theses are supervised by a faculty member in Educational Studies and, in the case of majors with partnering departments, a faculty member in the other department. 

 All course majors complete a comprehensive experience that either consists of:

  • Writing a one- or two-credit thesis.
    Students select the focus of their thesis work; theses typically build on coursework and methods training in Educational Studies (and the other department in the case of majors with partnering departments). The course major thesis involves independent research that can result in many different final forms, including but not limited to a literature review, a research proposal, an empirical study (2-credit only), a curriculum, podcast, or documentary film. Major theses are supervised by a faculty member in Educational Studies and, in the case of majors with partnering departments, a faculty member in the other department. Faculty members use a rubric developed by the Department of Educational Studies to evaluate one- and two-credit theses. These rubrics represent the department's learning goals for students and are provided to students as they begin their thesis work.

  • Completing a two-credit Honors Seminar Capstone that includes a research component. 

    Educational Studies majors considering the honors seminar capstone experience must confer with the faculty instructor of the seminar to determine the requirements. Those pursuing majors in Educational Studies with a Partnering Department must confer with advisers in both departments if they are interested in the honors seminar capstone experience. Some partnering departments have agreements in place to accept the honors seminar option, while others do not, or require special approval. It is the student's responsibility to ensure their program is approved in advance by both departments.