The Honors Thesis Explained

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The Honors College Research Conference will include poster presentations of outstanding honors research across campus. Here, honors mechanical engineering major Ange Iradukunda presents his research at the Power Optimization for Electro-Thermal Systems conference in Illinois. He was the only undergraduate granted this opportunity.

The Honors College thesis, which all honors students must complete before walking across the commencement stage, looms large in the imaginations of most of these undergraduates. Faculty members who are new to the honors experience may have a few questions about mentoring undergraduate research as well.

To demystify the honors thesis process, from finding a topic to defending the thesis, the Honors College is hosting the first ever Honors College Research Conference from 12:30-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, in the Arkansas Union. 

The idea for the conference came from an Honors College staff brainstorming session to increase honors retention and graduation rates.

"We know that one of the main reasons students drop out of honors is that they have no idea how to move forward with the required research project," said Jennie Popp, associate dean of the Honors College. "Here's a great opportunity for them to learn more about the thesis process, and faculty interested in mentoring honors students can see how the thesis experience is handled in their college."

The Honors College partnered with honors directors from all six undergraduate colleges and schools across campus to organize this event. Poster presentations will feature outstanding thesis research from each honors program. Breakout sessions will vary from college to college, but may include mock thesis defenses, interaction with faculty panels, opportunities to identify thesis topics, and discussion with students who have completed their thesis.

Conference Schedule

All honors students and faculty are invited to attend. Students are asked to complete the Honors College Research Conference Student RSVP form; faculty are asked to complete the Honors College Research Conference Faculty RSVP form.