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How do I find dissertations and theses?

Answered by: jen saulnier lange last updated: feb 20, 2024     views: 1681, finding wsu dissertations and theses:, conduct a keyword search in search it.

• All dissertations completed at WSU are cataloged in  Search It . You can locate dissertations in Search It by searching for the author or title.  
• If you have a topic in mind, but don’t know the name of a specific dissertation, another way to locate dissertations in Search It is to make use of the keyword “thesis.” ALL WSU dissertations have the word “thesis” in their description (Thesis (Ph. D.)--Washington State University, 2001), so you can search for thesis and another word or phrase that describes your area of interest.

For Print: Dissertations published before 2008 are available in print from the WSU Libraries and are shelved by department. If the item is not available electronically, write down the call number, which begins with "WSU."  Use the location and call number information to find the dissertation in the stacks.

Use the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database

You may search  ProQuest Dissertations & Theses .  To find WSU dissertations and theses, use the database  ProQuest Dissertations and Theses at WSU .

If the dissertation is available online, you will see a "Full-text PDF" link to it. If you do not see a Full-text link, it means the resource is available in print.  Copy the title of the dissertation and paste it into Search It.  Click the search button, and you should see the item in the results list.  Write down the location and call number.

If you are looking to browse dissertations and theses from a specific department or advisor, use the following search field codes:

Advisor : ADV(Last name, First name) 

Department : DEP(Department name)

Learn more about field codes and  using ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database .

Finding Dissertations and Theses From Other Institutions

Sometimes the best way to find dissertations and theses from other institutions is to search via  Google,  which often brings up results from the institution's institutional repository. If the item is older, you may need to search the institution's online catalog. You can also search  Open Access Theses and Dissertations  (OATD). If you cannot find full text, you will need to either request a copy from the host institution (via  Interlibrary Loan ) or purchase an electronic copy from the Proquest Dissertations & Theses database.

For more information on submitting dissertations & theses and to learn more about copyright and embargoes, please visit Theses and Dissertations at WSU .

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• Researchers
• Locating Theses

As a researcher, locating theses in your discipline area will be useful for:

• Finding if your research topic is original.
• Referring to the references may indicate seminal work you should also consider.
• Providing an example of an appropriate research methodologies in your field of study.
• Providing an example thesis structure template that is appropriate for your discipline.

Locating Western Sydney University theses

Details of all research theses (Masters by Research or above) written by postgraduate students at Western Sydney University are available via ResearchDirect . Online access to the full-text is provided in most cases, where permission to publish has been granted by the author.

In ResearchDirect , enter your search term in the 'Search Publications' box. This can be keywords from a subject, a title or author’s name. To limit results to theses, click ‘thesis’ in the ‘Publication Type’ facet on the left. You can further limit your results by Date or Subject, if required.

Locating Australian theses

Western Sydney University theses are also available through the National Library of Australia's Trove website, along with other Australian and international theses held in Australian libraries. Results link to theses held in Australian university repositories. Full-text may be available, based on the author granting permission.

For further assistance, refer to the Trove search strategy for locating Australian theses .

Locating international theses

To locate international theses, use the following options:

• EBSCO Open Dissertations
• Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
• ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Postgraduates and staff can request to purchase theses where full-text access is not available.

For further assistance, consult with your School Librarian .

Recent Theses

Madison Barben “Between Brethren and Fatherland: German Methodist Relations with Nazi Germany and American Methodism, 1933-1939”

Victor Moore “The Style, the Song, and the Celebration: Black Power and the Changing Cultural Dynamics of Trinidad and Tobago, 1969-1973”

Jessica O’Rourke “Newcomers in Latah County, Idaho: A Public History Approach on Cultural Adaption in the American West, 1871-1921”

Anne Schobelock “‘Where Women are News’: Dallas and Houston Feminist’s Periodicals and Activism on the Era, Abortion, and Antirape; 1970-1981”

Kyley Canion-Brewer, MA “’What Remains?’: Decolonization and Erasure of Memory in the History of the AfricaMuseum, 1897-2020″

James Cornelius, MA “Executive Influence and the Opposition Discourse of John Taylor of Caroline: A Contextual Study in American Party Development, 1793-1794”

Adam LaPorte, MA “How the Eagle Blocked Out the Sun: American and Japanese Aeronautical Engineering and Aircraft Production During World War II”

Delaney Piper, MA “Farm Bound: Landscapes of Self-Sufficience, Dependency, and Penalty in Pacific Northwest Poor Farms”

Mario Vega, MA “A Citizen Same as You and I”: Japanese American Student Relocation to Moscow, Idaho and Pullman, Wa 1942-1945

Cole Robinson, MA “Negotiating Sovereignty Within the British Atlantic: Text Mining the Discourse of Colonial South Carolinian Elites, 1869-1776”

Qianni Shen, MA “Behind the Glory: Revealing the Hidden Memory of Chinese Air Force Pilots and Japanese Kamikaze Pilots 1931-1945”

Halderman, Christopher, MA “The Militarization of the Puget Sound: A Gateway to the Pacific, 1880-1900”

Hitchen, Matthew, MA “A Republican Education: The Politics and Ideology of Education in Columbia City, New York. 1777-1850”

Edgerton, Samantha, MA “Better Than Being on the Streets: Oregon, Idaho, and the Battered Women’s Movement.”

Hagadone, Zachary, MA “Palantines and Print Culture: Imagining Migration and Identity in the British Antlantic World.”

Johnson, Amy, MA “Wanapum Dispossession and Persistence on the Mid-Columbia in the Atomic Age.”

Johnson, Joshua, MA “When Bretheren Walk Together: Immanuel Tremellius (C. 1510-1580) , Jewish-Christian Conversion, Christian Hebraism, and Reformed Christianity.”

Menard, John (JT), MA “Scottish Ale: Bert Grant and the Rise and Fall of the Yakima Brewing Malting Company 1982 – 2005.”

Schroeder, James, MA “Programs of Denial: Unlocking the Gates to Skilled Immigration Through Project Paperclip, 1945 to 1947”

Briere, Laura, MA “More Than Meets the Eye: The Shoshone-Bannock Response to Education at Fort Hall, Idaho 1904-1946.”

Cassiere, Katrina, MA “Assobiando Dixie: Confederate Exiles in Brazil.”

Gumm, Sarah Beth, MA “Tis the Best Joy that Anyone Can Ask: Progressive Era Women’s Clubs in Tacoma, Washington.”

Oller, Emily, MA “Righteous Violence: Gender and the Stormtroopers, 1923-1933.”

Smith, Taylor, MA “Closeted Tongues of Fire: The Holiness Movement, Pentecostalism, and the Rise of Evangelical Cooperation in the 20th Century.”

Svehla, Amanda, MA “Communication and Power: Letter-Writing and the Elizabethan Court.”

Gilleran, Sean, MA “Carl Sagan’s Groovy Cosmos: Public Science and American Counterculture in the 1970s.”

Ockerman, Megan, MA “It’s the Water”: A History of the Olympia Brewing Company, 1896-1983.”

Torres, Renee, MA “Emissaries for the Lord: American Protestant Women Writers and Missionaries, 1930s”

Webb, Brianna, MA “Helmut Kohl: In Search of a Unified Past”

Anderson, James, MA Thesis Title:  “Seeing America’s Alps: Visual Media and the Creation of North Cascades National Park”

Hogstad, Jason Thomas, MA Thesis Title: “Splitting Hares: Eastern Oregon Pest Control and the Urban/Rural Divide, 1900-1925”

Rau, Calen Edward, MA Thesis Title: Of Monumental Importance: World War II, Hungarian Nationalism, and the Commemorative Landscape of Budapest

Dennis, Michael (Mickey) , MA Thesis Title: “An Un-American” Objection: Mennonite Conscientious Objectors and American Antagonisms in Kansas During World War I”

Ford, Joni, MA Thesis Title: “Lowered Expectations: Mary Walker and the Disappointments of Mission Life, 1839-1848”

Kinsella, Tyle r , MA

Runyan, Nyssa, MA Thesis Title: “The Greatest Adventure: American Volunteers from Leland Stanford, Jr. University and the University of California, Berkeley, in the American Field Service, 1916 – 1918”

Schraeder, Sarah, MA Thesis Title: “The Long Road to Memorialization: A History of the Development of the Esterwegen Memorial, 1945-2011”

Stack, Brian, MA Dissertation Title: “Sodomists and Citizens: The Washington State Sodomy Law at the Turn of the Twentieth Century”

Wells, Jacob, MA Thesis Title: “The Devotio Moderna; The Radical Reformation, and the Ideal of Inner Spirituality: 1374 – 1554”

Franklin, Robert, MA Thesis Title — “Matanuska? Mister, She’s Tough”: New Deal Agricultural Settlement in Alaska, 1933-1940

Grube, April Mae, MA Dissertation Title — From Honeymoon to Massacre: Memory and Remembrance of Marcus Whitman, 1847-1962

Patterson, Katherine Joyce, MA Dissertation Title — Inferiority, Sexuality, and Motherhood: Methods and Representations of Female Holocaust Rescuers

Vickoren, Daniel Joseph, MA Dissertation Title — Seeing Red From the Pulpit: Shifting Perceptions of Mormons and Pentecostals in American Society During the First Red Scare

Sociology Graduate Students - WSU

Keeping up with the literature, doing the literature review, correct links for finding databases with dissertations and theses, dissertations.

• Methods and Datasets
• Scholarly Communication and Why
• New Modes of Article Access
• Managing Your Information: Interlibrary Loan, Reference Managers, and More

Academic Tim Gunn Says...

http://academictimgunn.tumblr.com/post/31728656826

Subject Guides

My Sociology library guide

• Political Science by Lorena O'English Last Updated Apr 16, 2024 119 views this year
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• Measuring Research Impact Using Web of Science, Altmetrics, and Other Sources by Talea Anderson Last Updated Sep 7, 2023 998 views this year
• Setting up Google Scholar for WSU
• Search It - Pinned Favorites Must be logged in to use. Can organize using Labels.
• Database Accounts Example: Sociological Abstracts - (ProQuest platform)
• Publisher Accounts Example: Elsevier/ScienceDirect
• Current Contents Connect. Web of Science. Current Contents Connect¨ is a current awareness database that provides easy Web access to complete tables of contents, abstracts, bibliographic information, and abstracts from the most recently published issues of leading scholarly journals, as well as from more than 7,000 relevant, evaluated websites.
• JournalTOCs Create multiple tables of contents alerts at once. "JournalTOCs is the largest, free collection of scholarly journal Tables of Contents (TOCs): 29,288 journals including 13,305 selected Open Access journals and 11,658 Hybrid journals, from 3359 publishers. JournalTOCs is for researchers, students, librarians and anyone looking for the latest scholarly articles. JournalTOCs alerts you when new issues of your Followed journals are published." Note: this is open access and really nice in its extensive coverage, however it's not very polished and tables of contents can be messy.
• Annual Reviews Combo - presearch, research, and keeping up tool
• Locating Social Sciences Book Reviews
• Sage Research Methods digital library
• WSU GPSA Professional Development Initiative: Writing Workshop Series
• Rural Sociology by Lorena O'English Last Updated Nov 9, 2023 203 views this year

If the WSU copy is checked out, you can order a copy via Summit (6-week check-out, one renewal)

• SAGE Research Methods Designed to guide users to the content they need to learn a little or a lot about their method, SAGE Research Methods includes more than 1000 books, reference works, journal articles, and instructional videos by world-leading academics from across the social sciences, including the largest collection of qualitative methods books available online from any scholarly publisher. The Methods Map can help those less familiar with research methods to find the best technique to use in their research.
• Using mixed methods research synthesis for literature reviews (2017) via Sage Research methods ; downloadable chapters
• Systematic approaches to a successful literature review (Print, 2016)
• Conducting Your Literature Review (2020, ebook) Psychological lens, but valuable for other behavioral/social sciences as well

• Displaying Your Findings Call Number: BF76.8 .N53 2010
• Presenting Your Findings Call Number: HA31 .N53 1999
• Reporting Research in Psychology Call Number: BF76.8 .C66 2011
• Dissertation databases at WSU

Finding WSU Dissertations and Theses (not all theses are available at the WSU Libraries; some may be electronic and some may not. If you are reading this in a class with me, ask me a question about electronic dissertations and theses (often referred to as EADs)...)

1. use the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses @ WSU database (you can limit by department). CJ people, you may also want to search political science as the CJ department was a PS program for many years; Political science people should search for ("political science" OR " School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs"). 

2.  For older dissertations, or for theses, use Search It (narrow your scope to WSU Pullman) - try this search: "washington state university" "department name" then either "ph d" or MA.  - see notes above regarding department names. You may also want to try: "department name" "ph d" thesis (this term is used for both theses and dissertations). Note: Masters theses are not required to be submitted to the WSU Libraries or to ProQuest, so may not be available. Note that many will be online at the WSU institutional repository, Research Exchange.

3. Find print copies (the third floor of Holland Library): CrimJ will be at call number WSU P6 YEAR (i.e. WSU P6 1985), PolS at call number WSU A5 YEAR, and Sociology at WSU S5 YEAR.

• Proquest Dissertations & Theses A & I - for schools other than WSU Provides abstracts on over 2 million doctoral dissertations and master's theses, open-access dissertations from schools other than WSU.
• Proquest Dissertations and Theses at WSU Provides full text of WSU authored dissertations and theses. Some WSU resources may have an embargo period and not be available.
• OATD – Open Access Theses and Dissertations
• PQDT Open "With PQDT Open, you can read the full text of open access dissertations and theses free of charge." (Now accessed via ProQuest - just follow the referral link)
• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations "Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD), an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination, and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs). We support electronic publishing and open access to scholarship in order to enhance the sharing of knowledge worldwide."
• EBSCO Open Dissertations via EBSCO and BiblioLabs
• << Previous: Presearch
• Next: Methods and Datasets >>
• Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 2:22 PM
• URL: https://libguides.libraries.wsu.edu/socgrad

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• Researchers

Western Sydney University ResearchDirect

Western Sydney University research is made searchable and accessible to the global research community via the Institutional Repository. Open access compliant records can be harvested by major search engines such as Google Scholar, increasing the visibility of research outputs. Metadata is also accessible through TROVE, hosted by the National Library of Australia. Access to the full text of the publication or output will be made available where possible.

Guidelines for what may be submitted to ResearchDirect can be found here .

Western Sydney University research is made searchable and accessible to the global community via the Library’s institutional repository.

Publication records are harvested by Google , Google Scholar , and Trove , increasing the visibility of these research outputs.

You can search dataset records that are harvested by Research Data Australia or you can use the Google Dataset search to search and discover all publicly available datasets world-wide.

Access to the full text of the publication or output will be made available where possible.

For further assistance, please contact your School Librarian .

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Your Honors Thesis

The honors college thesis handbook and guidelines.

Completing this Honors College requirement provides you with an opportunity to design a unique project that will challenge you to reflect upon yours Honors education and to present your work to a group of faculty and your peers.

If you have any additional questions please contact  Robin Bond .

View the Spring 2024 Thesis Presentation Schedule

Sign up for your thesis presentation , submit your final thesis.

Table of Contents

What is the Honors Thesis and why do I have to complete one?

What do i do first.

• Thesis checklist
• Formatting your thesis proposal, and proposal review process
• Formatting your thesis

Who will evaluate my thesis and oral presentations?

How will my thesis be graded.

• What is “pass with distinction” and will I be eligible?

Forms & Guidelines

• Download the Honors College Thesis Handbook and Guidelines
• Honors Thesis Proposal Form
• Thesis Oral Presentation Rubric
• Thesis Written Document Rubric
• Thesis Evaluation Guidelines
• Thesis Advisor Signature

Completing this Honors requirement provides you an opportunity to design a unique project that will challenge you to reflect upon your Honors education and to present your work to a group of faculty and your peers. Your thesis will be the culmination of your undergraduate work and a bridge to your future career or academic life. Completion of the senior thesis is one of the hallmarks of a quality Honors education.

The thesis also provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to work closely with faculty members on campus who share similar research or creative interests. Your thesis can provide entrée to academic and professional research. It can lead to a publication and/or a conference presentation. Furthermore, faculty members who serve as thesis advisors are in a position to write very strong letters for graduate/professional schools or positions in the labor force. Prospective employers and graduate school admissions committees are impressed by the dedication and discipline required to write a thesis.

A thesis is not just another research or term paper. A thesis will thoroughly investigate previous research on a topic and will include your own insights and contributions to the topic. Many theses attempt to answer an academic question or test a hypothesis. Students in art, music, creative writing, or film studies, for example, may choose to complete a “creative project.” In this case, your written paper would be a contextual analysis of the work that you completed and would provide a lens for an audience to evaluate your work. See the “Formatting Your Thesis Proposal” and “Formatting Your Completed Thesis” sections below.

The information provided here will help you complete your Honors thesis and will answer basic questions about the process. The advisors in the Honors College are available to talk with you further about this requirement and to help you successfully complete it.

Before you begin writing your thesis, it is highly recommended that you enroll in and complete HONORS 398, an optional one-unit “Thesis Proposal” class. HONORS 398 should be taken in your sophomore or junior year. The goals of this class are to identify an appropriate advisor, develop a research activity or creative project, and prepare your proposal. In conjunction with your thesis advisor, you will develop a proposal that will be submitted to the Honors College for approval. The required format for the proposal is outlined below in this handbook, and the cover form, which your advisor must sign, is available here.

Once the proposal is approved by the Thesis Review Committee, you will complete your project under the supervision of your thesis advisor, and you may plan to present your final thesis as soon as the following semester.

Note: Students in the College of Engineering should check their schedules of studies to see which course satisfies the Honors College thesis requirement.

Thesis Checklist

• Thesis topic/Research project Your thesis can be a project that you develop or it can be based on faculty research that you are involved in. Often a thesis is a critical discussion/literature review of a topic guided by the specific research question of your thesis. It is not a requirement that you generate your own data in a lab or by using a survey, for example.  Most students begin thinking about their thesis in SOPHOMORE YEAR ; some students get involved in research on campus as early as FRESHMAN YEAR .
• HONORS 398 Plan to enroll in HONORS 398 during your JUNIOR YEAR. The course is not required, but it helps you write a proposal for your project and explains information about writing and completing the thesis. If you are pursuing a major in nursing or speech and hearing sciences or if you are planning to study abroad in junior year.  Some students choose to take HONORS 398 in SPRING OF SOPHOMORE YEAR .
• Thesis Advisor The thesis requires that you work with a faculty advisor at WSU. This can be anyone who is in a faculty position (including clinical faculty and senior instructors) at any WSU campus. You must have an advisor before you submit your thesis proposal to honors. HONORS 398 can help you identify an advisor for your project; if you are doing research in a faculty lab, the PI (Principal Investigator) is the best option for your thesis advisor.
• Thesis Proposal Before you can enroll in HONORS 450 thesis credits, you must submit a thesis proposal to honors. The thesis proposal is a 5-page document that shows you are embarking on a solid, academic project that will satisfy the thesis requirement. The thesis proposal must be submitted no later than the semester before you plan to complete and present your thesis. The thesis proposal is submitted as an email attachment to [email protected] with a coversheet.  Most students submit their proposal in JUNIOR YEAR .
• HONORS 450, 3 credits HONORS 450 is not an actual class; these are 3 credits that satisfy your thesis requirement for honors. Once your thesis proposal is approved, you will be enrolled in HONORS 450 credits according to your instructions on the thesis proposal cover sheet (see above).
• Written Thesis You will work with your thesis advisor to write your final thesis, which will probably take multiple drafts. Communicate with your advisor about how often you should meet to review your work. Your final thesis will be due on the Monday of the week prior to the week of your presentation date.  Most students plan to complete the thesis in SENIOR YEAR .
• Schedule your Presentation Plan to schedule your thesis presentation early in the semester when you plan to complete your thesis. There will be a date by which you must schedule your presentation. You will need the information about your advisor and the faculty evaluator for your project. Your advisor can suggest an evaluator to review your work.  Most students plan to complete the thesis in SENIOR YEAR .
• Thesis Presentation Your thesis presentation is the last step in completing your thesis. Your presentation will be attended by your advisor, your evaluator, and a host from the Honors College. You will present your thesis for 20 minutes, followed by 10-15 minutes of Q/A, and finally the evaluation, so, the entire presentation will be scheduled for one hour. Students at the Spokane campus have the option of presenting via the WSU videoconferencing system.  Most students plan to complete and present their thesis in SENIOR YEAR .

Formatting your thesis proposal

Thesis proposals are typically 5 pages long and are double spaced using a 12-point font. Please paginate your proposal and be sure to attach the required Thesis Proposal Form to the front of your proposal. The guidelines below indicate the sections required.

I. Introduction/Literature Review

Your introduction or literature review provides specific background information or the “body of knowledge” relevant to your Honors thesis. The literature you cite should draw on both earlier and current scholarly work. For proposals in the arts and humanities, include several journal sources and academic book(s). For proposals in the social sciences and sciences, include primary sources, review articles, and academic book(s).

This section should be written such that your research question or hypothesis or creative activity flows logically from it.

II. Proposed Activity

Depending upon your academic discipline, you may present your proposed activity as a research question, hypothesis(es), or creative activity with a stated goal or outcome(s). The proposed activity that forms the basis of your Honors thesis must be tied to an existing body of knowledge. This section of your thesis proposal should be clear and concise – e.g., two sentences in length.

III. Methodology

All disciplines lend themselves to research and creativity; all work is conducted using some methodology. Your methodology determines the rigor and validity of your work.

This section of your thesis proposal should present all the methods (i.e., scholarly approaches) you will use in your thesis. Your advisor will be well-versed in methodologies.

Your methodology may depend on your field. For example …

• If you plan to create original artistic work or other creative work, provide a scholarly “lens” through which an audience may perceive it (e.g., analyze the work of artists who influenced your own work and how your work differs from/is similar to theirs). Discuss any challenges to be overcome and give a timeline you will follow to complete your project. Be specific about what you plan to create. Articulate your creative goals.
• If you plan to conduct literature research (whether in the liberal arts and humanities, sciences, social sciences, business, or communications), indicate how you will select and examine your sources (e.g., date range of journals to be searched, data base(s) to utilize), what guidelines you will use to interpret them, and how you plan to analyze and synthesize your findings.
• If you plan to perform scientific research in a lab or the field, provide information on materials and methods including controls, replicates, and statistical analyses.
• If you plan to conduct a meta-analysis in the social sciences, indicate the criteria to be used to select the publications for your analysis as well as the statistics you will apply.
• If your research involves the use of humans, including surveys and/or questionnaires, you must obtain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval through the Office of Research Assurances (www.irb.wsu.edu). This approval is absolutely necessary before you interview one person or send out a single survey to be completed.
• If you are doing a survey or interviews, include the full survey instrument and/or the complete interview questions to the Appendix section. Further, if data collection is involved, describe how the data will be collected and analyzed and what materials will be used.

IV. Expected Results and/or Potential Conclusions

In no more than one or two paragraphs , describe the results you expect from your thesis and what those results will mean in the greater context of knowledge in the field. If you complete a creative project, discuss the implications of your project in terms of a larger context of your discipline.

V. Annotated Bibliography

This is a preliminary list of the “body of knowledge” that was cited in your Introduction/Literature Review (above). Your annotated bibliography section will begin on a new sheet of paper and contain at least five annotated sources. Select recent journal articles, review articles, and scholarly books that address your topic. After each source, write an annotation, i.e. a 3- to 4-sentence statement explaining what information is included in the source. (See example below.) Include specific facts rather than vague generalizations (e.g., instead of saying, “This journal article talks about Beethoven’s 9th symphony,” say “This journal article analyzes the form, instrumentation, and re-orchestration by Mahler of Beethoven’s 9th symphony”). If it is not obvious, explain how the source will be useful to the development of your thesis. For the citation, follow the approved style for your field (i.e. APA, MLA, Chicago Style Manual, etc.). Single-space each citation and its corresponding annotation and leave a blank line between entries:

Portes A. 1998. Social capital: its origins and applications in modern sociology. Annu. Rev. Sociol. 24:1-24.

This review article discusses the origins and definitions of social capital in the writings of several scholars in the field. The author identifies four sources of social capital and examines their dynamics. He also gives examples of both positive functions and negative consequences of social capital. It is fundamental for my thesis hypothesis.

Powell W.W. and Snellman K. 2004. The knowledge economy. Annu. Rev. Sociol. 30:199-220.

This review article uses evidence from patent data and discusses the debate on whether technological advances have generated more or less worker autonomy. It is useful for my research because it defines the knowledge economy and provides both sides of the debate.

VI. Appendix

This optional section will contain your complete survey instruments and full range of interview questions, or any other information you and your advisor deem essential for readers and reviewers.

Thesis proposal review process

If your thesis proposal is electronically submitted by the fifth day of a month, you will receive approval—or a request for revision—by the last working day of that month. A faculty committee will evaluate your thesis proposal. All notifications to you and your advisor will be made using WSU’s email system.

Formatting your completed thesis

All Honors College theses include these sections, arranged in the following order :

The title page will include the following: thesis title, your name, the semester in which you are giving your oral presentation, and your advisor’s name, department, and college.

Advisor Signature Approval Page

Your advisor must indicate that he/she agrees that your thesis is complete and ready to submit. This page should be placed directly after your Title Page, and include the following:

• As thesis advisor for (your name) , I have read this paper and find it satisfactory.
• Thesis advisor signature
• Date of signature

The précis represents an informative, concise summary of your thesis that is free from jargon and written in language that an academic reader outside your discipline can understand. (Note: A précis differs from an abstract, which is written for professionals in the discipline.) The précis should be no more than two pages long, double-spaced. Develop your précis after you complete the body of your Honors thesis, and place it directly after the Advisor Signature Approval Page. Include the problem, question, or hypothesis examined, an explanation of why you decided to study this problem or issue or to pursue this creative project, the approach you took, what you discovered, and avenues others might pursue in this area in the future.

Include a table of contents that guides the reader to the various sections of your paper.

List of Figures and Tables

If two or more figures or tables appear in the main body of your paper, include a list of figures/tables after the Table of Contents.

Main Body of Paper

This section of your thesis should be approximately 20 pages long, double-spaced, with page numbers at the bottom of each page. If you have chosen a creative project, your paper may be 10-12 pages long. It should be double-spaced, have page numbers at the bottom of each page, be written in English unless specific arrangements have been made in advance, and contain no spelling or grammatical errors. In all cases, the style should be appropriate for the discipline.

For organizational purposes, you may wish to use headings and sections (see below) for the main body of your thesis as they appear in your Table of Contents. Discuss the organization of your thesis with your advisor and follow a format that is typical of writing in your discipline. However, your thesis must include a Title Page, Advisor Signature Approval Page, Précis, and References Cited section. In addition, the main body of your thesis must provide the reader with a logical introduction to your project (explaining how it fits within a larger context and what your focus is), what you did for your thesis, how you conducted your work, and the significance of your work to your field of endeavor.

If you have chosen to complete a creative project, you may submit a shorter written document in which you should answer the following questions:

• What are the artistic aims of your project?
• What or who are the key influences on your work, i.e., current or historical artists with similar creative ideas?
• Is your work similar to or different from these artists?
• What methods or techniques did you use?
• Did you follow a disciplinary tradition?
• What issues and obstacles did you encounter?
• What did you learn? What are the next steps?
• What further work is needed related to your project?

Optional Headings and Sections

I. Introduction or Literature Review

This section sets the stage for your work. It gives the reader a view of the framework for your project – the particular field in which you are working – and brings the reader logically to the project at hand.

The introduction should answer two questions :

• What is the larger context (body of knowledge) for your topic?
• What is the significance of your particular topic?

The introduction or literature review should lead logically and clearly to your research question or hypothesis.

II. Thesis Activity or Creative Project

State your thesis activity/creative project succinctly in one or two sentences.

III. Methodology (Materials and Methods)

Describe the approaches you employed, and cite any relevant literature. Readers should be able to understand clearly the procedural and analytical steps you undertook.

IV. Results and Discussion

This is the real heart of your project and contains your original contribution of new knowledge in your field.

What did you discover, learn, create, or uncover? Present, interpret, and discuss the data or ideas you have collected or generated. Describe your findings in a precise and well-supported manner, as this is primarily where you can persuade your readers to adopt your perspective on the subject. Relate your work to the larger field. Cite any relevant bibliographic sources within your discussion.

The ability to view one’s own work critically and objectively is essential for all fields of scholarly research, and a thorough discussion of your findings demonstrates your potential as a scholar.

Because all projects are by their very nature limited in scope, an essential part of fully analyzing your work is to understand its limits. Think about the robustness of what you have done:

• If you had collected your materials or data differently, could you still expect to replicate your findings?
• Could you have approached your project in a different way?
• Did your assumptions lead to a certain bias that had implications for your conclusions?
• Do your findings corroborate those in the published literature?

V. Conclusions

What, briefly, did you learn or discover? What are the larger ramifications of your work?

VI. References Cited

VII. Appendix (optional)

Supplemental material such as pictures, figures, survey instruments, interview questions, and tables should be included in the Appendix.

Your thesis will be evaluated by your thesis advisor and a thesis evaluator selected by you and your advisor. The evaluator may or may not be from your discipline, so critical factors for your success are a very clear précis, a well-written introduction and discussion of your work, and an oral presentation that explains to an educated lay audience the significance of your thesis.

The reviewers will use the Thesis Evaluation Rubric and Oral Presentation Rubric to score both your written thesis document and your oral presentation. Review each rubric and become aware of how your work will be evaluated.

Your advisor and the evaluator will evaluate both your written and oral presentation/poster. Students’ work is graded as “excellent,” “satisfactory/pass,” “needs significant or minor revision,” or “fail.” Students whose thesis is…

• judged exemplary may have their theses nominated for “Pass with Distinction” designation
• graded “needs revisions” have approx. two weeks to make all corrections, get approval of the changes, and resubmit a new electronic copy of the thesis
• graded “fail” will need to redo the thesis to the satisfaction of the advisor and the Honors College, and submit a revised electronic copy of the thesis

What is pass with distinction and will I be eligible?

Exemplary theses may be nominated for “Pass with Distinction.”

Papers that merit “Pass with Distinction” reflect scholarly writing that is couched in the relevant literature and is analytical, synthetic, well-argued, well-written, and possibly publishable. Members of the Honors Council make the final determination on this designation.

The thesis advisor and evaluator must be in agreement before a thesis can receive a “Nomination for Pass with Distinction” designation. The thesis advisor then formally nominates the thesis in a written letter submitted to the Honors College. The letter must state why, in specific terms, the advisor believes the work deserves this designation.

If your thesis is nominated for Pass with Distinction, you will be asked permission to publish your paper on the Honors College website and in the Library’s Research Exchange Project. You and your advisor must both sign approval forms.

Important Note : Exceptions to regularly scheduled thesis weeks will be considered on a case-by-case basis and require a petition from the student supported by the thesis advisor. No thesis may be presented in the same semester in which the proposal was submitted and approved . Only students presenting during the scheduled periods may be eligible to receive a nomination for Pass with Distinction which will be reflected on their WSU transcript.

Most of the Frequently Asked Questions below will be answered during the 1-unit HONORS 398 course, the Thesis Preparation Course. The Honors College encourages you to take this class as soon as you have earned 45 units.

When do I do my thesis?

You should plan to initiate your thesis work as early in your academic career as you can. Thesis proposals should be submitted no later than the second semester of your junior year.

Can I do a thesis while studying abroad?

Yes, a thesis can be either initiated or completed during your time studying abroad. In this case you might wish to complete your Certificate of Global Competencies as well. Meet with an Honors College advisor to discuss your options.

How do I find an academic advisor?

An academic advisor is chosen by you. The request to advise may be based on your positive interaction with a specific professor, the professor’s expertise in the area of your research, or your interest in a professor’s teaching. You and your advisor will also pick a thesis reviewer from your department or a similar field of research. Please direct your advisor to online information “For Thesis Advisors” on the Honors College website.

Does the advisor need to be from WSU?

Yes, the principal advisor needs to be a tenure-track faculty member or senior instructor at WSU, but a co-advisor from another academic institution or the world at large can be arranged with the agreement of the Honors College at WSU.

How do I choose an academic question for my thesis?

Your academic question or hypothesis should reflect your interest or major field of study. The question may be one to which you have always wanted to know the answer, or it may reflect a question you identified from one of your classes or discussions with a professor. Ultimately you should have a passion or deep interest in the question you research. You may also choose to complete a creative project, such as creation of an art piece or musical composition, a short story, or a film. However, your thesis must include a relevant scholarly examination of its context as described above.

What is an academic question?

An academic question is one which asks the “how” or the “why” of some topic. It invites further research and deeper curiosity about an answer by engaging the relevant scholarly literature.

What is a thesis proposal?

A thesis proposal is a document that provides the necessary background and scholarly literature for your topic. It clearly identifies the question being asked, the hypothesis being tested, or the creative project to be completed. It provides the methodology you will use to answer that question or complete the project, notes what the expected results might be and what these results mean within the context of what is known. An annotated scholarly bibliography of five or six key references is needed. An appendix is required if you have human or animal studies approval, graphs, figures or charts of preliminary data, or rubrics that you will use for analysis, questionnaires or interview questions you will use. Annotating a bibliography means preparing a short commentary on each reference you use in the proposal. If you complete a creative project, your proposal will describe your work, explain how you will execute your project, the time you expect it to take, and you will place your effort in the larger context of others who have completed similar work. It will also have an annotated bibliography.

How long must the thesis proposal be?

Normally, the body of the proposal, including the literature review, the question being asked, the methodology and the expected results and conclusion sections, will not exceed five, double-spaced typewritten pages. The thesis proposal should be long enough to clearly explain what you wish to do, in language that an educated academic can understand, even if the proposal is not in his or her academic discipline.

When should the thesis proposal be completed and submitted to the Honors College for review and approval?

An electronic thesis proposal submitted by the 5th day of any month will be reviewed and the status communicated to the student via email by the last working day of that month. Reviews of proposals submitted after the 5th day of the month may take until the last working day of the following month.

Can I start my thesis research before the proposal is approved?

The thesis proposal can be turned in to the Honors College whenever it is ready, but must be approved by the Honors College before you begin the main focus of your research, and before you will be officially enrolled in HONORS 450 (Honors Thesis or Project).

Who evaluates the proposal?

The Honors Thesis Proposal Committee will review all proposals.

Are proposals accepted without alteration?

Yes, many proposals are accepted without alteration, while others may require further explanation and revision. If revision is required, the Thesis Director will inform you of specific changes or clarifications they would like to see in the revised proposal.

Are any proposals rejected? If so, why are they rejected and what does this mean?

Yes, a proposal can be rejected, but that is rare. It is much more likely that a proposal will be returned to a student for revision and explanation of critical points identified by the Proposal Committee. When the student responds to those questions with cogent answers, the revised submitted proposal will be approved and the research can begin.

May I do my research in collaboration with a fellow Honors student?

Yes, but each student’s contribution to the thesis must be stated in the proposal and be very clear to all reviewers of the thesis.

May I compile a journal and use that for my thesis?

Yes, you may compile a journal of your experiences, but you must ask and answer an academic question to fulfill the Honors Thesis requirement.

When is my completed thesis due in Honors?

There are numerous opportunities to present each semester. An electronic copy of your thesis (including the Thesis Advisor Signature Page), will be due on the Monday of the week prior to your presentation date.

When will I give my oral presentation?

Oral presentations are held during various weeks through the fall and spring semesters. You will choose a date that works for you, your thesis advisor, your chosen discipline evaluator, and the Honors College. Dates will be advertised each semester. Summer presentations are scheduled only in exceptional cases depending on the availability of the Honors faculty and WSU faculty who serve as evaluators.

What style and format do I use for my thesis?

The style (e.g. APA, MLA) should reflect that used by the major academic journals in your disciplinary area. You and your advisor will agree on which style you will follow. However, all theses must follow a specific format. See “Formatting Your Completed Thesis” on this website.

Who will attend my thesis presentation?

Anyone may attend your presentation. We encourage you to invite your family and/or friends, but that is up to you. Your thesis advisor, your chosen discipline thesis evaluator, one evaluator selected by the Honors College, and you are required to attend your presentation. The Honors-chosen reviewer may or may not be from your disciplinary area, so you must prepare an oral presentation that is accessible to the whole academic community.

How will I know if I have passed?

At the end of your 20-minute oral presentation, you can be asked questions by anyone present. When there are no more questions, you will be asked to step outside the room. Only an Honors representative, your thesis advisor, your discipline thesis evaluator, and the Honors-chosen evaluator will stay to discuss your thesis. In five to ten minutes, you will be invited to return to the room and be told whether you have passed. The total time allotted for each presentation is one hour.

What if I receive a pass contingent upon making revisions?

You will have two to three weeks to make all corrections, get your thesis advisor’s approval of the changes, and submit one new, corrected, electronic copy to the Honors College.

What if I do not pass?

All students must complete the thesis to the satisfaction of their thesis advisor and the Honors College. A “do not pass” rating may reflect a lack of effort, content, or overall performance. Each case will be dealt with on an individual basis. A completely revised thesis must be submitted electronically to the Honors College. In the case of a satisfactorily revised thesis, another oral presentation is not required. An altogether different thesis will require a new oral presentation.

What is “Pass with Distinction?”

A “Pass with Distinction” designation is considered when the major professor and the two evaluators believe the thesis and oral presentation breaks significant new ground or represents an unusual amount of care and effort by the student. Thesis evaluators and the advisor must be unanimous in their evaluation of the thesis, and a nomination letter from the advisor is forwarded to the Honors Council for final review and determination of this award.

Thesis Examples

Copies of several Honors students’ theses are online at Libraries’ Research Exchange.

Or, follow this link to view the Honors College Theses Collection.

Proposal Examples

Colville, WA, and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Prostate-Specific Antigen in Cancer Diagnostics*

Lake Osoyoos Investments

Awareness of Hemochromatosis*

*Final theses available in the Research Exchange.

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