Honors Thesis Information
Honors Thesis Information
By the end of the Honors Thesis, the student will have conducted, under his or her own initiative, original research that engages the current scholarly discussion in the discipline and thereby increases humanity’s knowledge. The student will be able to present this new knowledge in both written (via a thesis or suitable substitute) and oral (via an oral defense or suitable substitute) forms. Moreover, the student will have learned how to present his or her research in a public form by having participated in conferences (including at least the NU Undergraduate Research Conference). As such, the student will have ultimately produced a product bears more resemblance to work conducted in graduate school than to that accomplished by the typical undergraduate.
Important Note: Individual departments retain the rights to modify how they count HTI and HTII at any time. Honors students are advised to double-check with their individual departments while planning how to fit HTI and HTII into their curriculum. Please inform the Honors Program director of any changes to this list.
Register for the Honors Thesis I and Honors Thesis II as an Independent Study course using the online Contract for Independent Study.
College of Arts and Sciences
Art History with Museum Studies
HTI can be substituted for AHM 430 Senior Seminar (line 11). HTII can count as an advised elective (line 12).
Biochemistry, Chemistry & Physics
HTI can substitute for 449. HTII can substitute for 450. If four semesters of research are chosen, HTI and HTII can count as advised electives in addition to 449 and 450.
Biology
HTI and HTII cannot be substituted for the senior seminar course. They can count as either biology or advised electives on the major side of the curriculum card.
Communication Studies
HTI can substitute for the senior seminar course while HTII can be an advised elective.
Computer and Information Sciences
HTI and HTII cannot be substituted for CIS 480. They are taken as CIS electives.
Criminal Justice
HTI and HTII cannot be substituted for the senior seminar course. They can be counted as advised electives.
English
HTI and HTII cannot be substituted for the senior seminar. They must be taken as advised electives. (The department will consider individual requests to substitute HTI and/or HTII for other required courses.)
French
HTI can replace a 400-level literature course. HTII can be substituted for the senior seminar.
Gerontology
HTI counts as an advised elective. HTII substitutes for GRN 403 (supervised research).
History
HTI replaces HIS400. HTII is taken as an elective.
International Studies
HTI can substitute for the senior seminar. HTII is an advised elective.
Liberal Arts
HTI and HTII can be placed in either the senior seminar requirement or in advised electives. If needed, HTI could replace a content course in one of the tracks.
Mathematics
HTI can count as a 300/400 level math elective or advised elective. HTII can be substituted for MAT 499: Senior Seminar.
Nursing
To fulfill HTI, NUR students should register for NUR450 in fall of their third year. They should make the professor aware that they are taking that course to fulfill their HTI requirement. HTII can be taken as the “Free elective #2” during fall of their fourth year. (Please see the sample Nursing Honors Student plan on our website. Only certain NUR courses are considered for enhancement so as to fulfill the Honors-enhanced-in-one’s-major requirement: NUR 464 and NUR 466.)
Philosophy
HTI can be substituted for senior seminar. HTII can be counted as an advised elective.
Political Science
HTI can substitute for the senior seminar. HTII is an advised elective.
Psychology
HTI and HTII cannot be substituted for the senior seminar. They must be taken as advised electives.
Religious Studies
Students can substitute HTI for the senior seminar. HTII can be counted as an advised elective.
Social Work
HTI and HTII cannot be substituted for the two senior seminar courses. HTI and HTII either take up the two SWK electives or are taken “off the card.”
Sociology
HTI can be substituted for the senior seminar course. HTII can be taken as an advised elective.
Spanish
HTI can replace a 400-level literature course. HTII can be substituted for the senior seminar.
Theatre Studies and Fine Arts
Theatre Performance students are not required to do a senior seminar. Those who choose to do HT I and HT II may do so as advised electives. Performance students have three advised electives and may use them as they choose.
Specialization students are required to do a Senior Seminar I and II. They may substitute HT I and II for their Senior Seminar courses.
Design/production students can NOT substitute HTI for the capstone THR445. Design/production students must take HTI and HTII as advised electives.
College of Business Administration
Note
HTI and HTII cannot typically be substituted for any other courses. There is the possibility to take HTI and HTII as free or BUS electives.
College of Education
Note
With a few exceptions (see below), students are not permitted to substitute HTI and HTII for other courses. The two Honors thesis courses must be taken “off the card.”
Exceptions:
- Special education & grades 1-6, birth-grade 6, and TESOL: Students would not take a fifth course in one of their three content areas, nor would they be required to take LAM 499. HTI and HTII would be substituted in these two spots.
- Early Childhood Development & Cognition (ECDC): The ECDC program will permit students to take HTI as the fifth course in their liberal arts discipline and take HTII in lieu of LAM 499 (like the three childhood education programs mentioned above).
- Developmental disabilities: DD students will not be permitted to insert HTI or HTII in its required curriculum, but the two courses can be used as free electives (on the left-hand side of the card).
College of Hospitality, Sport, and Tourism Management
Note
HTI and HTII CAN be substituted for senior seminar requirements and advised electives.