Your first formal thesis-related deadline is for your Thesis Proposal/Registration, which is due by the end of your third year. You are ready to submit your Thesis Proposal/Registration when you have identified a faculty thesis mentor and a thesis topic, and these have been informally approved by your mentor and your DHL.
The Thesis Proposal/Registration Process
Before submitting the Proposal/Registration, you should have been in conversation with your faculty thesis mentor and agreed on a topic, and your DHL should have informally approved the mentor and topic as well. The Thesis Proposal/Registration process is as follows:
- The student completes the online Thesis Proposal/Registration Form
- The submission is sent to the faculty thesis mentor for official approval
- Once approved by the mentor, the submission is sent to the DHL for official approval
- Once approved by the DHL, the student, mentor, and DHL receive an email notifying them of Thesis Proposal/Registration approval
If edits are required at any stage, the student is notified of the need to revise and resubmit the proposal.
Thesis Proposal/Registration Deadline
Normally, Thesis Proposal/Registration is due at the end of the third year.
If more time is needed, contact thesis@honors.utah.edu to discuss. Note that thesis proposal/registration must be submitted to the Honors College by the following deadlines at the very latest:
• For Spring graduation, September 15 of the previous year
• For Summer graduation, February 15 of the same year
• For Fall graduation, May 15 of the same year
Thesis Registration FAQs
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Some majors have separate additional requirements for a thesis proposal, and students should follow major-specific guidelines and timelines for these, in addition to submitting the Thesis Proposal/Registration required by the Honors College by the end of Year Three. Check the thesis requirements for your major and/or contact your Department Honors Liaison to learn more about major-specific proposal expectations.
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No problem. We know that a very small number of departments want students to wait until early in Year Four to establish a mentor and a thesis topic. In these cases, make sure you stay engaged in the Year Three Learning Community until you complete Thesis Proposal/Registration process. Remember that you must complete this process by September 15 for graduation the following spring.
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This line will only be cleared once you have submitted your approved final thesis. This will happen shortly prior to graduation. Unfortunately, because of this, you will inevitably get scary sounding emails from the registrar saying you are not on track for graduation. Rest assured that, as long as you turn in your thesis, this line will be cleared and won't stand in your way!