Thesis format
Thesis options for students in the Elementary Licensure program might include a range of opportunities. In additon to traditional formats such as research papers, we hope to embrace new opportunities.
Past projects have included demonstrations where a student incorporated dance into teaching at an elementary school. A reflection and description of lesson plans and assessment plans were part of these accomplishments.
A current project is a co-developed canvas site with linkages to a larger initiative (i.e., UNITE and the Dignity Index). Reflections and reviews of reseach will be included.
Who is eligible to be a faculty thesis mentor?
Career-Line and Tenure-Line faculty. Annual reviews of project progress provide a scope and sequence to full project completion. These periodic meetings and long-term planning experiences ensure that faculty coverage is intact with plans for handing off a project if the need should arise.
Are collaborative theses permitted?
A collaborative thesis is one where an Honors student works with one or more collaborators on the thesis.
Past projects have been done in collaboration with the Colleges of Fine Arts and Humanities. We include these collaborative references. At the moment "credit" is typically awarded to the students' faculty advisor using the 4000 course number. If possible, making the credit variable would assist when there are multiple faculty overseeing a project.
Are joint theses permitted?
A joint thesis is a single thesis that satisfies the requirements of multiple majors.
See note above.
How does the Honors Thesis relate to other aspects for the major?
As present students completing the Honors program within the Elementary Education program complete coursework from across the College of Education. Based upon course themes and/or the research of faculty, students and the adivsor identify possible themes for work in which honors work develops.
Projects are not always directly linked to course curricula but may connect to other work in which a faculty member is engaged (e.g., language learners, mental health,
the teaching profession, covid).
Additional information for students
Writing is generally never a problem for our students. A challenge for the college is increasing the number of honors students in our Elementary Educatoin program. Providing creativity and flexibility will certainly encourage more students.
Internally, a primary goal for the college is to create a culture within the college that promotes student research and faculty-student engagement. These strategies will help to move us to the stage where we can move closer to the thesis stage.
Ideas are welcome!!