Thesis format
In collaboration with the DHL and the honor's mentor, the student will design their thesis that meets their needs. However, the honor's thesis within the Department of Occupational & Recreational Therapies (OTRT) could be in the form of a small research project with an abstract written with the results, a developed program plan for a specific program or intervention, a scoping or systematic review manuscript, a scholarly conceptual paper, an oral presentation, advocacy work, development of an app, software or website that could be used in practice, development of a low-cost invention that supports clients in the acquistion of daily life activities, and so forth.
Who is eligible to be a faculty thesis mentor?
Any faculty, both career-line and tenure-line faculty, can be a thesis mentor. Students will contact the DHL for the Department of Occupational & Recreational Therapies first. After discussion about the student's interest, the DHL will present the information to the faculty in the Department. If a facultly member were to take leave during the thesis is complete, the faculty will determine if they will oversee the honor's thesis during their leave. If the faculty is unable during that leave, the DHL wil either mentor the student or another faculty will asked. If a faculty mentor leaves the University the DHL will mentor the student or seek a different mentor from the faculty.
Are collaborative theses permitted?
A collaborative thesis is one where an Honors student works with one or more collaborators on the thesis.
Honors students may work independently, collaboratively with a faculty mentor, or collaboratively with another Honors student. It will be the discretion of the faculty mentor whether their student may work collaboratively with another Honors student. Additionally, it will be the Honors mentor's discretion if an individual, or a single thesis will be submitted.
Collaborator contributions will be monitored by each Honors student with a weekly check-in with the honors mentor. This check-in will include discussion about what each student has been doing concerning the thesis. The Honors mentor may request additional documentation or assessment as determined in the first few meetings with the Honors students.
Are joint theses permitted?
A joint thesis is a single thesis that satisfies the requirements of multiple majors.
Yes, a joint thesis is allowed within the Department of Occupational & Recreational Therapies. Students will seek permission from the respective DHLs and mentors (if approporiate) prior to a joint thesis. The DHLs and the faculty mentor from all participating departments need to agree on any plan for a joint thesis, and the student will submit a single thesis with all relevant signiatures from each department on the cover page.
How does the Honors Thesis relate to other aspects for the major?
The Department of Occupational & Recreational Therapies has two different programs. Within the recreational therapy program, there are several potential projects or coursework that can be used as a starting point for the honors thesis. This will need to be discussed and determined with the faculty mentor.
There is only one undergraduate course within the occupational therapy program, it will be at the discretion of the faculty mentor from occupational therapy to determine if coursework in the department can support the thesis.
Additional information for students
Students should have a basic interest or idea when they first meet with the DHL. However, it is not required. Students should anticipate a minimum 30 minute meeting with the DHL prior to thesis work. During the thesis work, students should expect to meet with their faculty mentor for a hour at least once per week.