Departmental Thesis Requirements

The Honors Thesis is prepared in a form similar to a social work or other social science journal article, and includes a title, abstract (approximately 200-250 words), introduction (literature review, statement of research question and hypotheses, when applicable), a methods section (participants, design, procedure, measures), a complete results section (all analyses and results, with tables and figures to illustrate), a discussion section (outlining implications and conclusions), references, and where appropriate, acknowledgments of funding sources or conflicts of interest. The format of the Honors Thesis must follow APA style. Per University Honors policy, the thesis must be completed “with distinction.” Students will receive guidance and feedback on drafts as deemed necessary by the Faculty Research Advisor.

How does the Honors Thesis relate to other aspects of the major, like a Capstone Project?

A BSW honors thesis can consist of an in-depth clinical case study project, a policy- relevant project, an emperical project, or a systematic review. These options can all easily relate to the BSW social work curriculum.

Departmental Coursework Supporting Thesis

Reach out to the Honors Faculty Advisor during your junior year for support and instructions on what to expect during your senior year. Follow the instructions in the BSW Honors Thesis Guide.