Honors faculty encourage students to come up with a thesis project that fits their individual interests and will benefit them as they go on to graduate study or the workplace. Students may do a variety of things including an academic research paper, a service-learning project, or a creative project such as a play or series of short stories.

Some students choose topics similar to Capstone topics by evaluating different viewpoints on a controversial social issue. Students should meet with the Director of the Honors Program at least one semester before the semester they plan to register for Senior Thesis to discuss possible projects, requirements for the thesis, and the selection of a faculty advisor. To register for Senior Thesis, students must have the permission of the Director of the Honors Program and complete a thesis contract with their faculty advisor. Additional requirements include the following: completion of at least five Honors seminars and 75 hours; a gpa of at least 3.50 in honors courses and a cumulative gpa of at least 3.20; fulfillment of attendance requirements for Honors Senior Thesis presentations; and completion of the Computer Competency requirement. Below are descriptions of recent thesis projects:

1. Service learning projects: Amy McCown, an Education major, planned and conducted a study for the Austin Independent School District to evaluate athletic programs for girls. Rachelle Rouse, an Art major, evaluated a statue in a local museum to see whether it should be restored and wrote a report making recommendations to the museum.
2. Academic research: Communication major Marilí Cantú analzed gender roles in several films. Alyssa Gavulic, a Psychology major, researched studies on how memory can be manipulated. The next semester she did practical research on this issue for a require-ment in her major. Alyssa presented her Honors paper at the first annual Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) February 2002. In addition, her paper was published in the Spring 2002 edition of Arete, the SEU journal for student academic papers.
3. Creative projects: To balance his work in science, Biochemistry major Kevin Condel chose a creative project and produced a short film called “The Forecast.” Richard Ybarra, a Management major, spent several years producing a feature length martial arts thriller called “Fatal Transaction.”
4. Analysis of a controversial social issue: Amanda Hayes, a Biology major, explored the politics of reforming the American
   Health-care system, and Psychology major Victor Peña examined punishment vs. rehabilitation in the criminal justice system.