Introduction | Mission and objectives | Curricula | Breadth requirements and courses
Technical elective requirements and courses | Honors program | Undergraduate thesis
Useful documents, links, contacts

WHY WRITE A SENIOR THESIS?

There are many potential benefits to writing a thesis.

• Students gain experience with learning through independent study.
• It can help a student decide if he wants to pursue research further by continuing on to graduate school, and can strengthen an application to graduate school.
• Students completing an undergraduate thesis (UNIV 401/402) will also earn a Degree with Distinction. The thesis is 6 credits and requires an oral presentation and defense before a committee of faculty from the major department and related fields. In addition to the thesis, students graduating with distinction must have a cumulative grade point index of at least 3.0 overall, and 3.5 in the major.
• It provides an opportunity to work closely one-on-one with a faculty member in the Department.

RECENT STUDENT THESES

• Andrew Conklin, 2005, Testing and Analysis of Bio-Based Composite Panels, Faculty Advisor: Prof. Harry Shenton
• Peter K. Dean, 2003, Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Vertical Load on the Capacity of Wood Frame Shear Walls, Faculty Advisor: Prof. Harry Shenton
• Christina Lindemer, 2008, Coastal Imaging in Cape May, NJ, Faculty advisor: Prof. Jack Puleo
• Timothy Strickland, 2007, Thermal and Creep Behavior of Bio-based Composites, Faculty Advisor: Prof. Harry Shenton

HOW TO GET STARTED

Students interested in writing a senior thesis need to find a topic and a faculty advisor, then register for UNIV 401. A student may have a topic in mind, then speak with faculty in the department to find one who is interested in serving as the advisor for that topic. Alternatively, a student may start by finding an advisor, then talk with that person to develop an appropriate topic together.