Thesis Prospectus and Deadlines

THE PROSPECTUS. Every thesis/creative project is officially launched with a prospectus form to be submitted to the Barrett Advising office relative to the deadlines addressed in this section. The prospectus is an action plan for honors research and provides a definite list of goals and procedures with which you and your committee will work. As you progress on your project, you might have to update your prospectus to reflect changes that occur after the process begins. Your first draft may not be your final draft, and in most cases, it is not. Give your committee time to read it; give yourself time to make corrections. The process of updating allows your committee and Barrett to keep up with the goals of your project. Make sure you document any changes in approach or content to avoid confusion as you near completion of your project. It is critical that you communicate expectations, the overall timeline and deadlines with your thesis director throughout the process. The prospectus is generally two pages in length, double-spaced. Click here for the Thesis Prospectus Form. The Prospectus filed should include the following information which is to serve as a general guide in completing the form:
    A. What do you wish to study?
  1. What is the overall scope of your study?
  2. What is the specific topic you wish to study?

    B. How will you conduct your research?
  1. Where are your resources?
  2. How many sources does your committee expect you to analyze?
  3. What process will you use?
  4. What access permissions are required?

    C. What are the expectations of meeting frequency with your director and other committee members?
  1. How often will you meet?
  2. During the meetings, what do your director and/or committee expect to happen? What do you expect to happen at each meeting?
  3. What time commitment is expected of you between meetings with your director?

    D. What is your timeline? Your prospectus is a “work in progress.” It will change as your project evolves.
  1. What is the timeline for your thesis/creative project?
  2. What are the interim deadlines for each semester’s work?
  3. What is the date of the oral defense of your thesis/creative project?
  4. When will you submit your manuscript to the Barrett Advising office?


    5. Deadlines:

    You can be thinking of thesis topics or the array of opportunities available to use as a springboard in choosing your topic as early as your freshman and sophomore years. You should be definitely be engaged in the thesis/creative project process by your junior year.


    The following is a recap of steps you should take as you begin the process leading to your thesis/creative project:

  5. Investigate the research areas of the faculty in your department. Utilize your faculty honors disciplinary advisor and Barrett faculty and staff in navigating a topic.


  6. Based on the research areas and perhaps what you have learned in a particular class, choose your thesis director.


  7. Work with your director to find a second reader.


  8. Write your prospectus and have it signed by your director and second reader.


  9. Make sure all three readers on your committee have seen the prospectus, signed it and are comfortable with it.


  10. Turn in the prospectus by the relative deadlines listed below.


  11. The recommended timeline is to begin work on the project no later than three semesters prior to anticipated graduation, taking 492 in first semester then 493 the following semester. This leaves your final semester open in case you switch your focus, the lab work takes an unexpected turn or other problems arise.


  12. You must sign up for the appropriate thesis/creative project credit. Typically this will be XXX492 and/or XXX493 in consecutive semesters. When registering for XXX 493, if you plan on writing a six-credit-hour thesis over two semesters, make sure your director’s department allows the Z grade option. If you are using your major-mandated capstone design project (engineering, architecture) as the base for your bachelor’s honors thesis, you and your faculty director must sign a footnote 18 contract for that class. Meet with your Barrett honors advisor to make sure you are registered for the appropriate class at the appropriate time.



    13. The Prospectus is your declaration that you are beginning and formalizing your work on the thesis. It is submitted to the Barrett Advising office the semester PRIOR to the semester you register for thesis hours and schedule your defense. It is to be submitted no later than 5 p.m. with the due date relative to the graduation schedule outlined below:
    Fall 2008 Defense and corresponding deadlines:
    Prospectus due -                                                                February 8, 2008
    Defense completed -                                                          October 31, 2008
    Signed title page, final unbound copy, and CD due -          November 25, 2008

    Spring 2009 Defense and corresponding deadlines:
    Prospectus due -                                                                September 12, 2009
    Defense completed -                                                             April 1, 2009
    Signed title page, final unbound copy, and CD due -          April 24, 2009

    *If you miss a deadline, please contact your Honors Advisor (480-965-9155).