FOURTH YEAR: HONORS THESIS

The Honors Thesis

In their final year, all Honors College students carry out a thesis, an extended research or creative project in which students work one-on-one with a faculty advisor from their major or minor department. Most students take 3-4 terms to complete the thesis.

Thesis Orientation

The Honors Thesis Orientation is a 60-minute information session intended for junior-level Honors students. Orientations are required as they will present information necessary to successfully carrying out your thesis. We will discuss general thesis requirements and expectations, how to find an adviser and choose a topic, thesis credits/classes, the capstone review thesis option, and what to do if your department also has a thesis track.

Orientations are conducted several times each term by Honors Advisor Brianna Avery. Upcoming Thesis Orientations are posted on the Honors College calendar. You can watch a previously recorded Orientation session here.

Thesis Course Requirements

Students first take the 4-credit HON 403 Thesis I: Prospectus course, in which they recruit their departmental thesis advisor and write a prospectus. Upon completing HON 403 Prospectus, students enroll in the 4-credit HON 403 Thesis II: Continuation class, in which they will write their thesis. Thesis Continuation may be taken twice for credit.

How do I find a thesis advisor? Click here to learn more.

When does my thesis have to be submitted? Click here to review upcoming thesis deadlines.

Research Theses

A scholarly thesis is a substantial inquiry into a topic related to the student's major (or minor) that is based on research. Thesis research may include original creation and collection of data and evidence, original work done with existing data or body of evidence, or a carefully framed survey of criticism and scholarship on a particular question of key importance to a field.

Learn about Research Theses

Creative Theses

Students in creative fields may choose to carry out a creative project instead of a research paper.

Learn about Creative Theses

Capstone Review Theses

Honors students majoring in engineering, computer science, or business must complete a capstone for their major as well as the Honors thesis. Students have two choices: write an independent thesis and complete the capstone project separately, or write a capstone review thesis in which the two projects are combined.

Learn about Capstone Review Theses

Course Based Theses

Honors is piloting a course-based thesis class in the 2025-26 academic year. Students will be enrolled in a year-long thesis class in which they work collaboratively and individually on theses surrounding the theme of death, dying, and bereavement.

Learn about Course Based Theses

Departmental Honors

Honors students majoring in history, graphic design, or geology must participate in their department’s honors tracks to carry out the thesis. You will enroll in department thesis credits; these will fulfill your Honors senior requirements.

Other departments at PSU offer departmental honors tracks that are optional for Honors College students.

Read about Departmental Honors

Human Subjects Research and the IRB

If you plan to conduct original research with human subjects (surveys, focus groups, interviews, etc.) you will need approval from the PSU Institutional Review Board.

Learn more about the IRB

Thesis Symposium

When the thesis has been completed and submitted for review, all students participate in the required Thesis Symposium, where they present their research to a group of peers and faculty.

In Fall 2025, the Symposium will be on December 5, 2025 on Zoom. Check out all the presenters and their thesis topics.

Check our Events Calendar for the date of our next Thesis Symposium.

Honors Thesis Archive at PDX.Scholar

When an Honors thesis has been accepted, it is published on PDX.Scholar, Portland State University's open source archive of scholarly work. Honors Theses can be found HERE. Use the Advanced Search tool in the left sidebar to locate a specific thesis or a group of theses in a single major.

Thesis Handbook

The Honors Thesis Handbook is a step by step guide to the thesis project. Check out this extensive resource.

Looking for a Thesis Form?

All Thesis Forms and Fact Sheets can be found here.