Undergraduate Program

The timeline for completing a senior thesis varies among students and depends on the nature of the research, the opportunities to conduct research, and the expectations of the thesis advisor. Here is a general timeline for guidance.

Junior year

Spring

• Brainstorm ideas for a senior thesis.
• Consult with faculty who share your research interests about writing a thesis with them.
   

Senior year

Fall

• Write a 2-3 page research proposal that includes a problem statement, justification for the research, research questions, and main methods for answering the research questions.
• Submit for approval a course contract and a 2-3 page research proposal to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Jeremy Shakun (jeremy.shakun@bc.edu). Note that the contract and proposal need to be approved by your thesis advisor.
• Conduct a thorough literature review.
• Collect data.
• Analyze data.
• Create figures and tables.
• Write some sections of the thesis such as the introduction and methods.

Spring

• Complete data analysis, figure generation, and writing the remaining sections of the thesis.
• Submit and revise several drafts to your advisor (draft deadlines should be worked out with the advisor and included in the course contract).
• April 20 or the first regular class day thereafter if it is a weekend/holiday: Submit final thesis (approved by advisor) to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Discuss with your thesis advisor the possibility of depositing the thesis in eScholarship@BC, a searchable database of undergraduate, graduate, and faculty scholarship.
• Consider presenting your research at the year-end department colloquium as a talk or poster.

A thesis includes multiple sections that organize and logically present the flow of research.

1. Cover Page with the Boston College Seal, name of the academic program, name of the student, name of the thesis advisor, and the date of submission.
2. Abstract concisely summarizing the research and major findings.
3. Acknowledgements where the author thanks those who helped them throughout the research and writing process.
4. Table of Contents
5. Introduction that includes:
   1. Problem statemen and justification for the research.
   2. Literature review that engages with research articles, books, and other sources of reputable evidence in order to provide context for the study. Use an appropriate citation format, such as APA or MLA, for both references at the end and for in-paragraph citations.
   3. Research objectives with specific questions and/or hypotheses.
6. Materials and Methods
   1. Site description for research where location is relevant.
   2. Data collection methods.
   3. Data analysis.
7. Results
   1. Present findings that address the research questions or hypotheses.
   2. Tables and figures with titles and captions.
8. Discussion
   1. Where results are interpreted and related to other studies.
9. Conclusion
   1. Summarize the value of the study and main findings.
10. Works Cited/References
11. Appendices
    1. Supplemental tables and figures.
    2. Data analysis code.

Here is an instructional template that you can use for guidance.

Final theses eligible for Department Honors that are approved by the thesis advisor are due in a digital format to the Earth and Environmental Sciences Director of Undergraduate Studies by 5 pm on April 20, or if that is on a weekend or holiday, by 5 pm on the first regular days of classes thereafter. All other theses are due to the advisor for final grading at an agreed upon time.

We encourage all students who have completed a senior thesis to present their research at the annual department colloquium, which typically occurs during the last week of classes.

We also encourage you to share your research findings by publishing your thesis via:

• eScholarship repository (accessible to the BC community only)
• Elements - The Undergraduate Research Journal of Boston College

What is a senior thesis?

A senior thesis is an extended independent research project, completed under the guidance of a faculty member over the course of an entire academic year. Rather than just synthesizing existing literature, a thesis conducts novel research on a question that is new or approaches a question in a new way.

What are the benefits of writing a thesis? 

Writing a thesis is a strenuous and rewarding exercise that offers students an opportunity to achieve expertise on a topic, work closely with a faculty advisor, and produce a publishable-quality research project. It allows you to follow your intellectual interests, digging deep into a topic of your choice and asking the kinds of questions you want to ask. Thesis-writers demonstrate to prospective employers and graduate schools that they are capable of completing a sustained research project, and that they have expertise in a particular topic. You are eligible to graduate with Department Honors if also meeting GPA requirements (3.3 in the major, 3.2 overall).

How big of a commitment is it?

Writing a thesis is a substantial commitment, but the specifics of that are up to you and your thesis advisor. There is no specific page-length requirement for the thesis itself, but they typically range from 40 to 80 pages including figures, references, appendices, etc. Expect thesis research to take as much time as a strenuous 3-credit course each semester. Unlike a standard course, however, it is much more independent, student-driven, and fluid. It therefore helps to be excited about the research and to develop your ability to structure and manage your time. You and your advisor will set the schedule for how often you meet and intermediate deadlines along the way. 

How do I find a thesis advisor?

Get familiar with the faculty and their research interests to see who might be a good fit – check out faculty websites, talk to other students who may already be working with faculty, attend faculty colloquia during the department seminar series in September when faculty introduce themselves and their research. Then have a conversation with any faculty of interest to express your potential interest in doing a thesis and see what research possibilities might exist – knock on office doors, email, talk to faculty after class. The thesis project could be your idea, part of a faculty member’s existing research, or a combination of the two.

What is the nature of thesis research?

Research can involve various approaches depending on the question you are trying to answer. For instance, the research may be focused in the field, in the laboratory, and/or doing computational work. 

Can I obtain research funding if needed?

Yes. You can apply for an Advanced Study Grant in spring of junior year to support research during the ensuing summer, or a Thesis Research Grant in the fall of senior year. Visit the website for BC Fellowships site for more information. Faculty may also have financial support if the thesis is part of a larger funded research project they have. 

How early do I need to start thinking about doing a thesis?

Junior year is a good time. You will need to have identified a thesis advisor and topic by the beginning of senior year (the official deadline is the drop-add date), and it may be useful to start research during the summer beforehand. Some students get involved in research with faculty earlier in their time at BC and then develop this work into a thesis when senior year arrives.  

How does a thesis qualify for Department Honors?

The Undergraduate Studies Committee evaluates theses according to the following criteria, scoring each item with “no” (0), “somewhat” (1), or “yes” (2). A minimum score of 12 points is required to qualify for Department Honors.

• Problem statement and justification for the research are clear and convincing
• Research questions are clearly stated and fill a knowledge gap
• Literature review is thorough and relevant to the topic
• Methods are appropriate to the questions and show analytical skill
• Data collection and analysis are thorough, appropriate to the research questions, and show a high level of scholarship
• Results are accurate and well presented in a combination of text, figures, and/or tables
• Discussion interprets the results well and relates findings to other studies
• Conclusion wraps up the main findings and significance of research