(Page revised May 30, 2007)

Senior Thesis Electronic Archives

• Class of 2008
• Class of 2007
• Class of 2006
• Class of 2005
• Class of 2004
• Class of 2003
• Class of 2002
• Class of 2001
• Class of 2000
• Class of 1999

• The Senior Project (1-3 credits of Physics 451 and 1-3 credits of Physics 452)
• The Honors Thesis (3 credits of Physics 495 and 3 credits of Physics 496)
  • A QPA greater than 3.0 is required for honors.
  • Honors students must take Physics 303 and 351, as well as either Physics 314 or 402.

Undergraduate research performed before the start of the senior year may be included as an integral part of the senior or honors thesis. Prior work may include summer research for which the student received a stipend. However, the grade for Physics 451/452 (Physics 495/496) and the award of honors will be based on work performed during the senior year.

All student research is overseen by the Research Coordinator, who is the Physics Department faculty member assigned to teach Physics 451/2 and Physics 495/6. Any questions concerning finding an advisor, general requirements or procedures should be directed first to the Research Coordinator.

The general structure of senior research is as follows:

• After talking with faculty members, the student selects a willing advisor during the spring of the junior year.
• The student notifies the Research Coordinator of the project at this time.
• The student signs up for either 451/2 or 495/6 in the fall and spring of the senior year. Exceptions to this pattern may be approved by the Research Coordinator.
• The Research Coordinator is responsible for insuring that the Departmental Computing Requirements (programming ability, electronic literacy, symbolic mathematics and electronic publishing) have been met.
• The student will present an interim research talk and paper in the last week of classes of the fall semester.
• The student will defend orally the completed written thesis in the last week of classes of the spring semester.

The Charles Center and the Department of Physics jointly set the regulations for Honors Theses. The Department of Physics set the regulations for Senior Projects.

Dates to Remember

• 4 weeks before last day of classes in junior year
  Initial Honors Thesis application is submitted on line. Undergraduate committee reviews applications
• 2 weeks before last day of classes in junior year
  Final Honors Thesis application turned in to the Chair of the Undergraduate Committee.
• First Monday of classes in senior year
  Final Honors Thesis application turned in the the Chair of the Undergraduate Committee for those who were overseas during the previous spring.
• End of Drop/Add in first semester of senior year
  The form "Application of Admission to Departmental Honors" must be submitted to the Charles Center before this date. Senior Thesis topics turned in the Research Coordinator.
• One week before mid-term presentation for all research students
  Written report turned in to advisor and Research Coordinator
• First Thursday noon of exam period
  Mid-term presentations must be complete
• 4 weeks before last day of classes in senior year
  Complete draft of thesis turned in to advisor
• 2 weeks before last day of classes in senior year
  Corrected complete draft of thesis passed out to members of the examination committee
• Thursday noon of last week of classes
  Final Honors presentations must be complete
• Monday of first exam week
  Acid-free and electronic copies of the Honors thesis turned in to Research Coordinator
• First Thursday noon of exam period
  Final Senior Thesis presentations must be complete
• First Monday of second exam week
  Acid-free and electronic copies of the Senior thesis turned in to Research Coordinator