Writing a Thesis

1. What will the thesis do?

The guidelines from the College of Arts & Sciences say, "Submission of a thesis is a prerequisite for a degree with Highest Distinction and makes a student eligible to be considered for this honor when the GPA falls within the top 5% of the graduating class. If a student's GPA falls within the top 10% of the graduating class, submission of a thesis will make a student eligible to be considered for High Distinction. Submission of a thesis will allow a student to be considered for a degree with Distinction when the GPA is not in the top 10% of the graduating class but is above 3.5 (cumulative GPA as of the end of the term prior to graduation)."

Thus, the thesis is one requirement to fulfill in order to be considered to graduate With Distinction, With High Distinction, or With Highest Distinction if you meet the GPA requirements. The thesis itself is a formal document that describes and discusses an experimentally based research project done with one or more faculty members in the School of Biological Sciences if you are majoring in biology. If you are not a biology major, but wish to do a thesis in an area of biology, see FAQ 14. The work that goes into such a thesis usually takes several semesters, and may require a commitment of summer(s).

2. What is not a thesis for graduation with distinction?

It could be, but is not necessarily the same thesis used for the Honors Program. Likewise, a thesis for the Honors Program is not automatically the same as a thesis used for a degree with distinction. You need not be in the Honors Program to complete a thesis for graduation with distinction. In other words, you can graduate with (high, highest) distinction even if you are not in the Honors Program as long as you fulfill the (separate) requirements for a degree with Distinction (see FAQ 16: What are some of the similarities and differences…).

3. What forms are needed? Where do I get them? What are the requirements?

The packet of forms is available from the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences (1223 Oldfather) or the Arts and Sciences Advising Center (107 Oldfather). The requirements (such as minimum GPA) are discussed thoroughly in the packet.

4. What is the process?

Find advisors in SBS who agree to undertake sponsorship of your project. Review the project and timetable with your advisor(s). Compose a thesis prospectus (see FAQ 3: What forms are needed?). Submit the prospectus to the SBS Committee on Academic Affairs (see FAQ 7: What are the deadlines?). Do your research. Keep good notes. Meet regularly with your advisor(s) review your progress. Write the thesis and pass the oral exam (see FAQ 7: What are the deadlines? & FAQ 10: What is the oral exam?)

5. Who will be my advisor?

You can approach any of the faculty in the School of Biological Sciences (SBS) whose research interests you. The Biology Advising Center has a notebook that describes faculty interests. If you don't know who to ask, you can get suggestions from the advisors in the Center, faculty of a course you have taken, or other students. Be bold! If you don't ask, you won't learn what opportunities are available.

6. Can I have more than one advisor?

Yes, in fact, you are required to have co-advisors. At least one has to be in SBS if you are interested in a collaborative project with someone in another department.

7. What are the deadlines? Are they the same as the deadlines for the Honors Program?

The deadlines for a thesis used to graduate with distinction are not the same as the deadlines for a thesis used for the Honors Program. Typically, the deadlines for a thesis to graduate with distinction are much earlier, more rigid and require thoughtful planning by students and co-advisors (see FAQ 16: What are some of the similarities and differences…). The deadlines are explicitly stated in the information packet and are reviewed briefly here. The thesis prospectus is submitted to the SBS Undergraduate Affairs Committee (see FAQ 8: What is the SBS Undergraduate Affairs Committee) the semester before graduation, if not sooner. A prospectus submitted after the completion of a project will not be accepted or reviewed by the SBS Undergraduate Affairs Committee. The thesis and oral exam typically are completed the semester of graduation. An earlier completion is certainly welcome. The thesis and package of forms need to be submitted to the SBS Undergraduate Affairs Committee for review by week seven of the semester of graduation before being sent to the Dean's Office.

The thesis and completed paperwork are due in the Dean's Office of The College of A&S at the end of week ten of the semester that you plan to graduate. The exact date for the current academic year is on the forms.

8. What is the SBS Undergraduate Affairs Committee?

This committee is comprised of faculty members in the School of Biological Sciences. It is responsible for reviewing the thesis prospectus and evaluating the final thesis. Among its duties is to serve as the Department's Distinction Evaluation Committee. This SBS Committee then sends all the materials to the Office of the Dean where a College Committee makes a final recommendation. Usually, but not always, the College Committee accepts the recommendation made by the department (in this case, SBS).

9. What is the prospectus?

This is a (usually) one page description of the intent of the project with enough background for the reader to understand "the big picture,' how it will be done, and what are expected outcomes. You and your advisor(s) should work on it together.

10. What is the oral exam?

The oral exam is essentially a defense of the thesis and must be given. Typically, the student gives a (roughly) thirty minute open (public) seminar of his/her work, using slides, overhead transparencies, a chalk(white)board or a computer presentation. The audience minimally includes the co-advisors; others are welcome (e.g., members of the research group, fellow students, one of the SBS Academic Affairs Committee members, etc.). After the presentation, the co-advisors meet with the student and ask questions about the project. It is an opportunity for the student to show his/her advisors what he/she has learned in the course of doing the project beyond that presented in the thesis document (see FAQ 4: What is the process?).

11. When should I do my thesis work?

You should start asking about research opportunities at the end of your sophomore year so that you start working on a thesis project as a junior. For biology students, it is inadvisable to start a thesis project in your senior year. Waiting to do a thesis project so late in your academic career is a common mistake. Frequently, students run out of time because they underestimate how long it takes to do the research, and how long it takes to compose and write the thesis. Usually, your data should be collected by the end of the semester before the semester of graduation. Then, you can write the thesis in the semester that you graduate.

12. I don't know the format of a thesis. Will someone help me write it?

The thesis for an experimentally based project in the field of biology usually has a standard format. Although not expected to have the length and breadth of a post-graduate thesis used for advance degrees, the undergraduate thesis for degrees with distinction should be a scholarly, typewritten document, and contain introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion and literature cited sections. There is no magic number of pages, figures, tables, references, etc. The student is the primary party responsible for the assembly and the writing but should request and expect editorial guidance and assistance from their thesis co-advisors. The Biology Advising Center has several examples that you can look over but not remove.

13. Will I get paid or get academic credit for thesis research?

It depends. The student and advisor(s) make the arrangements. Some professors have (grant) funds to pay you a modest wage. Some may not pay you initially because you are being trained and using resources of the lab, but once you gain experience, you may be put the on the payroll. Some faculty will agree to credit hours but not pay a wage. It is unusual to get both a wage and credit, and it is unusual to get neither. Students who receive work-study funds may do thesis research. Students have the option to register for BIOS 399H, Honors Research. Recently, the University established the UCARE program that provides a stipend for some students engaged in research. You have to apply for this with a faculty member who sponsors you.

14. If I am a (non-biology, non-science) major, can I do a thesis in biology (because my med/dental/PA/PT/etc. school applications will be stronger if I have research experience in biology)?

Although unusual, this scenario is possible. Generally, you have a co-advisor from the department of your major, and a biology co-advisor. You must have this arrangement approved by the SBS Undergraduate Academic Affairs Committee before, not after, embarking on a thesis project.

15. May I do a thesis project "off-campus'?

Yes, your thesis may be done with someone within the NU system (e.g, UNMC, UNK, UNO), or with a scientist at another institution who is an active collaborator with a NU faculty member. A NU or off-site scientist who is consulted, provides reagents or is only nominally associated with the project is not considered a co-advisor. If your project is performed off-campus, one of the co-advisors must be a SBS faculty member. Both co-advisors must be willing to administer the oral exam/thesis defense. These arrangements and agreements must be in place at the time that the thesis prospectus is submitted.

16. What are some of the similarities and differences between the thesis written to "Graduate with Distinction" from the College of Arts and Sciences (College of A&S) and the thesis required to "complete Honors Program (HP) requirements"?

• There is nothing actually called "Graduate with Honors" for students in the College of A&S; rather students "complete Honors Program requirements' (which include a thesis). A student may "Graduate with (High, Highest) Distinction" from the College of A&S and/or "complete Honors Program requirements'. Other Colleges at UNL may have their own terms and conditions. Check with their advising offices for details.
• If you are accepted into the Honors Program (usually before your freshman year), it follows that you "complete Honors Program requirements' in order to have this indicated on your diploma. Any student graduating from the College of A&S with a cumulative GPA above 3.5 can attempt to "Graduate with (High, Highest) Distinction".
• To "complete Honors Program requirements' a student must fulfill all HP requirements and have a GPA of 3.5 or above at the time of graduation. The College of A&S has very specific GPA cutoffs that depend on the average GPA's of the graduating class each semester (see the packet that you can pick up in 107 or 1223 Oldfather). Because of this GPA requirement, you may qualify both to "Graduate with (High, Highest) Distinction" from the College of A&S and to "complete Honors Program requirements' or only one of these.
• If you qualify for both, it is acceptable to use the same research experience and completed thesis to both "Graduate with (High, Highest) Distinction" from the College of A&S and to "complete Honors Program requirements.' But, realize that the thesis for (High, Highest) Distinction likely will be more substantial than the thesis for the HP.
• The deadlines for the thesis used for the HP are later than the deadlines for the thesis used be eligible to "Graduate with (High, Highest) Distinction." The HP expects at least a statement from the faculty advisor that the thesis will be completed to the department's satisfaction four weeks before graduation. The thesis for the HP must be deposited in the HP office no later than one week before graduation. SBS strongly recommends that you do not wait until the last minute. Whether you submit a prospectus and thesis to the Honors Program or to the College of A&S if you are seeking to graduate with distinction, it must be reviewed by a faculty sponsor in SBS (Honors Program) or the SBS Academic Affairs Committee (Graduate with Distinction) so you must factor in the time that it will take for the paperwork to move through this sequence (see FAQ 11: When do I do my thesis…?).
• Although unusual, it is possible to write a thesis in a department outside of your major to both "Graduate with Distinction" and "complete Honors Program requirements'. See FAQ 14: If I am a (non-biology, non-science) major, can I do a thesis…?)
• If you "Graduate with (High, Highest) Distinction", this will be stated both on official transcripts and your diploma. If you complete the HP requirements, it "University Honors Program" will be stated on official transcripts and on the diploma.