how long should a senior thesis be

The Senior Thesis

From the outset of their time at Princeton, students are encouraged and challenged to develop their scholarly interests and to evolve as independent thinkers.

The culmination of this process is the senior thesis, which provides a unique opportunity for students to pursue original research and scholarship in a field of their choosing. At Princeton, every senior writes a thesis or, in the case of some engineering departments, undertakes a substantial independent project.

Integral to the senior thesis process is the opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty member who guides the development of the project. Thesis writers and advisers agree that the most valuable outcome of the senior thesis is the chance for students to enhance skills that are the foundation of future success, including creativity, intellectual engagement, mental discipline and the ability to meet new challenges.

Many students develop projects from ideas sparked in the classes they’ve taken; others fashion their topics on the basis of long-standing personal passions. Most thesis writers encounter the intellectual twists and turns of any good research project, where the questions emerge as they proceed, often taking them in unexpected directions.

Planning for the senior thesis starts in earnest in the junior year, when students complete a significant research project known as the junior paper. Students who plan ahead can make good use of the University's considerable resources, such as receiving University funds to do research in the United States or abroad. Other students use summer internships as a launching pad for their thesis. For some science and engineering projects, students stay on campus the summer before their senior year to get a head start on lab work.

Writing a thesis encourages the self-confidence and high ambitions that come from mastering a difficult challenge. It fosters the development of specific skills and habits of mind that augur well for future success. No wonder generations of graduates look back on the senior thesis as the most valuable academic component of their Princeton experience.

Navigating Colombia’s Magdalena River, One Story At A Time

For his senior thesis, Jordan Salama, a Spanish and Portuguese major, produced a nonfiction book of travel writing about the people and places along Colombia’s main river, the Magdalena.

Embracing the Classics to Inform Policymaking for Public Education

For her senior thesis, Emma Treadwayconsiders how the basic tenets of Stoicism — a school of philosophy that dates from 300 BCE — can teach students to engage empathetically with the world and address inequities in the classroom.

Creating A Faster, Cheaper and Greener Chemical Reaction

One way to make drugs more affordable is to make them cheaper to produce. For her senior thesis research, Cassidy Humphreys, a chemistry major with a passion for medicine, took on the challenge of taking a century-old formula at the core of many modern medications — and improving it.

The Humanity of Improvisational Dance

Esin Yunusoglu investigated how humans move together and exist in a space — both on the dance floor and in real life — for the choreography she created as her senior thesis in dance, advised by Professor of Dance Susan Marshall.

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Writing a senior thesis: is it worth it.

Before coming to Yale, I thought a thesis was the main argument of a paper. I quickly learned that an undergraduate thesis is about fifty times harder and fifty pages longer than any thesis arguments I wrote in high school. At Yale, every senior has some sort of senior requirement, but thesis projects vary by department. Some departments require students to do a semester-long project, where you write a longer paper (25-35 pages) or expand, through writing, the research you’ve been working on (mostly applies to STEM majors). In some departments you can take two senior seminars and complete a longer project at the end of the semester. And other departments have an option to complete a year-long thesis: you spend your senior year (and in some cases your junior year), intensely researching and writing about a topic you choose or create yourself.

Both my departments––English and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration––offer all three of these options, and each student decides what they think is best for them. As a double major, I had the additional option to write an even longer thesis combining both my majors, but that seemed like way too much work––especially since I would have to take two senior thesis classes at the same time. Instead, I chose a year-long thesis for ER&M that combined my literary interests with various theoretical frameworks and the two senior seminars for English. This spring I’m taking my second seminar. Really, I chose the option to torture myself for a whole year, the end result being a minimum of 50 pages of innovative thinking and writing. I wanted to rise to the challenge, proving to myself I could do it. But there also seemed to be the pressure of “this is what everyone in the major does,” and a “thesis is proof that you actually learned.” Although these sentiments influenced my decision to complete a thesis, I know a long research paper does not validate my education or work as a scholar the last four years. It is not the end all be all.

My senior thesis focuses on Caribbean literature - specifically, two novels written by Caribbean women that really look at what it means to come from an immigrant family, to move, and to find yourself in completely new spaces. These experiences are all too relatable to my own life as a second-generation woman of color with immigrant parents enrolled at Yale. In my writing, I focus on how these women make sense of “home” (a very broad and complicated topic, I know), and what their stories tell us about the diasporic experience in general. The project is very personal to me, and I chose it because I wanted to understand my family’s history and their task in making “home” in the U.S., whatever that means. But because it’s so personal, it’s also been really difficult. I’ve experienced a lot of writer’s block or often felt unmotivated and judgmental towards my work. I’ve realized how difficult it is to devote your time and energy to such a long process––not only is it research heavy, but you have to write and rewrite drafts, constantly adjusting to make sure you’re being as clear as possible. Really, writing a thesis is like writing a portion of a book. And that’s crazy! You’re writing two or three whole chapters of academic work as an undergraduate student.

The process is definitely not for everyone, and I’ve certainly thought “Why did I want to do this again?” But what’s really kept me going is the support from my advisors and friends. The ER&M department faculty does an amazing job of providing us mentorship, revisions, and support throughout the process; my advisor has served as my editor but also the person who reminds me most that this work is important, as I often forget that. It also helps to have many friends and people in the major also writing their theses. I’ve found different spaces to just have a thesis study hall or working time, with other people also struggling through. Recently, I submitted my first full draft (note: it was kind of unfinished but it’s okay because it’s a draft!), and it was crazy to think that I wrote 50+ pages, most of which are just my own original thoughts and analysis on two books that have almost no scholarship written about them. It was a relief for sure. This week I will be taking a full break from it, but it reminded me of why I began this journey. It reminded me of all the people who’ve supported me along the way, and how I really couldn’t have done it without them. And now, I’m really looking forward to how good it will feel to turn in my fully written thesis mid-April. I’ve realized that this project shouldn’t be about making it good for Yale’s standard, but for myself, for my family, and for the people who believe in this work as much as I do.

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Preparing for your Senior Thesis Before your Senior Year: Tips on Finding a Thesis Adviser

If you’re caught up on some of my earlier posts , you’ll remember that I’ve been working on my Junior Papers all year, ultimately gearing up towards the independent work that my senior thesis will require. However, as an underclass student, I was definitely unclear about what the senior thesis process would entail. I thought it was something I wouldn’t have to worry about until my last year at Princeton when, in reality, it starts much earlier than that (scary!!).

Every thesis process is different depending on your department, so I can’t speak for all of them. However, in the Woodrow Wilson School, students start preparing for their theses during their junior year (in some majors, it starts even earlier!). For example, at the beginning and end of the fall semester, I attended information sessions that taught me what to expect from senior year and how to prepare for my thesis. The meetings helped me realize that I had to start looking for a thesis adviser. Although some students wait until the end of junior year or the beginning of senior year to choose an adviser, I plan to do research over the summer, and in order to apply for funding, it is helpful to have an adviser in mind early on.

Every student who writes a thesis must choose a thesis adviser. Some seniors I have spoken to have said that it’s helpful to meet with multiple potential advisers before selecting the one you wish to work with. For me, this presents a strange yet exciting power dynamic that I have never encountered before: for the first time, the student has a sense of agency and the ability to make their own decisions about a project from the very beginning.

So, what should I have in mind as I meet with potential advisers? How do I even select the potential advisers? I have compiled some advice below that I’ve received from various seniors.

Decide on a thesis topic. It doesn’t have to be a well-thought-out plan; it just needs to exist in some basic form. You shouldn’t select an adviser without a thesis topic! See tip number two to understand why.

Look through the list of faculty members in your department. Each faculty member should have a short description of themselves and their research interests next to their name. Use this description to select a few professors whose interests match up with yours/your thesis topic.

Email the professors. Make sure you have options before you make your final decision. Meet with each professor and explain your thesis topic. Go to the meeting prepared with some notes about your topic to show that you’re serious about it and that you’ve done some preliminary research.

Ask questions about their expectations! Is the professor an active adviser, or are they more hands-off? How often would the professor want to meet with you during your senior year? It is important to understand their expectations so that you aren’t blindsided senior year.

Make sure the professor is aware that you are meeting with other professors. Just as it is important to know the professor’s expectations of you, it is important they know your expectations of them. Transparency is so important during this process. Be clear from the beginning so that the professor knows nothing is set in stone yet.

The senior thesis process can feel far away and daunting, but as a junior, it isn’t as far away as it seems. Keeping these helpful tips in mind will give you a head start and make the process a lot less stressful!

— Andrea Reino, Social Sciences Correspondent

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The Senior Essay or Senior Thesis

Every student who completes the major in Comparative Studies writes a senior essay or a thesis.  The essay or the thesis is completed in CS 4990, “Senior Seminar,” a writing workshop offered every Spring in which students share drafts, present their work orally, and receive detailed feedback from their peers. 

You may choose between two options:

• The Senior Essay , usually between 12 to 15 pages, written largely during the semester you take CS 4990, though often building on earlier class work.
• The Senior Thesis , which requires a semester of CS 4999 or 4999H (usually taken autumn of senior year; that is, ideally before the spring term you plan to graduate), “Undergraduate Thesis” or “Honors Thesis,” working closely with a professor who you select to serve as advisor to your thesis. This option is usually between 25 to 40 pages. Students who choose to write a Senior Thesis may plan to fulfill the requirements for either “Research Distinction” or “Honors Research Distinction" . Details on these options are offered below.

Whichever is chosen, the senior research project serves as a capstone experience for students in the major, and results in a piece of original work that can be shared with the Comparative Studies community.  The essay or thesis may also be valuable as a writing sample if students apply to graduate or professional schools, or pursue a wide range of careers that value individual initiative and effective communication.

The Process: What You Need to Know to Get Started

Both the senior essay and the thesis require some advance planning, though the timeline for the thesis is typically longer.  If you choose to write the senior essay, you should have selected a paper to revise and expand, or else identified a topic for a new research paper, no later than the semester  before  you enroll in COMPSTD 4990.  You will need to submit your draft or proposal for a first round of peer review early in Spring semester. 

If you choose to write the thesis, you should have identified a topic and an advisor by the start of Autumn term of your senior year (some students choose a topic in the Spring of junior year and begin work in the summer) so you can enroll in COMPSTD 4999/4999H and begin your research.

In either case, take note that prior to enrolling in COMPSTD 4990, you'll have already taken the required 4000-level course (all of which require the completion of a research paper). The research paper written for that course often provides / may provide the paper that you choose to use for the senior essay or the senior thesis option.

Whether you write the senior essay or the thesis, nothing is more important than the choice of a topic.  It should be something that engages you, that sparks your curiosity or imagination, and that has stakes that matter to you.   But it should also be a topic of manageable scale, one that can adequately be explored in the time available to you.  Your faculty advisor can help you to shape your project at the outset, and to make any necessary adjustments along the way.

No formal advisor is required for the senior essay.  If you choose to revise and expand an earlier paper (such as the one you would have written for your 4000-level research course), you may want to reconnect with the instructor for whom you wrote the original.  They may be willing to serve as an informal advisor as you undertake your revisions.  If choosing a new topic, you may wish to speak with a professor in the department or on our affiliated faculty with expertise in the subject matter.  Each of you also has your own faculty advisor with whom you can confer, as well as the professor who will be teaching COMPSTD 4990.

If you write a thesis you must have a formal thesis advisor; you may also elect to have a co-advisor. They will supervise any thesis research courses you take (COMPSTD 4999), the writing of the thesis itself, and the oral exam at the end of the process. This might be the same person as your faculty advisor but it need not be. You should choose someone with whom you are comfortable (usually because you have been in a class together before) and who has enough knowledge of the subject matter to guide your work. You may wish to speak informally with more than one professor before making a final decision.

Senior Essay or Thesis?

If you choose to write the senior essay you will complete most of the work of research and writing during the Spring semester of your senior year, while enrolled in CS 4990, “Senior Seminar.”  You may either revise and expand a paper you wrote for another course (usually, but not always, a course in Comparative Studies), or begin and complete a research paper on a new topic.  Senior essays vary in length, but are typically around 12–15 pages (and sometimes longer if they are expanded versions of earlier essays).

If you who choose to write a thesis you will typically begin working on it during the Autumn semester of senior year (and sometimes during the preceding summer) by enrolling in CS 4999 or 4999H (“Undergraduate Thesis” or “Honors Thesis”).  You will then complete the writing while enrolled in CS 4990, “Senior Seminar.”  Theses vary considerably in length, but are typically between 25 and 40 pages.  The thesis process also includes an oral "defense" (really more like a conversation about the completed work with your advisor and one or more other faculty members).  If you choose the thesis option you may be eligible to graduate with “Research Distinction” or “Honors Research Distinction.”

To graduate with Research Distinction in Comparative Studies or with Research Distinction (if the thesis is completed in another discipline), you must meet the following requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 60 graded credit hours at Ohio State
• Graduate with minimum GPA of 3.0
• Students intending to graduate at the end of Autumn term: Application due no later than the first Friday of the previous February
• Students intending to graduate at the end of the Spring term: Application due no later than the first Friday of the previous October
• Students intending to graduate at the end of the Summer term: Application due by the first Friday of December
• Complete at least 4 credit hours of COMPSTD 4999 (these may be spread over more than one term)
• Complete and successfully defend the thesis during an oral examination

For a more detailed list of instructions, see:  https://artsandsciences.osu.edu/academics/current-students/advising-academics/graduation

If you are in the Honors Program you may graduate with Honors Research Distinction in Comparative Studies or with Honors Research Distinction (if the thesis is completed in another discipline) by meeting the following requirements:

• Be enrolled in the ASC Honors Program and complete an approved Honors Contract
• Graduate with minimum GPA of 3.4
• Submit “Undergraduate Thesis Application” to the ASC Honors Office upon enrolling in COMPSTD 4999H, or no later than the 3rd Friday of the semester you intend to graduate
• Complete at least 4 credit hours of COMPSTD 4999H (may be spread over more than one term)

For a more detailed list of instructions, see:  https://aschonors.osu.edu/honors/research-thesis

Other Useful Information

There are several sources of funding for undergraduate research.  Arts and Sciences awards two kinds of scholarships on a competitive basis each academic year; each requires a letter of support from an academic advisor, and preference is given to students planning to write a thesis. Undergraduate Research Scholarships range from $500 to $12,000.  Applications for a given academic year are due in early February of the preceding year.  International Research Grants provide up to $4,000 for research-related travel abroad for students in Arts and Sciences.  There are two application cycles per academic year.  For more information, see:  http://aschonors.osu.edu/opportunities/scholarships/undergrad .

The Division of Arts and Humanities provides Undergraduate Research Small Grants (up to $500) to help fund travel to things like conferences, research collections, and exhibitions and to purchase materials for research or creative activity.  The Aida Cannarsa Endowment Fund offers grants of $500 to $3,000 to students in arts and humanities, with priority given to those with demonstrated financial need.  Applications for both are reviewed twice a year.

See:  https://artsandsciences.osu.edu/academics/current-students/scholarships-grants/research .

There may be additional sources of funding, on and off campus, for particular kinds of projects.  You should consult with your advisor and the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Please note that research funding involving human subjects may require prior IRB approval .

Every Spring, there are opportunities for Comparative Studies students to present the results of their research, whether they choose to write the senior essay or the thesis.  The Richard J. and Martha D. Denman Undergraduate Research Forum is a university-wide showcase of undergraduate work that awards prizes by areas of interest (for example, Humanities).  There is a competitive abstract submission process in January, and a day devoted to presentations in late March.  Though most of the forum involves poster presentations, Humanities majors give brief oral presentations (8-10 minutes) on their work to faculty judges.

In April, the Department of Comparative Studies hosts its own Undergraduate Research Colloquium.  Working closely with their advisor, students prepare and submit paper abstracts in February—300 words or fewer that describe the project’s central questions, methodologies, theoretical framework, and (tentative) conclusions.  Students may choose to give a 10-minute presentation on work in progress or a 20-minute presentation on completed work (by April everyone enrolled in 4990 should be ready to give a presentation).  This is a more relaxed atmosphere, with an audience of your peers and friends, as well as faculty and graduate students in the department.

Autumn of senior year

• Choose a topic

Spring of senior year

• Enroll in COMPSTD 4990, “Senior Seminar”

Spring of junior year

• Identify an advisor

Summer between junior and senior years (optional)

• Enroll in COMPSTD 4998 or 4998H, “Undergraduate Research in Comparative Studies” (2 credits)
• Submit “Application for Graduation with Research Distinction” or “Undergraduate Thesis Application”
• Enroll in COMPSTD 4999, “Undergraduate Thesis” or 4999H, “Honors Thesis” (2 credits)
• Enroll in Enroll in COMPSTD 4999, “Undergraduate Thesis” or 4999H, “Honors Thesis” (2 credits)

Additional Information

• You can find copies of undergraduate theses online at the OSU Knowledge Bank:  https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/handle/1811/134 .
• Further information on undergraduate research opportunities is available at:  http://www.undergraduateresearch.osu.edu/ .

Senior Thesis Guidelines

A senior thesis can form a valuable part of a student's experience in the  Mathematics Major . It is intended to allow students to cover significant areas of mathematics not covered in course work, or not covered there in sufficient depth. The work should be independent and creative. It can involve the solution of a serious mathematics problem, or it can be an expository work, or variants of these. Both the process of doing independent research and mathematics exposition, as well as the finished written product and optional oral presentation, can have a lasting positive impact on a student's educational and professional future.

Supervision

Supervision by a qualified member of the field of mathematics at Cornell is the normal requirement for a senior thesis. Other arrangements are possible, however, provided they are made with the assistance of the student's major advisor, and with the approval of the Mathematics Major Committee.

Finding a supervisor/Encouraging students.  

It should be emphasized that both the writing and the supervising of a senior thesis are optional activities, both for students and faculty. Students interested in doing this will need to find a suitable supervisor — perhaps with the aid of their major advisor or another faculty member whom they know. Advisors and other faculty who encounter students whom they think would benefit from this activity are invited to mention this option to them and assist them in finding a supervisor.

Standard venues for senior theses . 

One obvious way in which a senior thesis can be produced is through an independent research course (MATH 4900); another way is through an REU experience, either at Cornell or elsewhere. (If the REU work was accomplished or initiated elsewhere, a "local expert" will still be needed to supervise or "vouch for" the work as a senior thesis.) In yet a third way, a student may present a faculty member with a solution or partial solution to an interesting problem. In such cases, this could form the core of a senior thesis. Faculty are invited to encourage such work from their students.

Public Lecture

A public lecture in which the results of the senior thesis are presented is welcome but optional. This should be arranged by the thesis supervisor in conjunction with the undergraduate coordinator and adequately advertised. Department faculty and graduate students are encouraged to attend these presentations.

Submission Deadlines

The supervisor must approve the student's thesis. The student will submit a completed first draft of the thesis to the thesis supervisor. If the supervisor asks the student to make changes, the student will have two weeks to do so and submit a PDF copy of the thesis in final form. The thesis will be posted on the department's web site.

For students graduating in December 2023 , the deadline for the first draft is Friday, November 17 and the final submission is due to the thesis supervisor and the undergraduate coordinator on Friday, December 1.

For students graduating in May 2024 , the deadline for the first draft is Friday, April 19 and the final submission is due to the thesis supervisor and the undergraduate coordinator on Friday, May 3.

Format of the Thesis

Ideally, the final document should be TeXed or prepared in some equivalent technical document preparation system. The document must have large left margins (one and one-half inches or slightly larger). The title page should contain:

The student's name and graduating class.

The title of the senior thesis.

The name of the faculty supervisor. (If there is more than one supervisor, list both. If one of the supervisors is not in the Mathematics Department, list the department and institution.)

The date of completion of the thesis.

This information will be used to produce a standard frontispiece page, which will be added to the document in its library copies.

Judgment as to the merit of a senior thesis will be based largely on the recommendation of the faculty member supervising the thesis. The Mathematics Major Committee will use this recommendation both in its determination of honors and in its decision on whether to place the thesis in our permanent library collection.

The senior thesis will automatically be considered by the Mathematics Major Committee as one of the ingredients for deciding on an  honors  designation for the student. Students may receive honors without a thesis and are not guaranteed honors with one. However, an excellent senior thesis combined with an otherwise excellent record can elevate the level of honors awarded.

Library Collection

Meritorious senior theses will be catalogued, bound, and stored in the Mathematics Library.

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What Is A Senior Thesis And How To Write It?

First, what is senior thesis? A senior thesis is a written project where you use different hypotheses, theory, argument, or creative thinking. It is usual practice for most students to take this project work in the senior year of college or high school.

A senior thesis tends to be more demanding than a research paper in terms of the amount of work and the length of the write-up. However, it is less than the work required for any Master’s thesis.

Is a Senior Thesis Required?

It is understandable to want to know if a senior thesis is required. I mean, anyone would want to know just how important it is before choosing to dedicate much time to it.

Well, a senior thesis is not compulsory in every college/university, and neither is it compulsory for every course of study.

In general, you can write a senior thesis if you have an overall GPA of 3.2, are ending your junior year, and meet your departmental requirements. If a senior thesis is not a requirement for completing your degree, you may decide to write one for several reasons. Some benefits are:

• It will look good on your resume
• It will give you an opportunity for some independent research
• You get some experience managing your project, etc.

If you cannot commit to finishing a senior thesis, then you shouldn’t start it. But if you would like to write one, then we’ve got lots of senior thesis topics and ideas for you! You will also get to learn how to write a senior thesis in this article!

How To Write a Senior Thesis

Writing a senior thesis can be a lot easier if you know what to do. First, you need to choose the right adviser, select a topic you would like to work on, write a proposal, and get approved. Here are some things you need to know about writing your senior thesis.

A thesis proposal is a short overview of what your senior thesis papers will look like. This document carries detailed descriptions of your senior thesis topic. Your thesis proposal can be between 1 to 5 pages long and should carry any relevant information. The proposal will also carry a list of books you’ve used or that you intend to use during the writing of your senior thesis.

The length of a senior thesis may vary depending on several reasons. The senior thesis length can be dependent on strict specifications by the college. Your senior thesis may be between 10,000 to 20,000 words long.

The senior honors thesis is a 6-credit final thesis that you must present as a written formal document. The senior thesis title page, also known as the cover page, is the page that carries, at first glance, details of the project. The information on this page includes the thesis title, name of the student, name of college, name of supervisor, etc.

The senior thesis defense is an avenue created for faculty and examiners to ask you about your research work. You are to tell them the outcome of the research to the point when you’re asked. The questions center around what you have in your senior thesis paper, so ensure you have remarkable up-to-date information at every point.

Senior Thesis Topic

It is essential that you find excellent senior thesis topics. Finding these excellent topics is the pain point for many students. Well, we are here to help you with some senior thesis topics.

Checking out past senior thesis topics can also set you on the right path earlier in your research. For example, if you are a student writing a CMC senior thesis, senior thesis UF, senior thesis Princeton, or yale senior thesis, you can search for award-winning senior thesis topics. These topics can give you an idea of topics that may best suit your purposes. Never forget that you should always choose topics that you find interesting. Here are some history senior thesis topics that you can choose from:

• Yankees of the East: 20th Century America
• History of the German Ford Motor Company
• How women saw themselves in the Jazz Age
• The Emergence of Great Societies
• The roles of women post WWII

Get A Senior Thesis Example

Looking through some senior thesis examples can help you easily get the hang of what a senior thesis looks like. You can also request past projects from senior friends and colleagues, as this can significantly reduce the stress on you.

Senior Thesis Format

Now, I’ll give you a working senior thesis format. If you want an excellent and well-written thesis, you can follow the senior thesis outline given below. Here is an outline according to the guidelines for writing UF senior thesis or Princeton senior thesis.

In this chapter, you have to discuss the significance and purpose of the thesis. Also, you should state what you hope to achieve by the work.

Here, you will discuss the theory behind your research work. This chapter discusses past theoretical works that are related to your research.

This chapter explains how you intend to gather your data. Here, you state the method and experiments you followed to arrive at your results. It would help if you also described the analysis of your data. This must be done conscientiously.

This chapter addresses the findings from your experiments and data analysis only. You begin by listing out the types of tests taken and the outcome. You can use tables and charts to illustrate numeric results as the case may be.

Here you don’t just restate your findings, but you expatiate on the deductions you made from your findings. This chapter answers the “so what?” question. This is not a section to mince words when you explain what the results mean to the theory.

Include all references at the end of work.

Senior Thesis Ideas

There are many fields and sources to get senior thesis topic ideas from. These fields include health, technology, social media, education, religion, music, environment, etc. If you want to do a UF psychology senior thesis research, for example, these are some senior thesis psychology topics you can explore.

• The deep-seated reasons for discrimination and prejudice
• Personal perception and social cognition
• Marketing, propaganda, and persuasion
• Eating behaviors and outlook about life
• Phobias and antisocial behaviors
• Group therapy profile
• False memories and dreams.

Graphic Design Senior Thesis

When you become a senior in the Graphic Design Program at your institution, you can choose a social or personal problem to address through a design problem-solving technique or process. It may take you a semester or session to complete this work, so you have to start early enough. After completing the thesis, you can showcase your work and experience an exhibition. Don’t forget to put in your best effort.

High School Senior Thesis

The high school senior thesis is a document of at least 2,000 words written by high school seniors. This exercise usually strengthens research capabilities. Some high school senior thesis topics may include:

• A documentary on a place
• Learning about programming
• Research about the nature of colors and lots more.

In conclusion, when you’ve decided to write a senior thesis, the best thing to do is segment your work into small doable bits. Also, you need to schedule your time so that you can complete the thesis in due time or contact professional thesis writers . We wish you good luck!

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The Senior Thesis

All majors will complete a one-semester thesis in Linguistics as their culminating experience. Honors majors will write their thesis in LING 195, and course majors will write their thesis in LING 100. LING 90 Advanced Research Methods is highly recommended for students to help prepare them for thesis work, but is not required. Ling minors are welcome to write a thesis if they wish, but do not usually do so. 

The thesis is usually completed in a student’s senior Fall, but a Spring thesis seminar with limited spots is generally available at Haverford. Students who are student teaching or writing a thesis for another major in their senior Fall will often choose to write in the Spring semester of their junior or senior year. Honors theses must be completed by January of the senior year.

Linguistics does allow joint theses with other departments so long as the final product includes substantial linguistics content. Reach out to the chair if you are interested in this option.

Students should start thinking about possible thesis topics by the spring of their junior year. Students must have sufficient background in their proposed research area to do advanced work on the topic. This can usually be fulfilled by some combination of two or more relevant courses or research experiences. We encourage students to build on previous work such as term papers or final projects. A student’s advisor may veto a thesis topic if the student has insufficient prior background in the area, if the topic is not sufficiently relevant to Linguistics, or if it is too broadly or narrowly scoped or otherwise inappropriate for a thesis. 

During pre-registration, students may register for any thesis section. Specific faculty will be assigned to co-teach the thesis seminars as part of their normal teaching load, and they will advise all of that semester’s theses, usually 5-6 advisees per faculty member as first reader. In early April, the department will send out a survey to all rising seniors and other thesising students asking them to submit their thesis ideas. After these have been collected, each student will be assigned to a thesis advisor. Assignments are made on the basis of several factors. While we try to match each student to an advisor whose area of expertise overlaps with their proposed topic, this is not always possible. Some students will be assigned to an advisor at a different TriCo campus, in which case they will attend the thesis seminar at their advisor’s campus. Once advisors are assigned, students’ registrations will be moved to the appropriate seminar section. All sections are roughly equivalent in terms of syllabus, content, scheduling, and due dates.

Students will also be assigned a second faculty reader, who will give them additional feedback throughout the process. Occasionally the Chair or another faculty member not teaching the seminar will serve as first or second advisor, based on enrollments or expertise.

Thesis orientation meetings will take place in the Spring. Students are expected to attend this meeting if at all possible, and to let their thesis advisor know if they can’t make it (for example due to study abroad). Students are encouraged to be in touch with their advisor over the summer, and to begin to make progress on tasks like background reading or running experiments/gathering data. If a proposed thesis requires IRB approval, students are strongly encouraged to apply during the summer, as the process can be lengthy. Swarthmore students and BiCo students working with Swarthmore advisors whose projects pose no more than minimal risk can obtain departmental human subjects approval ; all others must go through their campus IRB committee. Students doing work with human subjects should discuss this with their advisor.

The department currently budgets $50 per student to cover thesis expenses such as payments to language consultants or experimental subjects. Students may use this form to apply for funding.

A completed thesis usually consists of a 20-35-page research paper on the students’ topic, written for an audience of fellow senior linguistics majors. Beginning in Fall 2024, the department has approved a pilot policy to allow thesis which take alternative formats. Guidelines for these formats are below. There are a number of intermediate steps, drafts, and checkpoints along the way; students are expected to meet these.

Students will normally complete their thesis by the end of the semester, and present the completed project in a defense or public presentation. The grade is assigned by the faculty advisor in consultation with the second reader primarily on the basis of the finished product, though process and timeliness with regards to intermediate deadlines can affect the final grade as well.

Guidelines for alternative thesis options:

• Our current thesis format remains the (default) option. Other formats must be approved by the advisor.  Advisors may say no based on student preparation or the appropriateness of a given format for the student’s topic, usually after some discussion.
• 40-60 minute plenary style talk with handout or slides
• 15-20 minute film
• policy brief/proposal
• software package or implementation
• other format of the student’s choosing
• Work must still reflect individual research on a defined research question ; only the format of presentation is different.
• The student must already possess the skills necessary to produce the alternate format — e.g., they should already be experienced at video editing if they want to produce a film. Advisors should take this into account when deciding whether to approve an alternate format. The advisor need not have expertise in that area. 
• Intermediate deadlines for alternate format theses may need to differ from those for traditional theses; these should be discussed with the advisor at the start of the semester. As with a written thesis paper, the project should be carefully scoped for the time available.
• Alternate formats should be proposed as early as possible. Some options will be foreclosed as time passes: For example, pivoting to a video format isn’t practically feasible later in the semester, while a plenary talk format may well be. Approval of a format change is at the advisor’s discretion.
• The execution of the final product should count towards the final grade in the same way that writing quality counts towards the final thesis grade. E.g., a sloppily edited podcast presenting strong research should be graded in the same way as a poorly-written thesis paper on strong research. The product should be intentional and explicit about its audience and designed with them in mind. The intended audience of a written thesis is generally an academic audience / "fellow ling majors".
• For formats other than a plenary talk or traditional thesis, the final product should include a short (~3-5 page) companion paper including a brief lit review/references, discussion of the research questions addressed, a reflection on product itself and whether it met the student’s goals, and discussion of the process and what the student felt they gained.
• All theses, regardless of format, should take accessibility into account and follow established best practices. Videos and podcasts should include an accurate transcript and/or subtitles. Written papers should be accessible to screen readers, with the document structure properly formatted (e.g. headings should be in Heading format, not just bolded regular text) and alt text for images and figures. See https://www.swarthmore.edu/accessibility/practical-how-to

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Best Life Insurance for Seniors of April 2024

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The right life insurance policy for you is one that is purchased early, because your need for life insurance grows as you age, as do your premiums. Many retirees start thinking seriously about life insurance to pay for funeral or to help take care of their family. However, even if you're late to purchasing life insurance, you still have options. 

Our top picks for the best life insurance for seniors

• Best for customer satisfaction: State Farm Life Insurance
• Best for term life insurance: Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance
• Best for retirement planning: New York Life Insurance
• Best for end-of-life care: John Hancock Life Insurance
• Best for buyers flexibility: USAA Life Insurance
• Best for universal life: Prudential Life Insurance
• Best for a guaranteed issue: AIG Life Insurance

How we rate senior life insurance »

Best for customer satisfaction: State Farm

State Farm Life Insurance takes the top spot in JD Power's life insurance customer satisfaction study . JD Power gathers thousands of consumer reviews and gives each insurer a score out of 1,000. State Farm offers a range of insurance products, including auto, life, pet, homeowners, and renters, with multi-policy discounts and other incentives to keep your insurance there.

Some policies exclude seniors over age 65 from applying for the first time. But all life insurance policies are quoted by licensed insurance agents employed by State Farm. Meeting with a State Farm agent allows buyers to communicate goals and needs and answer critical questions agents might have. In addition, qualifying seniors can access limited whole, term, and universal life policies. State Farm is among the companies also offering survivorship universal options. Essentially, spouses can get insured together, and a surviving spouse can continue to make payments and increase the death benefit. Both spouses can also take out loans and other withdrawals against the policy once they meet the requirements.

K of Clewiston, FL, a verified reviewer on ConsumerAffairs , said, "State Farm is the best insurance company out there. They have great Life Insurance Policies to fit your needs…..Also, their prices are the most reasonable out there."

Read our State Farm Life Insurance review here.

Best for term life insurance: Mutual of Omaha

Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance  remains one of the industry's most stable life insurance companies. Its size allows it to be more flexible in its underwriting for specific populations, including seniors. Regardless of your age, a licensed insurance agent can sort through your options and find one that makes sense.

However, its term life insurance policy stands out for seniors applying for the first time or younger buyers looking to renew term life policies. Term life insurance policies with Mutual of Omaha are renewable for qualifying applicants up to age 94. Of note, not all applicants will qualify to renew policies beyond any age, as approval is based on health history and other factors. Many life insurance policies also require a medical exam. However, Mutual of Omaha stands alone as it does not cut off term life buyers over 65.

One important thing to highlight is Mutual of Omaha's availability to resolve consumer issues, even when it's not the company's fault. For example, Roger of Eagle, AK, originally left a complaint on ConsumerAffairs , and the company promptly responded. He later updated his review, saying, "Thank You Mutual of Omaha! Physicians Mutual Dental has informed me of my mistake. You are a fine company serving the life insurance needs of USA citizens and expats as well."

Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Review

Best for retirement planning: New York Life

New York Life Insurance  caters to a forward-thinking customer. It offers many robust investment options. So its agents are extensively trained to answer all questions about its policies. Questions could be as simple as what penalties you'll pay to take early withdrawals or loans from your life insurance policy.

Like other retirement planning vehicles, the earlier you start, the better. Premiums will be lower, and you can apply for a large payout. But if you can afford higher premiums at a later age, New York Life still offers comprehensive policies with loans and early withdrawal options to take you into retirement. Riders can also customize its coverage. For example, whole life customers can buy a living benefits rider to withdraw money in the event of a terminal illness. Buyers can also add an accidental death rider until age 70 for an extra death benefit for loved ones. This satisfies borrowers who want stability but like the idea of a higher payout should they die in their prime working years.

New York Life's knowledgeable agents are highlighted by William of Starks, Louisiana, on ConsumerAffairs , saying, "They are willing to help and pay without hassle. They make sure all your needs are met. They check with you often to make sure your policy is up to date. If at anytime there are questions that need addressing they are readily available to help."

Read our New York Life Insurance review here.

Best for end-of-life care: John Hancock

John Hancock Life Insurance is among many life insurance companies offering an accelerated death benefit, or "living benefits." Even if you don't want to use your life insurance for retirement planning, you have early withdrawal options to keep you comfortable in the event of a terminal illness. Buyers can exercise the rider at any age as long as waiting periods and other terms are met.

If you develop a qualifying condition, John Hancock will pay 50-100% of your qualifying death benefit while you're still alive. However, it caps accelerated death benefit claims at $1 million if you expect to live a year or less. This could help balance costly medical bills and end-of-life costs beyond what social security or disability payments would comfortably cover.

Read our John Hancock Life Insurance review here.

Best for flexibility: USAA

USAA Life Insurance  policies are available to Americans from all walks of life, including military and non-military buyers. However, it offers unique whole life coverage to active duty military members beyond the government's equivalent of employer life insurance. USAA policies stick with the buyer wherever they work. With options for active duty military members, USAA is common among veterans with combat-related illnesses and disabilities sustained during deployment. Of course, buyers purchase these policies before the conditions become apparent.

USAA is among the limited life insurance providers still offering coverage with a history of cancer. Of course, not all buyers will qualify, and policy options are limited. Accounting for state laws, USAA life insurance policies may also pay out after a drug overdose (frequency may increase with more daily medications to treat age-related conditions) when other life insurance companies refuse. For seniors looking for a bit of flexibility, USAA could be an ideal option.

Read our USAA Life Insurance review here.

Best for universal life: Prudential

Prudential Life Insurance  offers survivorship options for life insurance shoppers. Unlike a standard life insurance policy, it covers two people. When one person passes, the policy continues growing as long as the surviving spouse continues making payments. The policy can increase to $65 million with a maximum age of 85. The two insureds cannot have an age gap of more than 25 years.

The PruLife SUL Protector program encompasses multiple categories such as the Preferred Best, Preferred Smoker, and Preferred Non-Tobacco. Universal life insurance policies with Prudential allow loans. So both parties can pull money out of the policy via loans at the cost of the final death benefit.

Read our Prudential Life Insurance review here.

Best for guaranteed issue: AIG

AIG Life Insurance cannot deny your application if you fall within the set age limits. That's thanks to guaranteed issue : two words many seniors and even younger applicants aren't used to hearing about life insurance. Seniors aged 50 to 80 enjoy guaranteed coverage with no medical exam, and the application is 100% online.

AIG policies are small, maxing out at $25,000. So this would be appropriate for funeral expenses and/or a small death benefit for surviving family members.

Read our AIG Life Insurance Review here.

Senior Life Insurance Options Ranked by Customer Satisfaction

J.D. Power conducts an annual study of life insurance based on reported customer satisfaction. Then it assigns companies a score out of 1,000, listing the top performers on its website. So if you're shopping for life insurance, the following companies are the ones J.D. Power readers had positive experiences with.

How we review life insurance for seniors

Our life insurance rating methodology looks at a few key factors. To ensure a fair and even playing field for insurance companies and customers, we look at customer satisfaction, financial stability, types of policies offered, average premiums, coverage exclusions, and more. We also factor in recent controversies and ways an insurance company may engage with and improve its community.

Factors such as customer satisfaction and average premiums are equally weighted. However, we are aware not all charitable efforts are recognized, and not all controversies are based on facts, so a company's engagement with its community and recent controversies are considered separately.

See our full methodology for how we rate insurance »

Is it worth having life insurance after 65?

Life insurance could be worth it over 65, especially if you have a spouse and no other plans to cover end-of-life expenses.

What's the best type of life insurance for seniors?

The best type of life insurance for seniors will generally be a whole life insurance policy that doesn't expire. Whole life insurance also accrues a cash value over time which you can borrow against or use to pay premiums.

How long does it take AARP to pay out a life insurance policy?

According to AARP, it takes 1-2 months on average for the company to pay out a life insurance policy.

Should a 75-year-old buy life insurance?

If you are 75 or older and don't have a life insurance policy, it is still worth buying life insurance to cover end-of-life costs, but keep in mind that your options may be more limited (and more expensive) if you wait this long to find a policy. 

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