The Senior Thesis Program offers an opportunity for students with strong academic records and a desire to pursue individual scholarly research to write a senior thesis during their Senior year. There is no minimum GPA requirement, but students must be highly motivated and have the ability to engage in self-directed work.
Students accepted into the Senior Thesis Program take a year-long seminar during their Senior year while conducting research and writing a thesis. The fall seminar (COMM 451/491) fulfills the Senior Capstone requirement and the winter seminar (COMM 452/492) fulfills the COMM ULWR requirement for the major.
Upon completion of the Senior Thesis Program, students who meet the GPA requirements will graduate with an Honors designation.
Want to know more?
Read about the program and application process here and/or schedule an academic advising appointment with the program’s director, Dr. Jimmy Draper, to discuss your interest in writing a thesis.
Please note that there is no GPA requirement to do a senior thesis, but if you are aiming to graduate with honors some GPA requirements apply. Learn more at the info session!
Application
Juniors may apply for admission into the Senior Thesis Program in Communication and Media between March 10 - April 4, with a March 21 priority deadline.
I am so grateful to have been a part of the Senior Thesis Program. The program was influential for me - The whole experience taught me a lot about myself. How, when and where I work best, how to communicate effectively with many people, what to do when I’m feeling discouraged, etc. My research not only provided some structure to my pandemic life, but also allowed me to really get to know professors on a level that is not possible in normal classes. Through this program, I felt more connected to the department and the people in it, which was a wonderful way to end my undergrad career.
Clare Oliver-DiPaola, BA Communication and Media; BA German '21
Writing an honors senior thesis this school year allowed me to reflect back on just how much I had learned during my four years as a Communication & Media major. I was able to apply theories and ideas I had even learned my freshman year and weave it into a research project that combined the knowledge I had acquired during my time as an undergrad with my personal passion for sports. My experience conducting independent research this year taught me that the type of critical thinking I was doing was impactful and meaningful and how grateful I was to have learned important skills and information from such amazing professors and mentors in the department.
Daniela Mirell, BA Communication and Media; Minor American Culture '21
