Honors thesis Resources
For students who start HON 498 in Spring 2025 and beyond
Thesis Coursework
- HON 391 (1 credit): Honors students begin their thesis journey in HON 391, Introduction to Thesis Research, a required course that is a prerequisite for HON 498. HON 391 is designed to provide prospective Honors thesis writers with the background and resources necessary to produce quality independent work.
- HON 498 and HON 499 (3 credits per course): HON 498 and HON 499 are required to complete the Honors Thesis requirement. These courses have no formal meeting time; instead, thesis students and their advisors themselves schedule meeting times throughout the two semesters. The thesis advisor will assign the grades for the courses.
**Please note that as of Spring 2025, Honors Theses will be awarded either Honors or No Honors. For more Information, reference the Thesis Handbook below.**
Thesis Advisor & Thesis committee
Your thesis committee must be comprised of a minimum of three UMaine faculty members, including the thesis advisor; to ensure continuity for the committee, all members should be full-time members of the UMaine faculty; the Honors dean and/or associate dean may also serve. The committee may include a maximum of five total members; the total number of committee members will be determined by the advisor and student.
- The committee may include 1 external member (e.g. a faculty member at another institution, a researcher affiliated with a lab outside of UMaine, or a community partner); the external member may not serve as the thesis advisor. The external member would constitute a fourth member of the committee.
- If the thesis is meeting the capstone requirements for double majors, the committee may need to have advisors or members from both disciplines. Please consult with the chairs/directors of your departments to make this determination.
Thesis committees sometimes include Honors faculty members.
The Thesis Advisor
A thesis advisor is an individual with whom you work closely on developing and executing your thesis. In addition to serving as your project mentor, your advisor serves as the instructor of record for the courses associated with your thesis (HON 498 and 499). While typically the thesis is advised by an individual faculty member, co-advisors are possible; talk with the associate dean if you are thinking about co-advisors.
Finding a Thesis Advisor
Typically, you will find your advisor simply by asking a faculty member if they are available to work with you on your thesis topic. The faculty member may be someone with whom you are already working in a lab or on a research project, someone from whom you have taken a class, or someone with expertise in your field of interest. You will discuss this process in detail in HON 391, though we recommend that you start thinking about this well before you begin your thesis. If you have trouble finding an advisor, contact the associate dean.
Your thesis committee must be comprised of a minimum of three UMaine faculty members, including the thesis advisor; to ensure continuity for the committee, all members should be full-time members of the UMaine faculty; the Honors dean and/or associate dean may also serve. The committee may include a maximum of five total members; the total number of committee members will be determined by the advisor and student.
- The committee may include 1 external member (e.g. a faculty member at another institution, a researcher affiliated with a lab outside of UMaine, or a community partner); the external member may not serve as the thesis advisor. The external member would constitute a fourth member of the committee.
- If the thesis is meeting the capstone requirements for double majors, the committee may need to have advisors or members from both disciplines. Please consult with the chairs/directors of your departments to make this determination.
Thesis committees sometimes include Honors faculty members.
Expectations for Progress Policy for Honors College Thesis Students
Thesis deadlines are designed to ensure that students stay on track, fulfill requirements in a timely fashion, and complete a high-quality project. Students who do not make satisfactory progress on the thesis (e.g. failing to meet stipulated deadlines and/or to respond in a timely fashion to outreach from the Honors College or the thesis advisor) may be dismissed from Honors.
Students who are not making satisfactory progress will be notified by email by the dean’s office and given the opportunity to address concerns/missing materials by a specified date. Students who fail to meet second deadlines or fulfill stipulated expectations will receive notification of dismissal.