The role of the Honors thesis advisor is a rewarding experience.  The Honors thesis process consists of two stages.  In the first stage, the student enrolls in Honors Thesis Readings (491), using the prefix of the department in which the student is writing the thesis and proposal.  In Honors Readings, the student will develop his/her Honors thesis proposal, which he/she must submit to the University Honors Committee for approval prior to his/her completion of the Honors thesis.  The faculty advisor must approve the Honors thesis proposal before it can be submitted to the University Honors Committee for review.

To assist the students in preparing their Honors thesis proposals, the Honors Program office makes available to both students and advisors a handbook entitled Guidelines for Writing the Honors Thesis Proposal.  The University Honors Committee meets twice a semester in the fall and spring to consider proposals, and  you will receive the key dates and deadlines for the fall semester.

The second phase of the Honors thesis process involves the completion of Honors Thesis (490), which the student completes under your direction.  There is also a final defense of the thesis in which the student, the advisor, the Honors director, a member of the University Honors Committee, and a professor of the student’s choosing all participate.

Much of what is stated above is also contained in our Honors Program Handbook.  Our Honors Administrative secretary is Kay Hatfield, and our office is located in room 142, Ferguson Social Science.  Our student workers can answer questions about the Honors Program as well.  Our office phone is Ext. 3033, the e-mail address is Kay_Hatfield@tamu-commerce.edu, and our Web site is www7.tamu-commerce.edu/honors.

The best advice is to approach your role as advisor in much the same capacity as you would a master’s thesis student but keeping in mind that this is an undergraduate project.