Guidelines for Preparing an Honors Thesis Research Proposal and Fellowship Application

The Thesis Research Proposal and Fellowship Application is a requirement of those writing a thesis and is due late in the first semester in which a student registers for thesis credits. This proposal is the only thesis-related written work submitted to the University Honors Program (UHP) during the  thesis process prior to the thesis itself. This is a student’s opportunity to formalize the  concept for the thesis and make an initial attempt at explaining the preliminary work and  goals to others. Please read the following guidelines closely, and submit any questions to the  Associate Director of Research of the UHP.

Applying for a Thesis Fellowship

The other purpose behind completing the Thesis Research Proposal and Fellowship Application is that funds are available from the UHP to support student research. In fact, this is your only opportunity to request funding in support of your thesis work. Budget requests may be for any amount including no request for funding, but awards range from $50 to a maximum of $1,500 (except in the case of the Palermo Founders Fund—please see below). Please note that the decision regarding funding is made as part of a competitive process. The recommendations will be made by a committee evaluating all fellowship applications at one time and evaluate each request based upon the merits and needs of the individual student’s research proposal.

Typically, a thesis fellowship is used to offset expenses such as the following:

  • Laboratory (or other research-related) equipment and supplies
  • Art supplies and equipment
  • The purchase or lease of computer software
  • Books or periodicals not available through normal library sources
  • Costs for preparing, copying, and mailing surveys
  • Travel expenses directly related to the thesis project

Local and Out-of-Area Summer Housing Costs

On-campus residential hall housing costs for students doing thesis research locally during the summer (full third term) should be budgeted separately in thesis research budget requests. This effectively means submitting a budget for up to $1,500 in allowable costs plus the standard Residential Services housing costs for full third-term housing in one of the residence halls.*

*Revised policy regarding housing costs and budget request for thesis funding effective for proposals submitted Spring 2012 and thereafter.

NOTE:  Honors Program funding for summer housing on campus is available only to students engaged exclusively in thesis research for the full third term. It covers only University housing in one of the residence halls. Students working a job not related to their thesis project, taking summer courses or pursuing an education abroad experience during part of the summer, are excluded from UHP housing unless their thesis proposal demonstrates that these activities are an integral part of their thesis project.

  • Out-of-area summer housing costs:  Students doing research out of the area may apply for housing benefits and, if awarded, will be reimbursed after completing a travel expense report. Off-campus housing awards usually do not exceed the cost of UD housing.
  • Students with research projects requiring time on and off campus should detail these housing costs separately on a pro-rated basis.

Fellowship funds are not awarded for expenses such as the following

  • Equipment, supplies, software or printed materials available through the University
  • Meals
  • Gift cards and entry fees for study participants
  • Travel to conferences (a student whose thesis work is accepted to be presented at a conference which occurs before the student completes his or her undergraduate degree is encouraged to request cost-sharing from the UHP)
  • Personnel costs, including payments to research subjects, research assistants or transcribers

Please note that all equipment, supplies, texts, etc., become the property of the Advisor’s Academic Department or Program at the conclusion of the thesis process.

The Palermo Founders Fund

The Palermo Founders Fund was established to honor Dr. Patrick Palermo, the original director of the University Honors Program, and the students with whom he founded the program. This endowed fund provides support for a limited number of University Honors students who undertake Honors thesis projects of exceptional merit. Projects receiving funding must involve one or more of the following:

  • International research
  • Service and leadership in community
  • Work that advances the realization of a just society

These projects are expected to nurture connected learning and scholarship in the distinctive Catholic and Marianist spirit by emphasizing the value of collaborative research, the pursuit of social justice, and leadership and service in the community. In fact, these distinctive thesis projects are often not limited to scholarly research, but commonly incorporate research and service as well.

Students are encouraged to apply for the Palermo Founders Fund based on the merit of the proposal and independent of the amount of the thesis funds being requested in Section VII (see  below). The maximum amount of funding that may be received by a student whose Thesis Research Proposal and Fellowship Application is selected for the Palermo Founders Fund is $3000.

Evaluation Guidelines

The student can expect a proposal evaluator to consider this list of questions.

Sample Proposals

Format for the Thesis Research Proposal and Fellowship Application

The student should follow the outline below in the preparation of his or her thesis fellowship proposal. Note that the proposal is required to be submitted as a double-spaced document to the appropriate Isidore tab. Please include your last name in any document file names.

SECTIONS I-VIII ARE REQUIRED

I. Cover Sheet

Download and complete the cover sheet (.docx), including advisor signature(s), to include with your Thesis Research Proposal and Fellowship Application.

  • You may scan the completed and signed document and submit it separately on the appropriate Isidore page.
  • Please include your last name in the document file name.

II. General Audience Project Summary

The general audience project summary should be written for educated readers outside of your discipline. The goal of this summary is to provide a broad scope of what the expectations for the project are, how this will be accomplished, and why this is important. This summary should not be identical to the project abstract (Section III). This summary should be no longer than 300 words.

III. Proposed Thesis Title and Proposed Abstract

The abstract should be consistent with disciplinary and advisor guidelines, but typically consists of 200-300 words. Discipline-specific language in this section of the proposal is appropriate. Also note that this is each student’s first attempt to draft an abstract, and that the scope of the work is expected to evolve prior to the submission of the actual thesis.

IV. Project Description

  • Discipline-specific language may be used in this section of the proposal to explain the problem/hypothesis/argument and the specific aims of the thesis.
  • The project description should be a narrative; an outline is not acceptable.
  • Discuss any relevant research design or research methods to be used.
  • Discuss progress made to-date on the project.
  • If needed, figures, pictures, graphs, etc. are appropriate for this section (and encouraged) and are not used to evaluate the length of the written portion. Please note that proposals will be photocopied in black and white for review. As such, figures and their references should be done in grayscale.
  • The written portion of the description is not to exceed five double-spaced pages in length.

V. Timeline

This section provides a detailed accounting of the milestones necessary for the completion of the project. Examples of such milestones are completing the literature search, initiating/completing data gathering, initiating thesis writing, submission of the completed thesis and presenting at the Honors Students Symposium and the Stander Symposium.

VI. Working Bibliography

This section should include citations to works already referenced and works likely to be referenced in the course of the project. The student should consult the thesis advisor in order to identify a format consistent with standards in his or her discipline.

VII. Budget

  • Include a full budget for the project that estimates all likely expenses to be incurred regardless of the total cost. Projects may have budgets that exceed the fellowship amount that the UHP can provide.
  • Projected expenses must be clearly identified, itemized, and justified by the research design that you are planning to employ. For example, references to be purchased should be listed by title, author and cost.
  • Identify sources for cost estimates.
  • List other secured and requested sources of funding.
  • Thesis writers can submit a proposal with a request for $0.
  • Thesis fellowships are capped at $1500 (except in the case of the Palermo Founders Fund recipients), but it is still appropriate to list the full cost of the project.

VIII. Letter of Support

A letter of support from your Advisor or Advisor of Contact must be included. In addition to discussing the shared background of the advisor and student, and the student's academic prowess, the letter should also address appropriateness of the budget request, and the tangible support the advisor can provide including space, supplies, equipment, and access to contacts necessary for the completion of the research.

A letter of support for the thesis proposal is similar to a letter of recommendation, including a discussion of the research project and the advisor's commitment to seeing the student succeed.

The Advisor should submit the letter of support directly to Ramona Speranza via email.

IX. Appendices (if necessary)

Include any additional materials that support the project described in Section III. Suggested appendices include but are not limited to:

  • Letters of support from contacts necessary for the completion of the thesis.
  • Letters of support for funding promised from other resources.
  • Draft or status of IRB or IACUC proposal.

SECTION X IS OPTIONAL

X. Palermo Founders Fund Application

  • Not to exceed two double-spaced pages in length.
  • Identify why the thesis will be of exceptional merit, and how it involves international research, service and leadership in community, or advances the realization of a just society.
  • The student is encouraged to apply for this fund if he or she meet these qualifications, independent of the level of funding requested in Section VII.

Proposal Submission

Complete and submit a double-spaced document of the Thesis Research Proposal and Fellowship Application to the appropriate Isidore Thesis tab by April 2, 2012. Please include your last name in any document file names. In addition, the letter of support should be emailed to Ramona Speranza by that date.

Fellowship awards are announced in early April.