Thesis

Plan II Thesis

Every student in the Plan II Honors Program will complete a two-semester “capstone project” thesis sequence. The thesis should grow out of the student's personal interests and passions as they have pursued them in courses, internships, travel, and experiences during their college years.

To fulfill the requirements for thesis for degree completion, students will complete a comprehensive two-course thesis sequence known as T C 660 HA and HB. This is a three-credit class that meets for one hour every week, across two semesters. Every semester, T C 660 HA is offered on Wednesdays, 12 - 1 p.m. and T C 660 HB is offered on Wednesdays, 1 - 2 p.m.

The classes integrate a series of mini-assignments, designed to support students with low stakes writing and research progression across the course of the two semesters. They cover the full scope of the research design, implementation, and write-up process. Given the wide range of student disciplinary foci and research topics, this class sequence provides a strong overview of the undergrad research process. 

 

Plan II Thesis Team

Contact Dr. Charlie Nagle regarding thesis topic approval ("part one" of pre-registration), research & writing guidance, and any thesis committee concerns.

Contact your Thesis Course Graduate TA regarding course assignments and attendance.

Contact the thesis team in the Plan II office with any questions about the thesis process, how to get started, and a thesis check-list leading up to registration for the course.

Contact your Plan II Academic Advisors regarding course registration, graduation, incompletes, and other thesis concerns. 

Thesis Resources

Thesis Preparation Process: 

The registration process for T C 660HA begins THE YEAR BEFORE you intend to start working on your thesis. In order to register, you MUST secure topic approval in the semester prior. 

To complete a non-Plan II Departmental Thesis, you will go through a different process. Read more about that below.

 Step 1: Planning ahead

• Read through the Plan II Thesis Manual and begin to formulate a general idea for your thesis topic.
• Meet with Dr. Nagle to talk over your ideas and to receive topic approval.

Step 2: Submitting your thesis approval form

• Secure a full thesis committee. This includes a first reader/supervisor + second reader. 
• Complete this Plan II Thesis Form. 
• Your thesis faculty advising team will receive an email notification that they have committed to work with you on your project. Plan II will pre-approve you for registration in T C 660 HA.

Thesis Resources:

• Plan II Thesis Manual
• Plan II Thesis Library Guide
• Texas ScholarWorks Collections
• Eureka
• Past Thesis Symposia
• Ask a Librarian (UT Libraries)
• Liaison Librarians at UT (find the Plan II specialist here)
• Stats support (from the SDS - primarily staff and faculty but may have useful resources)
• Geospatial/ GIS, quantitative and Spatial Coding support (from the PCL)

 

Thesis Faculty Supervisors and Second Readers in Plan II

As the faculty advising team for thesis students, supervisors and second readers for Plan II students are supported by a comprehensive two-course thesis sequence known as T C 660 HA and HB. This is a three-credit class that for one hour every week, across two semesters. 

The classes support students with ongoing and low stakes writing and research assignments, however, faculty supervisors and second readers will provide the specialist advising expertise tied to specific disciplinary norms, research practice, and/or the relevant creative process (for creative thesis students).  For potential first readers/ supervisors, please see the Plan II thesis manual (above) for a detailed overview of the thesis form, process, and expectations.

Briefly, you can expect the scope of labor for a faculty advising role in Plan II to look like the following:

• The period of advising is two full semesters (Fall-Spring or Spring-Fall). The faculty supervisor will be the "instructor of record" for the T C 660 HA and HB sequence (i.e they will see these classes on their grade submission pages). However, the courses are designed, administered, and taught by Plan II thesis associate directors, with final grade determinations decided by the Plan II thesis team based on the faculty advising team's grade recommendations and student performance in the thesis classes.
• The supervisor and second readers receive substantive emails each semester from the Plan II thesis team, sharing updates on the thesis process and important upcoming deadlines and requirements.
• Students are encouraged to meet with their supervisor about once every 2 weeks. They may meet at a time and place of their convenience. Second readers usually meet about once per month. This kind of meeting schedule may vary, depending on the advising teams preference. However, there should be some sustained measure of ongoing engagement, dialog and revising work between the advisors and students over both semesters. Meetings may be in person or over Zoom.
• While students usually meet separately with their supervisors and second readers, we recommend that both faculty advisors meet together, along with their student, at least once each semester.
• Supervisors and, to a lesser degree, second readers, will read and provide feedback on draft writing about 2-3 times during the semester.
• Supervisors may need to act as the P.I. on IRB applications (requiring CITI training).
• Supervisors and second readers are invited (but not required) to attend a coffee/breakfast informational and appreciation session offered early each semester.
• Supervisors and second readers will collaborate to determine a grade recommendation in each semester. The Plan II thesis team makes any necessary amendments to the grade, based on course attendance and participation. Once the final grade has been determined by the Plan II team, Plan II submits the final grade to UT.
• In the second semester, supervisors and second readers must conduct an advisee's "oral showcase" (formerly "oral defense") by the required deadline.
• Supervisors and second readers are warmly encouraged, but not required, to attend their advisee's thesis symposium.
• Once the final thesis is complete, supervisors and second readers will collaborate in determining recommendation for the model thesis award.
• In many cases supervisors and second readers will sustain a relationship with their student advisees that continues long after the thesis project, and may include mentorship, letter of recommendation writing, and sponsorship/ advocacy in future careers, graduate education/ training etc.

 

The Plan II Honors Thesis Database

Plan II began to digitize theses in 2007. The database is publically available via the Texas ScholarWorks repository from 2017. 

A selection of earlier theses have been scanned and added. It's searchable by author, title, keyword,
etc. If you are a Plan II alum and you would like your thesis moved into the "Openly Available" Collection, please contact a Plan II Advisor. 

Research Funding & Awards

 

Research Funding & Awards

• Plan II Thesis Grant
• Liberal Arts Undergraduate Research Awards
• University Co-op/George H. Mitchell Undergraduate Student Awards
• Office of Undergraduate Research

 

IRB Guidance

• Walk-In Wednesday Virtual Advising: Zoom Link
• General Questions: IRB@Austin.utexas.edu 
• Phone: 512.232.1543
• Website: IRB (Human Subjects Research)

 

*Departmental Thesis (non Plan II) Planning Forms

You may be interested in pursuing a departmental senior thesis instead of a Plan II thesis. We warmly welcome and encourage students to do so. This can be particularly useful if students are considering graduate level research in a particular field, or are already working with faculty advisors in their labs.

If you would like to consider this option, please:

1. Meet with a Plan II Associate Director for topic approval (see above). Together the student and Associate Director determine whether your chosen thesis program is equivalent to the Plan II thesis and is approved as an alternative through the registrar's office for degree completion.

2. Once Plan II approves, please complete the departmental form below. Please do so in the semester prior to the commencement of your thesis. It is imperative that the student receive prior permission from the Plan II office to complete a departmental thesis, as not all substitions are approved and count toward degree completion.

• Departmental Thesis Registation Form

Once you are approved to take the departmental thesis you need not take the Plan II thesis course sequence (T C 660 HA and HB). You will substitute these for your departmental thesis sequence.

3. Note that you are required to present in the Plan II symposium held during the semester you finish your thesis. You must also submit your final thesis to the Plan II thesis repository. Once you have completed your departmental thesis forms, you will receive information about each of these processes.