Senior Thesis
Class of 2022 Senior Theses Writers Alongside Professor GurelA senior thesis is a year-long research project developed with a faculty advisor that attempts to make a contribution to the field of American Studies.
The final project may take on a variety of forms, including a scholarly paper, narrative nonfiction essay, journalistic article or series of articles, documentary film, or museum exhibition; it can reflect personal interests and career goals. Many of our thesis writers have won UROP grants to support their thesis research.
The opportunity to write a Senior Thesis in American Studies is open to any major with a GPA of 3.5 or higher within the major as of January of their junior year. In exceptional circumstances students with a GPA below 3.5 may apply.
Feel free to talk over any ideas or questions you have with the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) Peter Cajka, Sophie White or a potential advisor. American Studies thesis information sessions are held once each semester and open to all. Students wanting to pursue a senior thesis must submit applications to the DUS in April of their junior year.
Writing a thesis is a chance to do original research and explore a topic of your choice, to develop a deeper relationship with a faculty member, and to put what you’ve learned as an American Studies major into practice.
A senior thesis is a significant commitment. It requires an additional six credit hours of coursework on top of the 30 required for the major.
You need a thesis if you want to earn departmental honors in American Studies, but you do not need one to satisfy the requirements for the major.
Recent Theses
Claire Kramer used a UROP Grant to conduct senior thesis research at ESPN Headquarters.
Tessa Bangs - "A 'Portrait' in Grief: Collective Identity and Memory in Post-9/11 New York"
Kelsey Dool - "Coming of Age on the Page: Exploring the Place of Young Adult Authors in the American Literary Canon"
Grace Garry - "Sisters in Science: Challenging Narratives of Faith and Feminism in America"
Emily Greentree - "Disney’s America: The Misrepresentation of American History in the Walt Disney World Parks"
Melissa Gutierrez-Lopez - "Representations of American Citizens: Portrayals of Mexican Americans and Japanese Americans, 1929-1945"
Claire Kramer - "Man Down: ESPN's Coverage of the NFL's Concussion Crisis"
Jacob McKenna - "Culture Kraft: Christopher Emmet, the American Council on Germany, and Cold War Cultural Activism"
Carlysa Oyama - "The HIV/AIDS Epidemic: A Medical and Cultural Crisis"