Senior Honors Thesis Program

The Senior Honors Thesis program provides students the opportunity to conduct original research under the guidance of a faculty advisor while earning a total of 4.5 credits in their senior year. In their final semester, students present their research to a committee and their work potentially can be published in an academic journal. This program is an excellent resume builder for students and is beneficial for any future career or graduate school application.

After the successful completion and defense of their thesis, students will receive a notation of Senior Honors Thesis in Business on their transcript and will receive recognition for their accomplishment at Tropaia, our honors ceremony for graduating seniors.

Past members of the Student Honors Thesis Program have found it to be one of the most rewarding and memorable aspects of their time at Georgetown.

Class of 2026 Senior Honors Thesis Program

Application Deadline: April 8, 2025

To learn more, please review the information session from Tuesday, March 19th.

Please contact Dr. Justin Smith, Associate Dean, with any questions.

Apply

How to Apply

Applications for the Senior Honors Thesis Program are open to all rising seniors in the Class of 2026 who are in good standing and are due on April 8, 2025. All students must:

Complete the application.
Submit an original research proposal.
Begin the process of finding a primary faculty advisor who will work with you throughout the year.

To ensure an exceptional, personalized experience, the program offers a select number of seats.

Coursework

Once the senior thesis scholar has been accepted, they will register for:

BADM 4998: Senior Thesis I (3 credits) in the fall semester of their senior year.
BADM 4999: Senior Thesis II (1.5 credits) in the spring semester of their senior year.

Note: The seminar meeting days and times are to be determined. Since the seminar classes are small, the course instructor will work with the senior thesis cohort to find a time that works for all students. We strongly encourage students to treat the senior thesis seminar as a class and sign up for 15 credits or less in their senior year to give them time to conduct their research and attend to their writing.

Previous Topics

“Nicholas Elliot (B’20)

Faculty Advisor: Dennis P. Quinn, vice dean and John J. Powers Jr. Term Professor in International Business

The Digital Yuan: The Outsourcing of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and The Unveiling of a Central Bank Digital Currency with Chinese Characteristics

“I really cannot stress how much I have enjoyed this program. It is one of the few things I will point to in my undergraduate experience as something I’m not only extremely proud of, but also allowed me to explore the things I’m passionate about in current affairs.””

“Lisa Park (B’20)

Faculty Advisor: Rebecca Hamilton, senior associate dean for faculty affairs and professor of marketing

Effects of Childhood Socioeconomic Status on Product Retention and Disposal Behavior in Adulthood

“Working with Rebecca Hamilton was an extremely rewarding experience. Together, we were able to create a thesis centered around consumer behavior and childhood socio-economic status. Because it both challenged and expanded my intellectual and personal horizons, my senior thesis will undeniably be a hallmark of my time at Georgetown. The skills I gained from this have impacted me on both a personal and professional level, which I will forever be grateful for!””

“Brooke Stanley (B’20)

Faculty Advisor: Marcia P. Miceli, professor of human resources

Leaving Communities Behind: Exploring the Accessibility and Usage of Parental and Family Leave Policies among Marginalized Communities

“The Senior Thesis program allowed me to dive deep into a subject that truly sparked my intellectual curiosity and work alongside a professor. My mentor, Professor Miceli, challenged me and encouraged me at every step of the way. I learned a lot about time management skills and working with self-imposed deadlines. Working on a year-long research project definitely helped prepare me for long-term projects in my current role, and the time management skills I gained were absolutely invaluable. The Senior Thesis program was absolutely a highlight of my Georgetown career!””

Questions about the Senior Honors Thesis Program?

Senior Honors Thesis Program FAQ

Please contact Dr. Justin Smith, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, with any questions.