Lynn Steger is excited about writing her senior thesis. A political science major, she decided to also be an English major this year just so she could take English classes and write her thesis: Virginia Woolf and Death.
Tufts University does not have a thesis requirement. Students are free to write one if they wish, but none are obliged to. In International Relations Professor Malik Mufti's opinion, Steger's enthusiasm is one of the key reasons Tufts' thesis policy is a good one.
"There's nothing worse than writing a thesis just because you have to write a thesis," Mufti said. "I'm not convinced that everyone should have to write a thesis."
"I don't think that a senior thesis is for everyone," Political Science Department Head Vikki Sullivan said. "First, students need to have a subject to which they are passionately devoted. Second, they have to be able to work independently without constant supervision. Third, they have to be highly motivated. Without these elements, the senior thesis can be a less than gratifying experience."
Sullivan noted several occasions where theses were not finished, and added that the department was trying to improve that record.
The benefits of writing a thesis are varied. For some, like Steger, a thesis is a good opportunity to expand an area of passionate interest. Steger said that writing her thesis is a great opportunity to "bounce ideas off of someone."
In addition to the academic benefits, some people feel that theses look good on resum?©s. However, Director of Career Services Jean Papalia cautions against blind adherence to this view.
"A thesis would be one of many variables [that would reflect a candidate's strengths]," she said. Papalia also stressed that whether a thesis is an asset to a student's resume depends on the position the applicant is aiming for.
Dean of Undergraduate Affairs James Glaser said that a thesis is "especially important for students considering graduate school and students who have a deep interest in a discipline and wish to pursue their coursework to the next level."
Some colleges, such as Bates College and Princeton University, have written thesis requirements. Bates student Hisa Abe is happy with her school's requirement. "I think it will give me something to research more fully and at least then I'll have a goal to work towards my four years here," Abe said.
Despite the benefits of a required thesis, most departments at Tufts said they have never considered making it mandatory. According to former department chair David Garman, there are roughly 150 to 200 economics majors each year but generally only 170 faculty members in the department. Of all the economics majors, seven are writing theses this year.
"Because of the potential advising crunch, economics has never seriously considered requiring a thesis of all senior majors," Garman said. "[It] is too much to ask in addition to a faculty member's regular work load."
Glaser said that a mandatory thesis had been discussed, but that "there is general agreement that the experience should be for those who are motivated to do it." He added that the administration hopes to increase the number of students who write a thesis each year. Glaser also estimated that in the past several years, between 60 and 85 students have received thesis honors.
The thesis honors program has benefited students writing theses within the Political Science department. With 10 seniors writing theses, the department has twice as many students as the previous year.
Sullivan credits the increase to the new thesis honors program, in which students meet once a week to "discuss issues surrounding research and writing, present drafts of their own workand critique those of their fellow thesis writers."
"At Tufts, it's really important to get the process going before senior year," senior Melissa Diracles said. "A lot of seniors get stuck because they were abroad and weren't able to get advisors."
Although Steger had no trouble finding advisors, other students have had difficulty with their proposals. "I thought about writing a thesis," senior and history major Ilona Solomon said. "But it was really hard to get anyone to help me."
"It's a frustrating process to get readers and follow professors around," Diracles said. "There was no one there to help me."
For those students who don't wish to write a thesis, there are plenty of alternatives. Tufts offers students the option of doing an independent research project, and many students choose internships or become involved in performances and organizations. "There are other 'capstones' to one's college education," Glaser said.
