Content: A senior honors thesis in mathematics should have significant mathematical content. Although most theses will not contain proofs of new theorems, a thesis should contain a proof that is in some way original, or a detailed exposition of an application of known results. To meet the requirements for University Honors (as opposed to Honors in Mathematics), the thesis should have a cross-disciplinary component and be reviewed by a faculty member from a department outside the mathematical sciences.

Writing style: The thesis should be well written. In particular, mathematical definitions and statements should be clear. Notation must be consistent throughout the paper. Spelling and grammar must be perfect. Good guides to appropriate bibliographic styles and citation formats include Mathematics into Type [1], and the styles used in many mathematics journals. The cover page should be identical in format to the sample. For information about having the thesis bound, please refer to the Honors Program's Guidelines for Binding Honors Theses and the associated checklist.

Deadlines: Prior to the beginning of the semester, the student should select a thesis advisor, meet with the advisor, select a topic for the paper, and inform the honors coordinator of these arrangements. During the first week of class, the student will outline the paper and agree with the thesis advisor on intermediate goals which should result in a typewritten draft which can be submitted to the honors coordinator by the eleventh week of the semester.

Prior to the end of classes, the student should give a short oral presentation on the thesis, complete any necessary revisions, and prepare a copy of the thesis for binding.

Reference

1. E. Swanson, Mathematics into Type, Amer. Math. Soc., Providence, R.I., 1979.