Thesis Guidance

Applicants are required to use one of the templates provided by LAUNCH: Undergraduate Research. Students should consult with faculty advisors to determine which template is most appropriate for their discipline.

Students will have the opportunity to construct a timeline as part of the application. The sample timeline template addresses the following types of questions for students:

  • When will you complete any required training?
  • When will you seek compliance approval (if needed)?
  • When will you complete your literature review?
  • When and how often will you meet with your faculty advisor to get feedback on your thesis content?
  • When and where will you do your public presentation?
  • When will you register for conferences or meetings?
  • When will you visit the University Writing Center for help?
  • When will you analyze your data?
  • When will you schedule and complete any field work?
  • What milestones did you set out to accomplish?
  • When will you set time aside to complete each installment submission and progress report?
  • Do you have access to all necessary equipment, documents, and other resources? If not, when will you obtain all necessary materials for your project?
  • When will you proofread and revise the document you plan to submit as your final thesis?
  • How will you complete your project if there are COVID-19 disruptions?

Student projects vary by discipline and scope. All URS theses must have a minimum of 20 pages of written content (includes references, but not the required preliminary pages). Many Undergraduate Research Scholars write more than the minimum 20 pages.

Students should consult faculty advisors to learn how to write for their field.

Students have access to our Thesis Manual & Policy Guide which contains detailed instructions and resource information for constructing the document. Students will also have access to workshops, drop-in sessions, and you can even register for a special UGST 405 Thesis Writing Course.

LAUNCH: UGR provides University Writing Center resources and interactive lessons on writing.

The URS Thesis Manual & Policy Guide is the most important document for navigating the URS thesis program. The Thesis Manual & Policy Guide contains detailed instructions for the preparation of URS theses and presents a Common Mistakes Guide that helps students avoid errors that require revisions.

This Thesis Manual & Policy Guide is designed to assist URS students and their faculty advisors in the preparation of theses by providing uniform standards of style and format while allowing enough flexibility to satisfy the accepted practices of different academic disciplines. The Thesis Manual & Policy Guide has been adapted from the Thesis Manual published by Graduate and Professional Studies at Texas A&M University to emphasize the expectation that the resulting Undergraduate Research Scholar’s Thesis meets the same high standards for format and style as a professional publication.

Download the latest version of the Thesis Manual & Policy Guide on our URS Resources page.

Application: Your faculty advisor must approve your application through the Scholars Thesis Submittal System (STSS). LAUNCH staff will review your faculty-approved application and may return it for revisions. Final approval into the URS thesis program is granted by the LAUNCH office and must be completed within the deadlines given for revisions.

Research Compliance: The office of Research Compliance and Biosafety (RCB) is responsible for providing training and support to faculty, students, and staff in regulatory requirements for research. Research Compliance and Biosafety committees:

  • Human Subjects: Institutional Review Board (IRB)
  • Vertebrate Animals: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)
  • Biohazards: Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)

Installment Submissions, Progress Reports, Presentation Reports: LAUNCH staff will review all assigned submissions and may return installments for revisions. It is your responsibility to complete these assignments within the URS thesis program deadlines or provide a university-excused absence.

Final Thesis: LAUNCH staff will review the document you submit for your final thesis and may return it for revisions. Your faculty advisor must approve your final thesis through the Scholars Thesis Submittal System (STSS). Completion of the URS thesis program is granted by the LAUNCH office and is dependent upon completion of all required activities and deadlines in the URS thesis program.

There are three places you will submit documents and assignments:

  • Online Form on LAUNCH Website (Application Part 1)
  • Scholars Thesis Submittal System (STSS) (Application Part 2 and Final Thesis Submission Part 2)
  • eCampus Community (Installment Submissions and Revisions, Progress Reports and Presentation Reports, and Final Thesis Submission Part 1)