All geology majors must complete GEOL 4950 prior to graduation. This is a capstone course wherein the student completes a scientific project, all the way from formulation, to implementation, to communication of results. Feedback indicates that this is a very valuable experience that prepares graduates for later challenges in their careers. While challenging, feedback consistently indicates that upon completion students value the experience.
Hours - Students should sign up for 3 hours (GEOL 4500) under your advisor after you have formulated a senior thesis topic. Often, senior thesis takes more than one semester to complete. Students can take an incomplete for the first semester to allow more time for longer projects.
Appropriate topics - The senior thesis is not a simple book report or a superficial "term paper" subject. Novelty is a critical component. It involves looking at a new area or problem with traditional techniques or looking at an old area or problem with a novel technique, or the more difficult enterprise of looking at a new problem or area with a new technique. The investigation may include any combination of field and laboratory work, library research, theoretical modeling, and/or computer analysis. It is important to remember the scale of the undertaking. It should be doable in the time allotment associated with a three credit course. Thus, it is important to focus and define the scope of the thesis carefully. Students should seek the help of an advisor early and select and definte the topic with feedback from the advisor chosen.
Where to start: It can be difficult for even seniors to develop a doable, novel problem totally on their own. Typically students follow one of two routes. 1) They can ask the faculty about possibilities. These may be related to a larger faculty project, and faculty can have support money to aid the student, or it may unrelated to the faculty's research. While the faculty introduces the problem that needs to be addressed the student is still responsible for developing it, and it is common that the problem to be addressed evolves with exploration. 2) A student can come to a faculty member with a suggestion or an area of interest of their own. Often these areas or interests are more general. Then through discussion with the faculty possibilities are explored, until a tractable problem is at hand. Both of these routes have generated very good theses.
Research Proposal/prospectus - A one to two page definition of the problem to be solved and outline of the research method(s) is required to be filed. This will require reading background material and a fairly extensive review of the geologic literature concerning your topic. It must be done early, at least two semesters prior to graduation, and it must be formally approved in writing by at least two of the geology professors (an advisor and second reader which can be selected by you) prior to registering for the senior thesis.
Thesis Format - Standard scientific notation, citation style, significant figures, etc. must be used. You should use a professional publication as a general guide for style. The book GEOWRITING by the American Geological Institute is the standard reference to good writing, and may be purchased through the bookstore. The thesis may be expected to be returned for revision at least once, and perhaps several times. It should be typed on a word processor. You should check carefully with your advisor and second reader as to their availability (especially during the summer) to read and revise drafts of your thesis. This is especially important during the summer, when faculty are likely to be gone from Omaha. You may expect it to take up to two weeks (or longer for long, poorly written drafts) for a faculty member to review your written work. Plan accordingly! The text must include the following:
Typical lengths are from 20 to 100 pages. The length should simply be determined by what you have to communicate.
Funding - There exist several possible funding sources for your research. One obvious one would be under an existing grant written by your advisor, where you would take on one part or aspect of the overall larger research project. Another source is UNO's University Committee on Research. Other sources are listed in the geology department home page.
Thesis Defense - No formal defense of your work, such as is standard at the graduate level, is required. However, we encourage that the results be presented to the scientific community, either at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences meeting or a regional Geological Society of America Meeting, or some other professional venue.
Submittal of thesis - The process of review and revision is crucial in science. A first draft of the thesis should be given to the main advisor, who will most likely suggest significant revision. Most senior theses go through at least two cycles of review and revision with the major advisor. When the advisor and student feel that only minor revisions may be necessary the thesis should be submitted to a second reader. The final copy of the thesis should result after the comments of the second reader have been dealt with. Note that this takes some time, and you should plan accordingly.
You are strongly urged to keep in close communication with your advisor and second reader concerning progress on your research and writing, timetables, and potential deadlines. Copies of completed senior theses are available for review.
Bonus - the Senior Thesis counts as the Arts and Sciences third writing course requirement.
YOU CANNOT GRADUATE BEFORE THE FINAL DRAFT OF YOUR THESIS HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY YOUR ADVISOR.