Registrar's Office

North College
237 High Street
Middletown, CT 06459
registrar@wesleyan.edu
1-860-685-2810

Due to COVID-19, our office is working remotely until the week of August 16. For the most prompt service, please view our staff contact page and send an email directly to the staff member who can best assist you.
SUMMER HOURS: Our office will be closed at noon on Fridays from June 25 -- August 6. Please plan requests accordingly.

Writing a Senior Thesis/Essay

THE JELLYBEAN PAPERS -- ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021

The 2020-2021 honors thesis deadline is Wednesday, April 21, 2021 by 4pm. All honors candidates are required to register and upload their thesis or essay through their WesPortal by this deadline.  Many individual departments also require you to submit paper copies of your thesis essay for your readers, depending on the department.  Please review Department/Program Reader Copy Requirements. Questions regarding reader copies should be directed to your department/program. Please note that printed reader copies may be suspended again this year due to the pandemic. We will communicate all changes directly to confirmed honors candidates via email as needed.

Details about the honor thesis process are included in the JellyBean papers. The Jellybean papers (named as such because they used to be printed in a variety of colors) summarize the processes involved in writing and submitting a thesis or essay for Honors consideration. The 2020-2021 version of the Jellybean Papers is currently available online (below) or you can download a paper version here. Printed copies are also located on the Honors bulletin board located in the Registrar's hallway, outside of Room 102, North College.

Questions about the Honors Program can be directed to Susan Krajewski, x2738 -- North College 103.

TOPIC   PAGE
Introduction    2
Becoming an Honors Candidate    2
IRB Approval for Human Subjects Research 3
Schedule  3-4
Abstract Requirement 4
Library Information 4
December 2020 Completions    4
Special Circumstances   5
Work in Progress Form  5
Thesis/Essay Styles and Permissions  6-7
Submitting a Thesis/Essay 6
Corrections/Submission of Revised Thesis 7
Thesis/Essay Format    8
Creating a PDF File and Preparing Reader Copies 9 
Printing and Binding from your PDF File 9-10
Thorndike Fund 11
Guidelines for Creating a PDF File 11-12
Sample Title Page 13
Sample Declaration Formats 14

 

Important dates to keep in mind for Academic Year 2020-2021:

August 31, 2020 Olin thesis carrel applications suspended until late September. More information to follow.
September 11, 2020 Late petition and application deadline for General Scholarship candidates who did not meet the May 8, 2020 deadline. Petition and full application due by 4pm.
September 11, 2020 Final day of Drop/Add & registration for Fall thesis/essay tutorial. Register online for first half of your thesis tutorial (409) during Drop/Add
February 9, 2021 Early thesis registration deadline for December 2020 completions.
February 22, 2021 Final day of Drop/Add & registration for Spring thesis/essay tutorial and Work in Progress through Drop/Add System. Register online for second half of thesis tutorial (410).
April 21, 2021 Deadline to register senior thesis/essay in WesPortal, 4 pm. Students pursuing honors are required to submit their honors thesis/essay electronically as a PDF file prior to the 4 pm deadline.
May 5, 2021 Departments return recommendations. All performances and exhibits completed.