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Honors thesis guidelines

The purpose of this guide is to provide guidelines preparing and submitting your honors thesis. This document is intended to be used in conjunction with the guidelines provided by your academic department.

Resources

As a student at Western Illinois University, you have many resources available to you. We want you to be successful as you write your thesis! A few of the many resources that are available to you are as follows:

  • Center for Research and Creative Activity: The Center for Research and Creative Activity is designed to provide research assistance and technical support as you conduct research. Find us on the 2nd floor of Malpass Library near the Garden Lounge. Ask us for help!

  • WIU Libraries: The WIU librarians at Malpass Library, the Curriculum Library, the Music Library, and the Quad Cities Library are ready to help you with your research. Ask them for help!

  • Faculty Mentor: Your departmental faculty members are subject experts. Ask them for help!

  • Writing Center: The University Writing Center on the 3rd floor of Malpass Library is available to help you at every stage of the writing process. Ask them for help!

Note: By submitting your thesis to the Honors College, you acknowledge that your thesis will be publicly accessible through the Western Illinois University digital repository (https://wonder.wiu.edu). This repository is a searchable database, and so your thesis may be retrieved by a search engine. If you choose, you may indicate that you want to restrict access only to those with WIU login information. If at some point you do not want your thesis to be published in the repository, please contact the librarians at Malpass Library through the digital repository page. Even if your honors thesis is accessible through the digital repository, you as the author retain ownership and copyright over your work.

We encourage you to use the link to your thesis on your résumé or on your professional social media accounts.

Reference Desk

As a student at Western Illinois University, you have several ways to get research assistance from the librarians at Malpass Library:

  • In-Person Help: Visit the Reference Desk on the second floor of Malpass Library. Our friendly librarians are available at the reference desk to assist you with finding resources, citing sources, or answering any research-related questions you have.
  • Call Us: Prefer to talk on the phone? You can reach the reference desk at 309-298-2700 during library hours.
  • Chat with a Librarian: If you’re unable to visit in person or prefer online assistance, you can chat with a librarian directly through the chat box below. 

Don't forget to check our hours!