Purpose and Benefits
A large sector of the electrical and computer engineering profession is regularly involved with planning, performing, managing, and evaluating both applied and theoretical research. In academic and government facilities, in the laboratories of individual consultants and corporate giants alike, success in research often dictates the overall success of the institution. Furthermore, although it is not possible to work in each of the many sub-disciplines of science and engineering, research techniques in one area are often transferable to another. Thus, the electrical and computer engineering department believes that involvement in research can begin to prepare you for a successful and rewarding career.
The honors program at Lafayette College is designed to give selected students a special opportunity to pursue a challenging research project of their choice at a depth not normally possible in an undergraduate course. While students work in close collaboration with a faculty mentor, they are also guided toward independent investigation and are expected to formulate and carry out many of their own research ideas. In the past, this has proven to be a confidence-building experience for students and richly rewarding for students and faculty alike. Needless to say, a transcript bearing the legend “Honors in Electrical Engineering with Thesis” is of high value on résumés, graduate school applications, and future job interviews.
Students pursuing an honors thesis in electrical and computer engineering enroll in two thesis courses during their senior year: ECE 495 in the Fall, and ECE 496 in the spring. ECE 495 is counted as a free elective, while ECE 496 is counted as an ECE elective.
Getting Started
Participation in the Honors Program typically begins with an invitation from the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department Head during the spring semester of a student’s junior year.
To be considered for the program, students must maintain both an overall GPA and an in-major GPA of at least 3.0.
Students interested in pursuing an Honors Thesis should begin by identifying a research area of interest and meeting with a faculty member whose expertise aligns with that area. During these discussions, students should explore potential research projects and determine whether the faculty member is willing to serve as their research advisor. While students may propose their own research topics, securing a faculty advisor is an essential step in the process.
Once a research area and advisor have been identified, the student should notify the Department Head in writing of their intention to pursue Honors, including the proposed research area and the name of the faculty advisor. These requirements should be completed by the end of the spring semester.
Before leaving campus for the summer, students should work with their research advisor to determine the preparatory work needed for a successful Honors project. This may include conducting background research, reviewing relevant literature, or developing a preliminary project plan. Summer preparation can later be documented and submitted in the fall as part of the proposal or planning materials for the Honors project.
Students who successfully complete the Honors requirements will receive grades for both ECE 495 and ECE 496. If a student does not successfully complete the Honors project, work completed during the fall semester will be counted as a free elective for appropriate credit. Work completed during the spring semester will be counted as an ECE elective and graded accordingly.
Honors Thesis Requirements
- Thesis Proposal
Students pursuing an Honors Thesis must submit a written proposal summarizing the qualifying oral presentation. The proposal must be at least two pages in length and submitted to the ECE Department Head no later than the Monday of the first week of classes. A copy of the proposal must also be provided to the research advisor.Students are encouraged to include sufficient background information in the proposal. Preparing this material during the summer can reduce the amount of writing required once classes begin. Failure to submit the proposal by the deadline will disqualify the student from pursuing the Honors Thesis. The proposal will be reviewed by all ECE department faculty.
- Qualifying Oral Presentation
During the first week of classes, the ECE Department will convene a meeting of Honors students and faculty. At this meeting, students intending to pursue an Honors Thesis will:
- Describe the preliminary research conducted during the summer;
- Present an overview of the proposed research project;
- Discuss specific research goals and objectives; and
- Provide a tentative project timeline, including projected completion dates for major milestones.
Each presentation will be limited to 15 minutes, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Following the presentations, ECE faculty will evaluate the quality and feasibility of each proposed project and determine whether the student is qualified to continue in the Honors Thesis program. The Department Head will notify students of the faculty’s recommendations. Students approved to continue should register for ECE 495 during the fall semester.
- Forming Thesis Committee
Each Honors Thesis will be supervised and evaluated by a committee consisting of: the research advisor; another member of the ECE Department faculty, and one additional faculty member from either the ECE Department or another department within the College.
- The thesis committee should be formed shortly after the qualifying oral presentation. Although the research advisor has primary responsibility for overseeing the project, committee members may also provide guidance and feedback throughout the year. Early involvement of committee members helps ensure that their expectations are understood and incorporated into the project.
- The primary role of the committee is to evaluate the quality and merit of the completed thesis and final defense. Committee members may also be consulted as needed during the research process.
- Responsibility for selecting committee members generally rests with the research advisor, who should consider both the expertise required for the project and the potential contributions of each member. Faculty members who can provide valuable guidance on a particular aspect of the research should be considered for inclusion. Following review of the completed thesis and defense, the committee will recommend approval or disapproval of the Honors Thesis to the major department.
- Mid-Year Presentation
At the end of the first semester, Honors Thesis students will deliver a mid-year presentation to their thesis committee. The purpose of this presentation is to report progress on the research project and to demonstrate readiness to continue toward completion of the thesis.The presentation should be at least 30 minutes in length, followed by time for questions and discussion. A substantial portion of the presentation should be devoted to reviewing the background material and literature survey that support the research project. The presentation is open to all ECE Department faculty, and attendance is encouraged.After the presentation, the thesis committee will evaluate the student’s progress and determine whether the student is qualified to continue in ECE 496 during the spring semester. Students who are not approved to continue in ECE 496 will receive credit for work completed in ECE 495 as a free elective (ECE 390), with an appropriate grade assigned.
- Thesis Draft Submission to Committee Members
The research advisor and all thesis committee members should receive a draft of the thesis at least one week before the final thesis defense. The draft should be prepared in accordance with the thesis formatting and submission guidelines outlined below, including requirements for page numbering, figures, citations, and other formatting elements. Although the thesis is a draft at this stage, it should be substantially complete and reflect the work conducted throughout the academic year. Minor elements, such as acknowledgments and the final table of contents, may be omitted at the discretion of the research advisor. Students should coordinate with committee members regarding how and when they would like to receive the draft and any subsequent revisions.
- Final Thesis Defense
Honors Thesis students must schedule and complete a final oral defense before their thesis committee. The defense should be held during the last week of classes or early in the final examination period.The presentation should summarize the research project, methodology, results, and conclusions. It should be at least 30 minutes in length and be followed by a question-and-answer session with the committee. The defense is open to members of the ECE Department faculty and the broader College community, and attendance is encouraged.Following the defense, the thesis committee will recommend approval or disapproval of the Honors Thesis to the major department. To receive departmental Honors, the thesis must be approved by the ECE Department faculty. If the thesis is not approved, credit earned in ECE 496 will be converted to a technical elective (ECE 392), and an appropriate grade will be assigned.
- Submission of the Completed Thesis
The final version of the thesis must be submitted to the research advisor no later than the last day of final examinations. Copies of the completed thesis in PDF format must also be submitted to the ECE Department Head and the University Library for permanent archival purposes. As a professional courtesy, a final copy should be provided to each member of the thesis committee.
Thesis Format
Your thesis committee possesses the ultimate authority regarding the exact format of your thesis. However, in the absence of specific direction, the following guidelines should be used.
A properly written thesis usually includes at least the following components:
- Title Page
- Abstract
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introductory Chapter
- Body (including several chapters as needed)
- Concluding or Summary Chapter
- Bibliography/References