College of Arts and Letters students taking on senior thesis projects this year can accelerate the research and writing process during fall break at Hesburgh Libraries’ first-ever Senior Thesis Camp.
“We are excited about this initiative and the support it can offer to seniors writing theses,” says Susan Ohmer, assistant provost and interim director of the Hesburgh Libraries, and a member of the faculty of the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre.
Senior Thesis Camp offers individual research and writing consultations, plus workshops on research essentials, literature reviews, citation formatting, funding opportunities, and preparing for the Undergraduate Scholars Conference in the spring.
“The program will help students establish a framework for writing and research that will enable them to work effectively,” says Cheri Smith, psychology librarian and coordinator for instructional services. “Through informal conversations and short presentations of their research, they will also develop a sense of community with other students.”
The senior thesis is an opportunity to work one-on-one with an expert faculty mentor in the College to explore fundamental questions, write a thesis or create a work of art, and contribute to the scholarly conversation in the student’s chosen field of study. For many, the senior thesis stands out as the most memorable and transformative experience of their undergraduate years.
Senior theses from 2010 ranged from a documentary and study of Rwandan refugee displacement to a stained glass design inspired by Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body to the first English translation and performance of a Russian play from a St. Petersburg library archive.
Senior Thesis Camp will run Monday, October 18, through Friday, October 22. There is no cost to participate in the program. The library will provide a daily continental breakfast and afternoon refreshments for camp participants, and a lunch to celebrate the final day.
