The Honors Thesis is the culmination of the Honors Program, and for many students, the most significant single academic endeavor of their college career. Students complete the four-credit-hour thesis project over at least two semesters, usually their last two semesters before graduation. Students work closely with a thesis committee to plan and conduct the thesis project. The thesis topic and academic credit can be in one’s major or another area of study and must include some original research or scholarly contribution. In addition to allowing students to pursue individual academic interests, the thesis project is excellent preparation for students planning to pursue graduate studies.
Theses from 2025
Karl Gutzlaff: The Life and Legacy of My 7th Great-Grandfather as the First Lutheran Missionary to China, Delaney Beehn
Father's Sins, Son's Consequences, Malea Borland
Screenagers: Screen Time and Mental Health in College Students, Izzi Breaux
Preparation and Analysis of Imine-Conjugate Amoxicillin Chitosan Hydrogels for Wound Care Applications, Alex Browning
Uniquely Unique: Helping Arkansas Parents Cater to the Unique Needs of Their Child with Autism, Shelby Cheek
Unmasking Vulnerabilities: Understanding Influences in Sex Trafficking Susceptibility, Didi Christenson
An Alternative to Flow Cytometry: Piloting a Novel Apoptosis Assay in Context of Cell Stress, John H. Crum
Sacred Sovereignty Lost: The Georgian Orthodox Church, The Treaty of Georgievsk, and Russian Annexation, Sierra Douglas
The Influence of Economics in Accounting: Historical Macroeconomics on Tax Law, Julianne Fletcher
The Reading Brain: Brain Research behind the Science of Reading, Ruthie Fox
Can Food Cure? A Comparative Analysis of Two Diets and Their Trials in Treating Autoimmune Diseases, Reece Gray
This Class Was Made for You and Me: A Children’s Book, Katelyn Hartsell
Role of PTH1 Receptor in Osteocytes in a Preclinical Model of Type 2 Diabetes, Wyatt House
The Effect of Cortisol on Sexual Differentiation in Zebrafish, Qara Johnson
From Concept to Tabletop: Designing and Developing an Interactive Board Game Experience, Kalel Langford
The Development of a New Water-Soluble Porphyrin, ZnTPP-2MP, as a Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Emily Payne Lawrence
Analyzing a Degradable Natural Polymer-Based Novel Wound Dressing for Use in Biomedical Applications, Whit Lawrence
From Necropsy to the H&E: Optimizing Protocols for Zebrafish Histology, Michael Lee
The Process and Results of Publishing Course-Embedded Undergraduate Research at Ouachita Baptist University, Jackson A. Lipscomb
The Quantification and Standardization of Viral Particle Detection, Jenna Malone
The Chicxulubiad, James McIntyre
Epigenetic Regulation of the SPARC gene in Bladder Cancer, Tuesday Melton
Beyond the Road: An Overlanding Documentary, Parker Nelson
Emigration to Immigration: How Muslim Immigration to Ireland Helps Signal Historical and Cultural Shifts, Olivia Nethercutt
Predicting Watermelon Sweetness from Induced Vibrations, Rachel New
Evaluating Interventions for Infant Vehicular Hyperthermia, Mary O'Sullivan
Understanding Speech Anxiety: A Rhetorical Analysis, Original Research Study, and Assessment Insight, Cody Pallen
Gordoniaphage Ruthy Infection Confers Increased Growth Rate in G. terrae CAG3, Andrew William Pierce
Analyzing the Leaching of Bisphenol-A From Feminine Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Maryann Rettig
Here Comes the Bride: A Theological Exploration of a Christ-Honoring Wedding, Georgia Richards
The Effect of Darkness and Microgravity on the Development and Movement of Dictyostelium discoideum, Will Ross
Genomic Annotation of Spink and Evaluation Host Range of CV Cluster Phages Spink and Wisp, Ethan Smith
The Analysis of BPA Leaching in Various Types of Athletic Wear using Fluorescence Spectrometry, Bree Steinfeldt
Developing Patterns of Phage Infection by Investigation Superinfection Immunity, Kassidy E. Stone
Sleep Tight, Little Learners - A Parental Awareness Project on the Importance of Sleep in Language Development and Helping Children Rest Well, Camryn Stroupe
Continuity and Discontinuity in Particular Baptist Convenantal Thought: John Gill and the Covenant of Grace, Riley Cade Swindle
Conservation of Endangered Plants: An Examination of Three Plants in the Genus Warea, Allie J. Wilson
Re-evaluating Social Determinants of Health Tools: Addressing Limitations and Proposing a New Measure for Improved Assessment, Kendall Wilson
Theses from 2024
Development of Specialty Histological Staining Methods for Zebrafish, Cabb Batson
Creating Immersive Worlds: Applying Scenic Design Techniques in 'Eurydice' by Sarah Ruhl, Brynlee Beams
Reducing Barriers to Education Around the World: A Systematic Framework Using the Community School Model, Isabella Bejarano
The Mathematical and Historical Significance of the Four Color Theorem, Brock Bivens
Rethinking Apologetics as an Entry Strategy for Missions in Europe, Katelyn Brown
Freesia, Abby Burlison
Stride by Stride: Assessing the Impact, Advantages, and Disadvantages of Running-Specific Prostheses, Emily Castilaw
The Evaluation of Multiple Myeloma in Immune Competent and Immune Deficient Mice Using a SAC and Herbal Treatments with Genetic Analysis, McKenzie Chavers
Characterizing Actinobacteriophage infection using an Optical Density Based Microplate Assay, Elijah Christenson
Assessing the Nutrition Knowledge of Track and Cross-Country Athletes, Emma Kathleen Conner
Black Liberation Theology in the Civil Rights Movement: Contextualizing the Works of James H. Cone, Ella Cox
Writing with Light: Analyzing the Technical and Creative Significance of Light in Photography, Sarah Dean
Rex and Root: An Original Documentary, Chase Hartsell
Pediatric Anxiety Disorders and their Accommodation in the Classrom, Olivia Hobson
The Science of Reading and the Use of Decodable Texts in the Classroom, Anna Hudson
Phoenix Rising: A Scout is Born, Seth Hunter
The Lost Story of Frank Jackson, Hayden Jackson
The Development of a New Water-Soluble Zinc Porphyrin, ZnTPP--5AP, for Photodynamic Therapy, Kaylee Johnson
Developing ZnTPP-4AB as a Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Kennedy Johnson
An Analysis of Pollution in Liverpool, UK, Luke W. Lawson
Quantification of Gordonia terrae Bacteriophages using Lysate qPCR, Mikayla Long
Developing a Protocol for Bacteriophage Guided Evolution, Hannah G. Matthews
Refining the Synthesis of a Monomer Towards a Novel Wound Dressing and Designing a Clot-Testing Device, Charles M. McClain 4th
Comparing Degradation Rates of Polyesters Towards a Novel Degradable Polymer, Zach McClain
The History of Dog Training and Its Importance to Modern Day Training Techniques, Marlaina Moix
Differences in Mental Health Disorders: The Importance of Mental Health Literacy, Hannah More
Developing a Novel Succinct Synthetic Approach to the Modification of Alginate for Use in Biomedical Applications, Hope Murphy
Social Isolation-Political Domination, Charles "Trey" Nichols
A Comparative Analysis of Japan and United States School Lunch Programs, Julie Phillips
'Beauty is in the Eye of the Gazer'?: Beauty, Power, and Disability Examined Critically in Jane Eyre and Other Classic Literature, Abigail Powers
The Trial of Jesus: A Historical Look at the Jewish and Roman Trial Proceedings, Vivian Pryor
The Survivors, Abigale Ralston
The Detection of BPA in Clothing Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Isabella Rushing
Progress towards Phage Stability for Possible Oral Phage Therapy, Erin Russo
A Retrospective Analysis of Police and Legal Procedure in the West Memphis Three Murders, Nathan Scolaro
Under the Sun: Songs from Ecclesiastes, Emma Kay Smith
Three Inches from Death, Hannah Smith
Developing Patterns of Phage Infection by Investigating Superinfection Immunity, Kassidy E. Stone
Tree Canopy Cover Influences Habitat Use of Breeding Birds at Jack Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Kaleigh Thomas
Characterization of Bacteriophage Infection of Gordonia Species Utilizing an Optical Density-Based Approach, Barrett Troup
Peak Aerobic Capacity and Dietary Composition are Associated with the Bioenergetic Profile of Platelets in Children, Duncan C. Troup
Synthesis of ZnTPP-IL as a Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Addison White
Theses from 2023
The Effects of Light Intensity and Cell Structure on the Cultivation of Arthrospira platensis, Taylor Barnhart
The Effects of Exercise on Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Addison Bates
The Beliefs of the Oldest Fraternity, Bella Blankenship
Love, Austen, and Lewis: How the Successful and Unsuccessful Romances in Jane Austen's Novels Correspond to C.S. Lewis The Four Loves, Lauren Bridgeman
Paul and Seneca on the Immanence of God, Mason Campbell
The Effects of Differing Light Wavelengths and Gravity on, Reese Chesshir
History, Methods, and Psychology of Illustrations in Children's Literature, Kelsi Coleman
The Creation of "Blacklight", Austin Crook
The Changing Role of Women in Journalism, Caroline Derby
Developing and Marketing a Novel miRNA Lung Cancer Therapy, Elizabeth Jade Dorman
An Investigation into Autophagy in Methionine-Restricted Cancer Cells, Aiden Doss
Monitoring the Leaching of Bisphenol-A From Feminine Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Madison Easley