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 2023
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
History, Methods, and Psychology of Illustrations in Children's Literature, Kelsi Coleman
The Creation of "Blacklight", Austin Crook
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
When Mental Health Becomes Physical, Piper Fain
The Good Virus: Phages as the Future of Medicine, Emily Greenwell
How Properly Contextualized Christianity Could Benefit Japan, Benjamin Highsmith
An Investigation into the New Testament Understanding of "Israel", Ashton Hurst
The K-Wave and Its Impact on the South Korean Economy, Jessica Johnson
Are We Good or Bad or Somewhere In Between?: An Original Novel, Faith Lymburner
I Don't Have a Clue: A First-Time Director's Guide by a First-Time Director, Isabella Owen
How to Become a Butterfly, Jillian Parsons
Increasing Exclusive Breastfeeding: Baby-Friendly Initiatives, Courtney Ragsdell
What We Do for Each Other: Assessing Disparity in K-12 Education Across the State of Arkansas, Noah K. Sanders
Scanning G. rubripertincta bacteriophage for host range expansion, Kallen Smith
Aunt Patti's Good Cooking: An Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook and Guide, Emma Starkman
Zebrafish Feeding and Breeding: Adapting Best Practices for Zebrafish Husbandry, Abbigale Sullins
Keeping the Heart: Contemporizing the Parables of Jesus, Hannah Tullos
The Stigmatization of Eating Disorders Based on Cultures: The South vs The World, Maria Urbina Turcios
Fostering Language Development and Literacy in Children from Birth to Two Years Old, Vanessa Vives
Theses from 2022
Next Steps: Arkansas's Journey in the Fight Against Sex Trafficking, Maddie Bailey
The Effects of Light Intensity and Cell Structure on the Cultivation of Arthrospira platensis, Taylor Barnhart
Bacteriophages: Paving the Road for the Future of Medicine, Luke Brinkerhoff
Two Peas in a Pod? An Investigation of Friendship and Personality Perception, Josephine N. Collins
English Language Learners in the General Education Classroom, Jolie Crane
How Analyzing Gene Expression in Gammaherpesviruses Leads to Advancement in Undergraduate Laboratory Courses, Rylie Davis
Evaluation of Artificial Sweeteners: Their Effects on Ice Cream Properties and Public Acceptance, Gwyneth Hadasa
An Oncoviral Analysis: Breaking Down the Genetic Mutations of Cancer-Causing Viruses and How They Compare with the Genetic Mutations of the Cancer They Cause, Hannah Herrington
Investigating the Impact of Enhancer Inhibition in ETO2-GLIS2 Expressing Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Dane Jester
Teaching Music in the Age of Zoom: How to Run a Multimedia Piano Studio, Anna Grace Leicht
Challenging White Fragility through Black Feminist Political Poetry, Langley Leverett
Rock Climbing Therapy for Individuals with Disabilities, Grace Loftin
The Effects of Aquatic Therapy on the Motor Skill and Behavioral Development of Children with Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder, Elysian Majeske
The Effects of Parenting on the Behavior of Children with Autism: A Meta-analysis, Allison Martin
A Meta-Analysis on the Differences in Neuroplasticity Between Women and Men after Traumatic Brain Injuries, Victoria A. Martin
Identification of miRNA Targets as Lung Cancer Therapeutics, Lauren McCann
The Scribe, The Prophet, and The Monk: Three Archetypes for Pursuing God through the Word of God, Lucas McCann
Counseling for Psychosocial Stress Factors Associated with Hearing Loss, Emily McMaster
A Fractal Geometry for Hydrodynamics, Jonah Mears
An Investigation of Junia as a Prominent Christian Woman According to Romans 16, Lacey Pettigrew
Effects of Red Light Intensity on Cultivation and Oxygen Production in Arthrospira platensis, Abigail Roberts
Effects of Red Light Intensity on Cultivation & Oxygen Production in Arthrospira plantensis, Abigail Roberts
A Bag of Marbles, Cora Saddler
Monsters in Media: A Textual Analysis of True Crime in Narrative Journalism, Rachel Sansano
A New Generation of the NCAA: How Two Major Rules have Changed the College Landscape, Brennan Saunders
Of Spies and Assassins, Haddon Smead
The Hidden Voices: Peggy Gilbert and The International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Katelyn Still
Why "Monotheistic" May Not Be the Best Description of the Old Testament, Jacob L. Thomas
Developing Novel Water-Soluble Porphyrins for Potential Use as Photosensitizers in Photodynamic Therapy, Kayla R. Whittington
A Comparison of Stigma Levels for Individuals with Psychological Disorders and Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, Isabella E. Wood
Grasping the Intangible: The Perseverance of Physical Music Media in a Digital World, Sam Youmans
Theses from 2021
I Believe a Man Can Fly: Three Essays on the Themes of Superheroes, Trayton N. Armstrong
What Animals Teach Us, Christina Beger
A Unique, Project-based, Microcourse to Teach the Fundamental Concepts of Quantum Mechanics, Elijah Begin
Hello, Olive, Bec Braly
One Creation: Examining Creation Myths Across Time and Culture, Scarlett Castleberry
Synthesis of Biomimetic Poly (Acrylic Acid) Fiber Scaffolds for Biomedical Applications, Kayla Churchwell
Lost in Translation: The Communication Differences of Men and Women in Dating and Marriage Relationships, Jessica Daniell
Achievers and Believers: Women Overcoming Obstacles in Business, Harly Dearing
Desireé: An Original Musical, Melodie DuBose
Golf: Strategies for Success, Lauren Dunaway
Analysis of MicroRNA Profiled in Extracellular Vesicles Released from Varying Grades of Hepatocellular Carcinoma using cBioPortal, Emme Edmondson
Utilizing Technology as a Means of Teacher Professionalism, Jordan Ford
Identification of Antibiotic-Producing Bacteria that Inhibit Staphylococcus Aureus, Grace Gallagher and Ruth Plymale
Defying the Darkness: Countering Cancer with Light, Travis Hankins
Generative Art, Caleb Harmon
Math Anxiety from All Angles, Katie Harmon
Alexander Hamilton: Underdog or Overrated?, Caity Hatchett
The Function of Novel miRNAs as Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Patience and Their Future in Personalized Medicine, Cade Haynie
The Impact of Biomimetic Collagen Nanofiber Scaffolds on Coagulation, Luke Hill
Advocacy in the Youth Justice System as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Jennifer Johnson
Host Bacterium Influences Bacteriophage Efficacy, Grace Jones
Sexual Abuse in the Protestant Church, Madeline Grace Knight
Providing Windows, Mirrors, and Sliding Glass Doors: Incorporating Diverse Short Fiction in the High School English Classroom, Emily Koonce
A Case for Early Intervention Speech Therapy for all Children in the Foster Care System, Moriah Manchack
The American Dream: Embodying Perserverance, Erin E. McNully
The Elements of Onstage Lighting and How it Could Impact the Emotion of an Audience, Kailee Morehart
Benefits of Music Therapy When Used Collaboratively with Language Therapy, Rebekah Grace Oliver
Equitable Education in Haiti, Breanna Parker
The Good Fight Guide: A Theological Guide to C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, Sara Patterson
The Artistic Mother Tongue, Hannah Perkins
Sexual Ethics from a Biblical Perspective, Braylon Pilant
The Influence of the Qur'an on Islamic Finance, Connie S. Quintero
Neural Exosomes as a Potential Modifier of Glioblastoma, David Rainwater
Why Are We Using Our Mouths as an Entrance for Bacteria?, Alyssa Reece
The Democratization of Finance through the Banking Revolution and Financial Technologies in Brazil, Joao Rodrigues
Effects of Temperature & pH on BPA Leaching in Oral Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Mady Rottinghaus
Importance of the Social Model of Disability in the Field of Speech/Language Pathology, Sidney Salyers
"But the Spirit Himself Intercedes": An Exegetical on Romans 8:26-27, Carmen Alide Scott
Political Language Analysis of Health Crisis and Terrorist Attacks, Madison Shankle
The Not-So-Great Apostasy?: A Response to the Mormon Argument of the Great Apostasy, Rylie Slone
Electrospun Modified Polycaprolactone Scaffolds for Polymer-Based Periodontal Wound Healing, McKenzie Smith
Analyzing Exosomal RNA Sequencing Data of Low-Grade Hepatocellular Carcinomas, Timothy Spiva
When is God and What is Time?, Zack Tomlinson