Senior Honors Theses

Collection

Call Number: UA005

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Scope and Contents

The collection is made up of theses written by undergraduate students from various departments as part of the requirements for honors in their department. All students are asked to deposit copies of their theses in the archives, but not all do so, therefore the collection is incomplete. The earliest thesis dates from 1929, but most date from the 1960s onward.

Some theses may be under an embargo and not available online until the end of the embargo period.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1960 -- 2014
Creation: 1929 -- 2015

Creator

Tufts College (Organization)
Tufts University (Organization)
Dean of Academic Affairs (Organization)

Language of Materials

English

Access

This collection contains some restricted material. Restrictions related to specific material are listed in the detailed contents list.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material in this collection may be protected by copyright and other rights. Please see “Reproductions and Use” on the Tufts Archival Research Center website for more information about reproductions and permission to publish.

Biographical / Historical

The distinction of honors in the undergraduate curriculum existed as early at 1877, both for "in course" achievement and "Special Honors" work. Departments had varying requirements and criteria for awarding honors. In 1957 a Committee on Honors was established to systematize rules for awarding Honors in both in course and Special Honors programs. By the 1960s it was common for many departments, at least in the humanities, to require a thesis for honors consideration, and the undergraduate honors thesis program was administered by the office of the Dean of the College.

In 2009, the Digital Collections and Archives (DCA) started transitioning to collecting honors theses in digital form. In 2014, DCA started accepting honors theses by deposit through the Samvera administrative interface, MIRA. For Arts, Sciences, and Engineering students, supervising advisers are asked to confirm that thesis submissions were awarded honors.

In 2023, DCA was renamed the Tufts Archival Research Center (TARC). They continue to steward honors theses in the Tufts Digital Library.

Extent

2.45 Linear Feet (6 boxes)

889 Volumes

715 Digital Object(s)

Additional Description

Arrangement

This collection is organized into series by department or program.

Processing Information

Beginning in 2014, Tisch Library staff provided subject headings for all theses deposited through the Samvera administrative interface, MIRA.

As of February 2016, theses and qualifying papers are cataloged by Tisch Library and are searchable in the Tufts University Library Catalog. Tufts Archival Research Center remains the permanent steward, but this finding aid is no longer updated with new accessions.