Skip to main content
Apply Now
Menu

Academics

The Senior Thesis

That cause you’re passionate about? That topic you can’t learn enough about? Start digging. Carthage is one of the few schools in the country to require a senior thesis. This is your chance to apply everything you’ve learned over the previous three years. Your senior thesis can take the form of a research project, art exhibit, music recital, portfolio, or better yet, something no one has ever seen before — including you.

All students must complete a senior thesis in order to graduate, but don’t worry: Your faculty thesis advisor will guide you in your research, assist you with research techniques, and help you hone your presentation skills. It’s not going to be easy. But it is going to help you graduate challenged, curious, competent, and confident. According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, “capstone projects” like the senior thesis are among the 10 educational practices with the highest impact.

In case senior year feels too far off, here’s a list of past examples to get your thoughts bubbling:

Art History

Biology

  • Polyvalency of Subcluster A2 Mycobacteriophages — The Role of Tail Fibers and their Amino Acid Sequences in Host Range Determination — Beth Klein
  • Molecular Regulators of Right Ventricular Angiogenesis in a Murine Model of Chronic Hypoxic Pulmonary Hypertension — Jacelyn Peabody

Classics

  • Lame Hephaistos, Veiled Perikles, and Tragic Thersites: The Acceptance Spectrum of Ancient Greek Deformity — Sarah Kellogg
  • Metal Finds from Ancient Omrit — Teryn Solan
  • The Illicit Antiquities Market: Confronting Issues in Areas of Military Conflict — Erin Oakland
  • Escaping the Dark Cave: A Study of the Urban and Rural Cave Sanctuaries of the Athenian Acropolis and Attica — Richard Ward
  • See more Classics Senior Theses

Communication and Digital Media

  • The Magazine Market: Targeted Advertising and the Rise of the Internet — Nicole Pfiffner ’16
  • Social Media for Good: How Nonprofits Engage their Audience — Kirsten Peterson ’16
  • Gender Stereotypes in Sports Media — Jeremiah Mertz ’16
  • See more Communication and Digital Media Senior Theses

Criminal Justice

  • The Prison Environment and Prison Guards’ Home Life — Clifton Nelson
  • A Meta-Analysis of the Three Strikes Law in the U.S. — Corey Boone

Economics

  • Chinese Banking Structure and Monetary Policy: Soft Wallets Bring Hard Times — Eddie Schwab
  • From Swords to Plowshares: A Case Study of the Economic Impact of the Savannah River Site and the Viability of Nuclear Energy in the United States — Evan Barkhau

English

  • I Have Made His Glory Mine’: Tennyson’s Female Archetypes Fight Sexual Repression — Melanie Lambrecht
  • Longing for Gold in the Emerald Isle: a Psychoanalytic Exploration of Routine in James Joyce’s Dubliners — Ben McGuiggan

Environmental Science

  • The Effect of Watershed Urbanization on River Hydrology and Ecology: Assessing the Use of Population Density as an Estimate for Percent Impervious Cover — Kris Kordek
  • Managing Grassland Biofuel Cropping Systems for Plant Diversity and Productivity — Sara Fouts

Geography and Earth Science

  • The Growth in Access to Local Produce in Urban Populations in Southeast Wisconsin — Jennifer Dorman
  • Mowing Reduction and Prairie Conversion in Crystal Lake Parks —Kevin Steltzriede
  • Classification of Shoreline Erosion and Protection of Kenosha County 1960-2011 — Robert Grandchamp
  • Tracing the Geographic Distribution of the Gaelic Language in Ireland, 1821-1926 — Caitlin Zant
  • See more examples of Geography and Earth Science theses

Great Ideas

French

  • “Le Rôle des écoles d’immersion au Canada: Une approche modernisée d’acquérir une langue seconde.” A study of how immersion schools in Canada effectively preserve the French Language and prepare students for the future — Jesse Daniel
  • See more examples of French theses

History

  • The Back Door to War Theory in the context of conspiracy scholarship in regards to the bombing of Pearl Harbor — David Carlson
  • The ways in which the Beatles impacted class in Great Britain — Sam Langford

Japanese

  • The Personalities of the People of Osaka and Kyoto: Are They Friends or Enemies? (大阪の方々と京都の方々の個性：仲間か敵か？) — Kathleen Lawler
  • The Success and Failure of Fast Food in Japan: With a Focus on iitoko-dori (日本におけるファストフードの成功と失敗 —「いいとこ取り」を中心としてー) — Barty Lenhart
  • See more examples of Japanese theses

Political Science

  • The Land Ethic and Wolves: The Ethics of Wolf Hunting — Taylor Ridderbusch
  • Competency to Stand Trial: Does the Process Protect Individuals with an Intellectual Disability?” — Kendall Vega
  • Deinstitutionalization and Homelessness: A Policy Revew — Brien Drake
  • Video Games Affecting Violent Behavior — Nenad Komljenovic
  • See more Political Science senior theses

Physics

  • Writing A Fluid Solver From First Principles — Aaron Scheets ’16
  • The Effects of Limb Darkening on the Measurements of the Physical Properties of Exoplanets — Tammy Kylloe ’16
  • Principal Component Analysis of Diffuse Interstellar Band Carriers — Michael Moen ’16
  • See more Physics senior theses

Psychology

  • The Effects of Music on Cortisol Levels in Adolescents: Implications for Treatment of Depression — Olivia Nino
  • A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Psychomotor Development in HIV-Infected Infants — Tristin Nyman

Religion

  • The Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Torturous Journey Toward LGBTQIA Inclusivity — Katie Bolinger ’17
  • Why Muslim Women Veil: Dispelling Misconceptions —Amanda Pisula ’17
  • Tactical Use of the Belief in Hell — Mariah Giffey ’17
  • See more Religion senior theses

Sociology

  • The Impact of Foster Care on Children and Delinquency — Diamond T. Seivright ’16
  • Perception of Law Enforcement by Young Adults: A Review of Literature — Ryan McGaha ’16

  • Quick Facts

    • Carthage is named a Best Midwestern College by The Princeton Review (2020), a designation given to only 25 percent of four-year schools.

    • The Tower, Carthage’s newest residence hall, provides some of the best views on campus — if not in the Midwest! In addition to #carthageviews of the lake from seven stories up, residents enjoy suite-style living and two floors of shared campus spaces for gaming, cooking, group meetings, or quiet studying. Learn more about all housing options.

    • You’re going to need brain fuel. Grab a morning coffee and a snack and Starbucks or Einstein Bros. Bagels. Later, meet friends at “The Caf,” where the specials change daily but the staples are constant, or swing through “The Stu” for wings, a burrito, or a sub. A new option, Carthage Cash, even covers some off-campus meals.

    • More than 90% of Carthage alumni report that they have secured a job or are continuing their studies six months after graduation. Visit Career Services.

    • 91% of employers say critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills matter more than your major when it comes to career success. Learn more about how the liberal arts prepare you for a successful career.

    • Lots of schools wear the four-year label. Carthage stands behind it. More than 90% of Carthage graduates earn their degrees in four years. Learn more

    • Oscars. Emmys. Tonys. Golden Globes. The playwrights we’ve brought in have them. Each year, the Carthage Theatre Department commissions an original script by a renowned playwright for its New Play Initiative. Carthage students then work with the writer to stage it. 

    • Carthage has ranked as a top Fulbright producer for four of the past five years. Read about Carthage Fulbright winners.

    • Things look new at Carthage because they are. Our science center, student union, athletic and recreation center, and numerous residence halls have all been constructed or newly renovated in the last 15 years.

    • Carthage offers majors, minors and concentrations in more than 50 areas of study, from archaeology to neuroscience, nursing to music theatre.

    • Our Summer Undergraduate Research Experience offers select students a research budget, one-on-one mentoring with a professor, and 10 weeks of analyzing, deciphering — and getting paid.

    • So the lake is kind of a focal point, but there’s a lot more to love about our campus — like the fact that our more than 80-acre campus is also an arboretum and wildlife sanctuary. Focused on keeping campus lush forever, we plant between 50 and 75 new trees every year from a variety of species.

    • Carthage was founded in 1847. That’s more than 170 years of leaders, makers, and go-getters going out and going forth. Read more about Carthage’s rich history.

    • More than 90 percent of students receive financial aid. Carthage awards more than $20 million in scholarship and grant assistance. That includes $5.5 million in competitive scholarships in business, mathematics, science, languages, the fine arts, leadership, and overall academic strength. Learn what’s available.

    • Abraham Lincoln was an early Trustee of the College, and U.S. Secretary of State John Hay was a Carthage alum. The two still have a proud place on our campus. Spend some time with them in our Sesquicentennial Plaza. On warm days you’ll find professors leading their classes here.

    • Come to Carthage; hear yourself think — think … think …
      Legend has it that Sesquicentennial Plaza holds a perfect echo. Just stand with both your feet on the “1847,” face Straz, and start talking. “You’re the only one who can hear you, but you’ll be crystal clear,” promises English and theatre alumna Mikaley Osley.

    • Our Great Lake provides Carthage students with some amazing views. Think classes on the beach, lake views from the lab, and sunrises from your dorm room. “I love waking up in the morning with the sun shining off the lake. Nothing compares to the view in the morning,” recalls biology and neuroscience major Ann O’Leary.

    • Carthage awards up to 35 Presidential Scholarships each year, which range from $20,000 up to full tuition. Learn more.

    • For a full decade, NASA has selected Carthage students to conduct research aboard its zero-gravity aircraft. Lately, the stakes have risen. A team of underclassmen is grinding to prepare a tiny but powerful Earth-imaging satellite for launch to the International Space Station. Learn more about the space sciences at Carthage

    • Carthage is the only college or university in the Midwest where every freshman takes a full-year sequence of foundational texts of the Western intellectual tradition. Learn about the Carthage core.

    • With a student-faculty ratio of 12:1, your professors will know who you are. They will also know who you want to be — and how to get you there. Meet our faculty.

    • There are more than 130 student organizations on campus, from Amnesty International to Fencing to Frisbee, Chem Club to Stand Up Comedy. See how easy it is to get involved.

    • True story: There are more than 27 art galleries, a dozen museums, and nine theatres within 25 miles of Carthage. Some highlights: The nationally recognized Racine Art Museum, the world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago, and the Milwaukee Art Museum. Learn more about our location.

    • What’s better than one professor? Two professors. What’s better than two professors? Two professors from totally different fields teaching a single class. There’s debate. Discussion. Differing perspectives. This is where the magic happens. That’s why every student takes a Carthage Symposium.

    • You can’t hide here — not with only 17 other students in the classroom with you. That’s going to be rough some mornings. But later, when you’re able to argue your point of view thoughtfully, express your opinions succinctly, and meet challenges head-on, without fear … Yep, you’ll thank us.

    • Carthage is ranked No. 3 in the country for student participation in short-term study abroad. Every J-Term, hundreds of students travel all over the world on faculty-led study tours. Imagine a month in Sweden, Rome, Cuba, Senegal, India, Japan …

    Previous
    Next