Info for Thesis Commitee Members

Info for thesis Committee members

Every senior thesis candidate works with a Thesis Committee comprised of three UD faculty members: a thesis director, a second reader, and a third reader. Thesis candidates must have selected a thesis director and second reader before they can apply to the Senior Thesis Program. If a candidate has chosen you to fulfill one of these positions, and you are unsure of exactly what your responsibilities are, please refer to the descriptions below. Please check the Senior Thesis Handbook for a calendar of required/recommended meetings for Thesis Committee Members. For any questions, contact the program at undergradresearch@udel.edu.

Thesis Director

A thesis director (also known as a thesis advisor or first reader) oversees a candidate’s project from its inception to its final form and serves as a primary resource person for matters of substance, organization, and presentation. Thesis directors should have both expertise and interest in their candidate’s research area.

The responsibilities of a thesis director include

Steering your candidate to a topic that will involve original research and to readings that are current, seminal, and representative of that topic;

Helping your candidate to obtain necessary supplies and equipment;

Providing training in needed techniques;

Providing continuous guidance with procedures and the research schedule to ensure the quality and timely completion of your candidate’s project.

Additional specific responsibilities include

Maintaining familiarity with the senior thesis program requirements and attending the orientation meeting for new directors of senior theses;

Working with your candidate to develop a proposal;

Obtaining approval from the Human Subjects Review Board (if using human subjects);

Helping your candidate to select a second reader;

Being present on campus while your candidate completes their thesis;

Arranging an appropriate number of contact hours per week while with your candidate while they are enrolled in UNIV-401 and UNIV-402;

Reviewing and commenting on your candidate’s regularly written progress reports and drafts of the thesis;

Acting as moderator for the oral defense of the thesis;

Submitting an “S” grade at the end of the first semester;

Submitting final grades for both UNIV-401 and UNIV-402 after the defense of the thesis.

Co-Directors:

It is possible for a team of two faculty members to jointly direct a thesis. If a candidate has co-directors, another faculty member still needs to be selected as the “second” reader. In this case, the thesis committee will have four members.

Second Reader

The second reader is usually a member of the candidate’s major department with research expertise in the area of their thesis. As a second reader, you should offer comments as the candidate revises their proposal early in the fall semester and then approve it. A second reader will also review and approve the candidate’s written progress report. Candidates should submit a draft of each chapter of the thesis to you as they write it during the winter and spring terms. This way, you can offer suggestions that the candidate can take into account when they revise during the research process. Finally, you will read a final draft of the thesis, prepare questions and attend the defense.

Third Reader

The third reader is someone who represents the University at large, is not a member of the thesis writer’s major department, and is not ordinarily an expert in the research field of the thesis. Third readers are selected for candidates from the members of the Board of Senior Thesis Readers. Each Board member serves as third reader for 4-5 thesis candidates: you are responsible for meeting as a group with your candidates twice each semester to discuss on-going research. Third readers will also review and approve their candidates’ proposals and progress reports. Finally, third readers will read a final draft of their candidates’ theses, prepare questions, attend the defenses, and fill out and submit the Third Reader Defense Report Forms to the Undergraduate Research Office (URO).