The workshop supports and guides undergraduate students writing honors theses on topics in the arts and humanities. Workshop sessions explore aspects of the research and writing processes, and provide a forum for students from a variety of fields to give and receive feedback on their individual thesis projects. This is an excellent opportunity for thesis writers to get professional writing advice, thoughtful feedback, and interdisciplinary engagement with their work as it unfolds.
Workshop sessions are led by Townsend Center director Stephen Best and graduate student Lou Silhol-Macher, and include visiting speakers.
The workshop is open to undergraduate students who expect to graduate in May 2025 or December 2025, and who are writing honors theses in the following departments:
African American Studies; Ancient Greek & Roman Studies; Art Practice; Comparative Literature; East Asian Languages & Cultures; English; Ethnic Studies; Film & Media; French; Gender & Women's Studies; German; Geography; History of Art; Italian Studies; Middle Eastern Studies; Music; Philosophy; Rhetoric; Scandinavian; Slavic Languages & Literatures; South & Southeast Asian Studies; Spanish & Portuguese; Theater, Dance & Performance Studies.
We also welcome applications from students in Arts & Humanities degree programs that do not fall under a specific department. Please contact us if you are uncertain whether you are eligible to apply to the workshop.
Participants receive a $300 research stipend and the opportunity to apply for additional funding for major research expenses.
Participants are expected to attend all sessions of the workshop, which are held monthly from December 2024 through April 2025 on selected Thursdays from 5:30-7:30 pm. The spring semester concludes during RRR week with a student-organized mini-conference at which participants present their thesis projects. Workshop meetings are as follows:
Thursday, December 12, 5:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, January 23, 5:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, February 13, 5:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, March 20, 5:30-7:30 pm
Thursday, April 24, 5:30-7:30 pm
Wednesday, May 7 (RRR Week): Day-long mini-conference