The Senior Thesis is a time-honored tradition in the Lee Honors College. It is an opportunity for students to demonstrate to themselves and others the knowledge and skills they have developed during their undergraduate studies and honors experience. The general purpose of the thesis is to create a capstone work that reflects the expertise they have developed in their major field of study or interest.
All the theses listed below have been digitized, but to display the full text in this scholarly repository, we need permission from the authors. We have permissions for the most recent entries, though some may be embargoed for a period of time. The Lee Honors College contacted alumni and we received permissions from some, but the rest will be available only from on campus computers.
If you are an author of one of these theses and would like to make them available outside of WMU, please contact us at wmu-scholarworks@wmich.edu.
Theses from 2013
Prevalence of Pregnancy Folkloric Beliefs Among Nurse-Midwifery Client Populations, Iris Aleece Campbell
Senior Recital on Violin and Viola, Veronica Cieri
Theses from 2012
Incorporating Hispanic Culture into a Secondary Instrumental Classroom, Alexander Armstead
"So God-damned Far Away": Soldiers' Experiences in the Vietnam War, Tara M. Bell
Using TAG to Increase Play Skills, Melissa A. Boggs
Simplifying Scholar Access - the Modernization of the Lee Honors College Website, Sean E. Chiplock and Jeremy B. Conley
Deriving Significance from the Capstone Experience, Christina G. Clark
Analysis of Commercial Wear-out, Kate L. Coombs
The Physician Assistant Profession: A Handbook for Students, Jami L. Cynecki
A Flexible Home Design For A Comfortable Lifestyle: A Case Study of the Effect of Universal Design, Meghann Balmer DeHaan
Incite, In Mind, Ashley M. Deran
Reconstruction of I-94 and I-69 Interchange, Andrew Dobbs
W.W.A.D.D.? What Would Andy Dufresne Do? The Idea of Life After Death in the Shawshank Redemption, Nathan Andrew Edwards
Community Involvement as a Tool for International Policy: Realizing the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Michael D. Eriksen Jr.
Student Attitudes Toward Older Adults, Anna Feenstra
Chester's Place, Kendra Flournoy
Nursing Informatics Competencies: Implications for Safe and Effective Practice, Hayes Greer
Teaching, Writing, Writing Teaching: Reflective Journal Responses from Teaching ENGL 1000, Christine Hamman
In the Garage, Christopher James Hart
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle HVAC Optimization, Jessica Hartl
Disability Determination Services and the State of Michigan Media Project, Eric Hartstein
RPE and Mode of Exercise, Victoria Helmus
Theatre: My Undergraduate Experience, Erin Hemming
Media's Adverse Impact on Body Image in Girls and Ways to Promote Healthy Self-Image, Sarah L. Hepner
Graeco-Roman Bioi and the Gospels, Matthew L. Hillman
The Circumstances & Consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, Tiffany J. Holland
Revolution and Democratization: Can Egypt Transition to a Modern Day Democracy?, Kristin M. Horitski
The National Hockey League: An Econometric Analysis of Attendance, Kendrick A. Hotte
The Truth Behind Coach Jerry Sandusky Scandal: A Search for Answers, Tod A. Jaggi
"It Happened Just That Way": The US Historical Event Song Trend in Country Music, Emilee G. Johnson
Revolutionary Events: Jean-Paul Marat and His Role, Kiri D. Johnson
Using a Reinforcer Hierarchy to Increase Compliance and Skill Acquisition, Bertilde U. Kamana
Hydraulic Test Cell Power Recovery System, Peter M. Kanda
Consolidating the BRSS File System, Abbey M. Karlinski
Literature Review: Cognitive Bibliotherapy for Depression in Very Old Adults, Whytlie A. Layher
Optimization of an Airboat Design, Adam P. Leppek
An Investigation of the Role of Experimental Avoidance in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Meaghan M. Lewis
Insights of a WMU student into the particularities of non-profit organizations: Observations from cross-cultural experience in two organizations., Alyssa L. Lord-Hill
Activity Choice and Extinction Intervention for Escape Maintained Behavior, Ali M. Markowitz
Mobile Device Security: Current Challenges and Existing Solutions, Hugo J. Martinez
"The Disappearance of the Jews": A Scene by David Mamet, Benjamin R. Maters
Psychosocial Factors Affecting Dance Auditions, Catherine T. McGrath
Theses from 2011
Intellectual Property in China: A Firsthand Account of Counterfeit Markets in Beijing, Amanda J. Ahler
WMU Mobile for iPhone, Christopher A. Ashbay, Justuce Reule, and Tim Wickey
Corruption in Egypt: The Effects of 'Koosa' on Economic Development and Political Stability, Ashley V. Aubermann
The Supreme Court: A Decade of Opinion, Matthew A. Bahleda
Language, Race, and Culture in Porgy and Bess, Madeline J. Baker
The Effects of Circumcision on Breastfeeding 24 Hours Post-Procedure, Trevor J. Barnum
One, Ayla Batton
Creating a Curriculum for the Autism Toddler Classroom at WoodsEdge Learning Center, Katherine J. Beckstrom
Methanol Distillation Optimization, Kristen L. Bellmer and Scott Sherrod
The Correlation Between the Freeze/Thaw Cycles and the Stability of the Lake Michigan Bluffs at Miami Park, Van Buren County, Michigan, Hachemi Y. Bouali
Take a Look Inside: An Afternoon of Staged Readings, Eric William Braman
Nursing Students Use of Nonpharmacologic Pain Relief Techniques, Lauren R. Brim
The Theoretical Retrofitting of Chess Engines for the Purpose of Machine Translation, Thomas Lee Wilkinson Brown
The Philosophy of Film, Caitlin Burt
The Implementation of Contactless Payments in the U.S., Chera M. Burwell
Applied Behavior Analysis in Populations with Autism: A Look at Social Interactions, Katelyn M. Callahan
Human Service Organizations and Economic Turbulence: How Today's HSOs are Coping, Emily Carter
An Examination of Gunflints from the Fort St. Joseph Site (20BE23) in Niles, Michigan, Cezar Carvalhaes
Social GPS Game for Android, Kevin A. Diefenbach
Preparation Materials for HR Assurance of Learning Exam, Nicole Drew
Living Composers, Naomi Mae Droge
Kalamazoo River Valley Trail: Academy Street to Westnedge Avenue, Adam Eaton, Matthew Maluchnik, and Nathan Raburn
Come As You Are: Queer Christology from the Perspective of LGBT Christians, Madison E. Edwards
Synthesis and Characterization of Monolayer Protected Gold Clusters for Biological Applications using Amino Acids, Phillip Eskander
"El Despertar": A Short Spanish/English Film by Kristen Fairchild, Kristen C. Fairchild
An Investigation of the Treatment Integrity of a Computerized Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression, Rachel M. Farrell
Redesign of Tire Stiffness Testing Machine, Peter G. Feldpausch and Benjamin Williams
Analysis of Dental Management of those with Physical and Mental Disabilities, Ashley M. Fleck
Validation of a Measure to Assess the Prevalence and Severity of Fears in an Adult Population, Christine M. Foster
Follow-up Evaluation of Treatment Integrity for a Stimulus-Stimulus Pairing Procedure on Vocal Behavior in Children Diagnosed with Autism, Eleanor R. Giles
Financing Michigan Education: An Interpretation, Analysis and Suggested Improvements of the State School Aid Fund, John A. Gipson Jr.
Non-Motorized Transportation and It's Application at Western Michigan University, Leah J. Goodman
Following the Flechas: The Camino de Santiago and its Inner Workings, Brenna C. Halpin
Changing the Course of Civil Rights Policy in the United States, Lauren B. Hearit
Analyzing and Negotiating Conflicting Ethics in Journalism, Jessica R. Herndon
Worklight Improv Team, Shannon N. Hill
Robert Hjelmstad's Senior Recital, Robert Hjelmstad
The Impact of European Union Membership on Romani Children’s Ability to Access an Equal Education in the Czech Republic, Stephanie L. Hodek
Increased Enrollment for the Graphic and Print Science Program Through Specialty Print Advertisement, Christa Ickowski
Putting Together a New York Style Cabaret: A Personal Analysis, Megan Elizabeth Jacobson
Puffed Snack Production Line Design - Kellogg Company, Adeel A. Khan, Hannah E. Davis, Leslie M. Klein, David M. McNish, Christopher D. Rumsey, and Ashley A. Saberniak
Examining the Feasibility of a Women's Center at Western Michigan University, Kathryn Kucyk and Michelle Kachman
Is Justice Available to All? Indigent Defense in Michigan, Barbara K. Lanning
The Effects of Trade and Other Factors on Income Distribution: The Cases of Chile, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela, George G. Lluberes
Fixing the Weak State, Evan M. Mayo
Common Currency Examined in Latin America, Jack William McCloskey
Design of a Forced Air Induction System for a Suzuki RMZ-450 Engine, Conrad R. Meekhof
Redesign of a Torsion Bar Testing Machine, Amanda J. Meiser, David Lawrence, and Brian Maher
The Family and Medical Leave Act: Effects on Women's Wages and Employment, Andrea E. Miller
Student Involvement, Brianne E. Miller
Epilogues and Endways, Sarah E. Milosch
Thin: Party of Two, Julia Mitchell
Senior Showcase, Chelsea Morgan
At the Bus Stop: A Dance Film, Rachel Nadler
Creating Collaborative Art, Sarah J. Nott