The honors 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.
Honors theses completed at Western Michigan University are entered into ScholarWorks. Some may be embargoed or restricted by the authors or we have been unable to reach the authors, so the theses may be only available from on-campus computers. If you are an author of an honors thesis and would like to make it available off campus or if you have any questions, please contact wmu-scholarworks@wmich.edu.
Theses from 2015
Medallion Scholarship Tutorial Video, Joseph Starr
Design of a Tandem Rotor Hovering Vehicle, Nicole St. Louis, Steven Beuerle, Brent Kostich, and Andrew Verstraete
A Call for Hearing Loss Prevention Programs in College Music Education Programs, Jason Taurins
Private Labels Related to Time & Risk Preferences, Darryn Taylor
Socially Deviant Communities Online: How the Pro-Anorexia Movement Utilizes the Anonymity Provided by the Internet to Thrive, Samantha Thomas
The Decamillennia Series: Creating a Galaxy, Corey Tremblay
Experiential avoidance post-trauma: Investigating predictors of traumatic stress and problematic behavior., Elise Trim
Senior Voice Recital, Amos Warren
Shared Prosperity Initiative as a Solution to the City of Kalamazoo's Impoverished, Maurice Washington
The Development of an Autonomous Proximity Operations Demonstration System, Spencer Watza
Parentification, Alicia Wayne
The Impact of Globalization on Access for Individuals with Disabilities, Katherine Williamson
Fiber Polytopes, Joshua Withee
Preparing and Executing an Effective Sales Call, Mackenzie Wright
Medicare: Program, Procedures and Recommendations, Sarah Wyman
Bioinformatics Investigation of the Tanapox Virus Proteome, Chad Yee
Theses from 2014
1,10-Phenanthroline amino alcohol derivatives as oxazole precursors, Evan Alkema
Leadership Reaction Course at Western Michigan University, Talal Almaghlouth
Language Trends of Spanish/English Dual Language Learners, Cailin Amundsen
Tax Effects of the Affordable Care Act on Individuals and Small Businesses, Lindsey Atteberry
The Effects of Pet Therapy on Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perceived Stress and Exam Performance, Kathleen Bajorek
A Consideration of Healthcare in Honduras, Joseph Barnett
Position Tracking Using WiFi, Tyler Bayne
Sailing as a Therapy Modality for Occupational Therapy; Requirements Prior to Participation, Carrie Bell
The Importance of Translational Research: An Analysis of a Naturalistic Probe in a Joint Control Study, Nicole Bell
Perceived External Factors Leading to the Resumption of Occupations Following Acquired Amputation, Danielle Brown
Design and Analysis of a Cold Gas Propulsion System for Stabilization and Maneuverability of a High Altitude Research Balloon, Mitchell Brownell
Business Plan: Queens Glamour Boutique, Heaven Brown
The Laureate, Nicole Burchette
Simple Visual Discrimination Training for a Child with Autism and Exceptional Learning Difficulties, Rachel Burroughs
Stacy Busch Senior Honors Recital: Composer, Stacy Busch
Subtalar Fusion Fixture Design and Test, Andrew Campbell
The Supersonic Transport: Development and demise of the future of air travel, Gareth Carter
Like Sun on a Wet Cobblestone, Renate Childs
Taboo Topics: Depression, Anxiety, Sexual Assault, and PTSD; the Influence of Stigma on Help Seeking, Kaitlyn Cichocki-Goss
Position Tracking Using WiFi, Nathan Conrad
¡Vamos: Es hora de conocer España! Unit Plan for the Life and Culture of Spain, Katheryn Cook
Environmental Systems and Patterns Applied to Design, Aaron Cooper
Potential Effects of Elevated CO2 on Pitcher Plant Nectar Composition, Prey Capture, and Inquiline Communities, Deirdre Courtney
The Efficient Market Hypothesis, Security Analysis, and Portfolio Management, Lance Cowles
“Additional Analysis of Previously Collected Data: Food Choices in Children with Autism”, Kristin Crinion
Lead Seals from Colonial Fort St. Joseph (20BE23), Cathrine Davis
Developing Gifts In-Kind Support for Nonprofit Organizations: Case Study on Pretty Lake Vacation Camp, Erin Denay
Comparative Study of the Effects of Globalization on Literacy Policy in the U.S. Midwest and Senegal, Emily Diekema
Walk-Training Increases Expression of GDNF in Pectoralis Muscle but not Diaphragm from Mouse, Erin Donovan
Gradual Guidance and Independent Activity Schedules for Children with Autism, Amanda Driscoll
A Cross-Cultural Study Exploring Structural Factors of Men's Sheds, Sarah Dryden
Law 101 and Minority Languages in Quebec, Rebecca Dubord
Total Team vs Designated Food Runner, Danielle Failla
The SHRM Assurance of Learning Assessment and Human Resource Graduates, Alexis Fiocchi
Project MODA, Emma Forster
Optimization of an Ankle Loading Mechanism for CT Scanning, Krista Fox
Resisting (and Reproducing) Language Domination in a Bilingual Kindergarten Classroom, Roxana Gamble
Food-associated calls in wintering Black-Capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapilla) and their possible meanings., Josephine Gingerich
The Effects of an Academic Values Clarification Exercise on Academic Performance of College Students, Dana Goetz
Resistance to a Competing Stimulus in Color Sorting Behavior in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Prone to Distractibility, Jeremy Goldman
Use of a Mirror Box to Improve Arm Function Post Stroke, Justin Goodrich
Neural stem cells during embryonic Retinal Regeneration in Xenopus Laevis, tadpoles, Billy Gotama
Visualizing Music, Thomas Grill
Tenor Trombone Recital, Rebecca Haines
Western at War: Western Michigan College During World War II, Patrick Hargis
Sales Across Cultural Context, Luke Hatfield
Plant a Seed: Gardening and Nutrition with Elementary School Students, Kaisa Heib
From Foster Care to Becoming a Family Member, Zachary Henderson
Correlating Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease: A Comparative Study of Research Methodology, Alexandra Hensen
Backyard Archaeology: Informing the Southwest Michigan Community about local archaeological sites and research through the “Evidence Found” Exhibit, Tabitha Hubbard
The Combined Effects of Picture Activity Schedules and Extinction Plus Differential Reinforcement on Problem Behavior During Transitions, Jessica Hurdelbrink
Assessing Nurses' Knowledge of Needle Phobia, Jessica Hurlbut
A Critical Analysis of Infant Mortality in Kalamazoo County, Audrey Jensen
WMU Career and Student Employment Services – present practices and future recommendations for employer relations, Amanda Jeppesen
The Business of Human Trafficking, Elizabeth Kaczmarek
The Consequence of Freedom: A Sociological Analysis of the Suicide Epidemic in Luthuania, Kyle Kaminski
The Effects of Trauma on Brain Development in Infancy, Sasha Kellogg
Aviation Fuels: The Importance and Potential of Unleaded Avgas, Hilary Kerkstra
Each Moment a Poem, Sarah Kidd
The Effects of a Picture Acitivty Schedule and Functional Communication Training, Sarah J. Lett
Dynamically Reconfigurable Miniature Golf Course, James Lind
Factors of aggression in diagnosed psychopaths: a comprehensive literature review of biological, psychological, and sociological perspectives., Mirabelle Lindquist
An Overview of Sensory Processing Disorder, Heather Lonkar
Framing Identity & Change in the Experience of Interns, Bryleigh Loughlin
Stimulating the Brain with Creative Movement in the Classroom, Theresa Lytwyn
Ariele's Senior Violin Recital, Ariele Macadangdang
Attitudes Towards Latino Immigrants Expressed in the Online Media, Jordan McClain
A Cross-Cultural Study Exploring Structural Factors of Men's Sheds, Kaitlyn McGrail
Reliability of Pure Tone Thresholds, Kara McGregor
Senior Voice Recital, Sarah Mikulski
The Relevance of Fraternity New Member Education Programs, Christopher Miller
The Effectiveness Internal Auditing has to Help Improving Companies, Kelsey Miller
!Que aproveche! An American Student's Encounter with The Culture and Language of Spanish Food, Amanda Mills
The NFL: Growing Into its Death, Cole J. Molnar
The Dynamics of Business Communication: a Look at Social Media Use in the Workplace, Lindsey Munro
The Impact of Prenatal Stress on the Development of Limbic System Structures, Alyssa Murray
Is a mutation in the homolog of CDC20 causing the zombie mutant phenotype in zebrafish, Damir Musaev
Two-Way Dual-Immersion Programs, Monica Nealis
Sexism Across Musical Genres: A Comparison, Sarah Neff