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 2013
The Effect of Classroom Environment on Student Learning, Ryan Hannah
Horn Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries (Recital), Mackenzie Harris
Mechanisms of Neuroprotection Against Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss Using an In Vivo Glaucoma Model, Kevin Heinze
Beginnings and Endings: A Senior Voice Recital, Chelsea Helm
Glottopoeia: A Case Study in Language Change, Ian Hollenbaugh
Life in Space: An Introduction to Astrobiology, Sarah Hulbert
Variations in the Wake: Essays, Kenneth Jakubas
Physician Assistants: The Rise of a Career from a Missed Opportunity in Nursing, Madeline Jary
Age-Related Changes in Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) Content in Skeletal Muscle, Stephanie Jerger
Early Career Theatre Production Portfolio, Emphasis in Lighting Design, Mara Johnson
"Immurare: on the other side of the bars - Cassandra Kaczor's Senior Composition Recital", Cassandra Kaczor
Phosphorous Removal Process Comparison, Megan Kaiser
Behavioral Intervention to Reinforce Correct Youth Employee Behavior at a Nonprofit Boy Scout Summer Camp: A Case Study, Joshua Kallen
Ancient Egypt and the Middle East Unit, Grade Six, Joshua Kaylor
The Process of Preparing a Historical Exhibit Involving Textiles: Conservation and Mounting Techniques, Emily Kelley
The Effects of Eutrophication and Salinization on Methane Production in Urban and Rural Lakes, Rebecca Kiekhaefer
Senior Flute Recital, Jory King
"Ovar" come the silence for Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Amanda Klage
Surgical Navigation Camera Calibrating Device, Shannon Kloha
The Effects of Rating Accuracy on Treatment Fidelity, Joshua LaBeff
Labor Support and Doula Care, Emily Lathrop
The Nuclear Triangle: A Case Study in Nuclear Operations Policy, Jordan Lewis
Biracial Identity in Texts Read by Secondary Education Students, Jared Madden
Physical Activity in Health Profession Students, Andrea Mahon
Cattle Smuggling from India to Bangladesh, Elyse Malnekoff
Investigations at the Fort St. Joseph Archeological Project Unit N25 W9, Erika Mammen
On the Margins: Racial Tensions Within Feminist Theory and Practice, Amelia Martin
Rally Public Relations Marketing Plan, Caitlin Mathews
Crizotinib: A Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, Graham McLaren
A Discussion of Ethics in Relation to Business and Non-Business Students, Casey Mejeur
Audience Response Clicker Project, Joseph Meyer
Hans von Seeckt: Reformer of the Reichswehr, Aaron Miller
The Reaction of Small States to the Advancement of the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea, Michael Miller
A Woman's Place is On the Stage: Outspoken Women in Jacobean Theater, Kaitlyn Mitchell
Relations between oral pharyngeal size and kinematic measures of tongue related swallowing movements, Danielle Monast
Interdisciplinary Health Fair and the Tendencies of Young Adults to Receive Follow-Up Health Care, Kaelyn Monroe
When All Seems Lost: a Discussion on the Implications of Using Medicine for Scientific Advances, Rebecca Monterusso
"'More Safe I Sing with Mortal Voice': The Bard, the Reader, and the Problematics of Creation in Paradise Lost", Benjamin Moran
Secondary Analysis of Adolescent and Young Adult Sexual Health in Kalamazoo and Jackson Counties, Jenna Moreau
Senior Vocal Recital, Blake Morgan
What They Wrote for Me: a lecture-recital of commissioned works for solo violin, Charlotte Munn-Wood
What They Wrote for Me: a lecture-recital of commissioned works for solo violin, Charlotte Munn-Wood
Noise and Vibration Reduction of a Clothes Dryer, Daniel O'Hare
"Integration of Math and Music in the Secondary Classroom", Brian O'Neill
"Communicating Doors and the Actor's Product", Jessica Parsons
"The Living Building Challenge", Nicole Pascaretta
Overall Nasalance versus Trimmed Selection of Stable Syllable Repetition, Jackson Peebles
Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) Component Pre-Heater, Ria Pereira
Teaching Grammar in Context, Katie Pingle
Fashion adoption behaviors of women in Manhattan related to spring 2012 apparel fashion trends, Nicole Powell
The Confessional Model and Sectarian Politics: Lessons from Lebanon and the Future of Iraq, Scott Preston
How the Media Covers Lawmaking: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Savannah Priebe
Leadership: Learning to surf into a wave of change, Zachary Putnam
Youyang Qu's Violin Recital, Youyang Qu
Choosing the Nominee: How Presidential Primaries Came To Be and Their Future in American Politics, Ryan Rainey
Creating a Revised Curriculum for the Biomedical Sciences Major, Margaret Remynse
With Eye-Light and Love and Other Stories, Michelle Repke
"The Living Building Challenge", Giovanni Roberto
God Only Knows: Family in the films of Paul Thomas Anderson, Jordan Rossio
A Holistic Approach to Therapy and Management of Lower Back Pain, Lauren Ross
Warning Signs: A Study in the Proximate Causes of Genocide, Bradley Ryktarsyk
Interdisciplinary Health Fair and the Tendencies of Young Adults to Receive Follow-Up Health Care, Alexandra Scheidt
On the Shoulders of Giants: Jack Shales' Senior Jazz Voice Recital, John Shales
An Intervention to Increase IOA and Objectivity in Supervisors at WoodsEdge Learning Center, Karli Silverman
Continuums: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Leadership Program, Jacob Smallegan
Tendencies of Young Adults to Receive Follow-Up Care, Abby Smith
Body Image and the Health of America:Where Do We Go From Here?, Kristen Smith
The Heart of the Lower Story: Thesis Exhibition, Cassandra Stagner
BFA in Dance Graduating Presentations: "From Where We Stand", Hanna Stangebye
The Effect of an Exercise Regimen on the Psychological Health of Parkinson's Disease Patients, Alexander Stephens
OBM Thesis Project: Composing an Undergraduate Thesis Manual, William Strong
Viola Senior Recital, Sara Sulecki
A Comparison of Caregiver and Speech-Language Pathologist's Ratings of Speech Outcome in Oral Cleft Clinic, Emily Swain
Treatment of Food Selectivity in Children with Autism: A Review of Literature and Introduction to Holistic Treatment Approach, Tara Swodzinski
Senior Voice Recital, Sara Tipton
Co and Cr Adsorption on Maghemite, Quartz, and Maghemite-Quartz Mixtures, Amy Troy
Examining the Effects of a Mirror on Imitation in Children with Autism, Chelsea VanderWoude
Identity and Gender Constructs in "Written on the Body", Paige Van De Winkle
Webmail Crisis 2012: A Case Study Analysis of the Western Michigan University Webmail Plus Failure, Matthew Vargo
Editor-in-Chief of the Laureate, Andrea Walker
Portraying Sense of Community through Communication: How to maximize the benefit of social media for a community agency, Julia Walter
Determination of Trace Metals, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Other Water Standards in WMU Drinking Water, Tyler Walter
Sisters of the Spirit: Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement, Terra Warren
Cultural Conflict in Medicine: A Moral Debate Between Paternalism and Patient Autonomy, Hannah Webb
Antimicrobial Studies with Derivatives of 1,10-Phenanthroline, Jackson Whitcomb
iSat: Self-Esteem Among the Trees. A Preadolescent Curriculum, Stacy Young
The Gluten-Free Diet: An Effective Treatment for Autistic Spectrum Disorders?, Susanna Zammit
"Improvisational Gestures", Molly Zebell
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Welcome to the Zoo, Sarah Zegree
Theses from 2012
The History and Evolution of Athletic Uniforms and Equipment 1800s - Present: Basketball, Baseball, Football, and Hockey, Emily Anderson
A Beginning Education in the Anatomy and Function of the Human Visual Apparatus for Grades 2-4, Evan Andrews
Incorporating Hispanic Culture into a Secondary Instrumental Classroom, Alexander Armstead
"So God-damned Far Away": Soldiers' Experiences in the Vietnam War, Tara M. Bell
Identification of a Furnish and Properties of aLayflat Poly-Extrusion Base Paper, Elizabeth Bishop
Mock Fashion Magazine titled "MAK", Heidi Bodell
Using TAG to Increase Play Skills, Melissa A. Boggs