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 2009
The Cooking Camp Project: Building Self-Reliance, a Knowledge of Diverse Cultures and Home-School Connection, Lauren Kazmierczak
The Deaf Community and Social Work: A Study of the resources Available to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Anna Kleinert
Good Death: A Community Conversation, Jasmine Lake
Grand Ambitions: The Effects of the 'Develop the West Plan' on Tibet, Jaime LeBlanc-Hadley
What Communities Can Do to Assist in Students' Post-Secondary Preparation and Retention, Jessie Liszewski
Creative Mathematics, Noah Mashni
The Third Wave: An Inclusive Feminism, Katharine Joan McClellan
Implications for Nursing Involvement in Health Care Reform: An International Comparison, Erin McCuen
Moved to Words: For the Children Hurt by Abuse, Shoshana McIntosh
The Worth of a Comfortable Shoe, Kristina Mellinger
Drug Use and Abuse by People with Autism, Todd A. Merritt
Never Say Die, Marcy Molengraff
Almost Dying, Rebecca Murtha
Valuing the Values of the Good State: An Exploration of Ethical Common Ground Among Nations, Shawn Myers
Memory: A Look into Sleep's Affect on a Proposed Mechanism of Explicit Memory Consolidation, Kyle Nappo
Redefined, Liza M. Nay
Liza Marie Business Plan, Lori M. Nay
Developing a Standardized Checklist Curriculum to Improve Checklist Performance Under Normal Workload Flight Operations, Jared K. Neterer
The Future Job Market for Michigan's Newly Certified Mathematics Teachers, Megan O'Connor
Senior Recital, Flute, Amanda Presson
Why Do Plants Contain Estrogenic Compounds? A Test with a Generalist Herbivore, the Gypsy Moth (Lymantria Dispar), Joshua K. Radi
Teaching as a Learning Experience Through the Lens of Self-Efficacy: Reflective Practice and the English 1000 Program at Western Michigan University, Katie M. Reilly
D-Day through Song: Teaching History through music and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences, Lucas Rewa
WMU Student News, Maureen Savage
Common Immigration Policy in the EU: Factors of Resistance and Compliance, Anna Liisa Schourek
A Friend is a Friend is a Friend, Nathan Squires
Student Recital, Kaitlin Stark
Mother Courage Computer Graphics, Justin Stoynoff
The Effect of Early Cochlear Implantation on Oral Language: A Review of the Literature, Nicole Supplee
Translation of Japanese Short Story in English, Roger Swan
Adolescent Development and Sexuality Workshop for Parents of Teens, Aleea Swinford
The Walpole Society: A Century of Gentlemen Collecting, Jenna Teachout
Hydrogen Absorption in Diamond-Like Carbon Films, George Tecos
Addressing the Unforgettable Killer in a Forgetful Mind: A Look into the Advances of Treating Alzheimer's Disease, Heather Tews
From Birth to Death of Cool, Brandon Theriault
Reflections from Teaching English 1000: An Undergraduate's Experience Teaching a Remedial College English Class, Kristin Tunier
Organized Open Reading of Prague Summer Program Participants, Julia Valentine and Rebecca Murtha
Lighthouse History and Literature, Nicole A. Vanderhoff
English Language and Literacy Enrichment Comparing Comprehension and Alphabetic-Phonological Approaches, Paula Vergunst
BRSS: Self-Management, Amanda Vig
Electronic Clutch Actuator Test System, Andrew Vosters, Gregory Vosters, and Steven Zeigler
Effects of Nitrogen on Zooplankton Populations and Chlorophyll Concentrations in Vernal Ponds, Marc B. Wegener
Emerging Music: A Study of Music in the Emerging/Postmodern Church, Caleb B. Williams
The Analysis of Field Mapping Strategies of Novice and Expert Geologists based on GPS Tracks and Field Maps, Magdalena Wisniewska
Women and Fashion: Impacts on Society in Nineteenth Century France, Jessica Yeiter
Henry Flamethrowa, Courtney Yoder
Theses from 2008
The Anonymous Text of MS Bodley 451 and the Intellectual Character of the Abbey of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Winchester, Johnna L. ap'Morrygan
Developing a Control System for Inventory Storage Containers, Alex Bakos, Dave Baxter, Shawna Poncil, and Matt Spenceley
Re-design of a School's Pick-up and Drop-off System, Ashley Bazzana, Shannon Bowerson, Alisha Hankins, and Benjamin Smith
Duets in Motion, Benjamin Beck and Holly Florian
Duets in Motion, Benjamin Beck and Holly Florian
Zion Lutheran Church Additions and Renovations, Matt Begeman, Ron Donkersloot, Brian Iskra, and Tim VanStraten
Vaccines and Autism Brochure, Michael W. Blahnik
Gluten-Free Guide for College Students, Amy M. Bobalik
Melengestrol Acetate Process Improvement, Geoffrey Bolak, Brock Brockway, and Tim Freehling
Earth Art: Seeing the Site, Caitlin Kochevar Bouma
Typography: A Visual and Literal Expression, Kristi Breisach
Facing the River, Conor Burke
Factors Associated with Supermarket Shopping Behaviors, Time Preferences, Impulse Buying, Nutritional Information Interest and Body Mass Index, Danielle M. Carl
Senior Vocal Recital, Grant Carmichael
RFID Integration: An Analysis and Solution for Implementers, Marie K. Chapman
The Medallion Program: Moving Beyond Mere Competition, Maximilian Avery Clark
Proposed Side Rail Design for GoBed II, Kevin Collins, James Plocinik, and Adam Tipton
Mixed Verbal Operant Training: A Single-Case Evaluation, Carly E. Cornelius
Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Western Look at an Eastern Philosophy, Andrew Crapo
The Presumption of Death, K. Alex Cronin
Diffusion of Innovations within the US Health Care System: Recommendations for the Implementation of the ICD-10 Code Sets, Whitney E. Dach
Characterization of CDC20, a Cell Cycle Gene, in Zebrafish, Travis Jon Dams
Dimensions of Blue, Jennifer Dempsey
Determination fo WS3 Concentration in Mint Oil and Flavor by GC-MS Analysis, Heidi Maria Egloff
Energy Loss in Industrial Baking Ovens, Steven Eick, Paul Fiero, Sarah Fullerton, and Brian Naiman
Theatre Design Portfolio, Rachel Engstrom
Single Motor Neurons Segregate Multiple Neurotransmitters in Leech, Christine Eskander
Guide to Becoming a Spinal Cord Injury Survivor, Patricia Fahey
From Social Bandit to Ambiguous Antihero: The Outlaw in Twentieth Century Cinema, Josh Fisher
Archipelago: Three Short Stories, Gregory A. Flynn
Word Weavers: Encore, Gabriel Giron
Description and Analysis of Bilingual Programs Implemented in Kalamazoo Public Schools, Jessica Glover
Ethics of a "Model" Health Care System, Amber Heath
Straight from the Broncos' Mouths: A Collection of Interviews with Current WMU Students, Sarah Hurd
Learning Centers: Finding Differentiated Instruction in Increasingly Diverse Classrooms, Maribeth Hutton
Design Enhancement of Hand-powered Cycle, Andrew Hyder and John Bolhuis
Cooling Tunnel Optimization, Trisha Janicki and Jason Thomas
Planning Stages and Process of Planning a Community Service Trip, Jessie Kadolph
Planning for a Successful Service Trip, Jessie Camille Kadolph
Competing Visions: The CIA, the Congress for Cultural Freedom and the Non-Communist European Left, 1950-1967, Scott Kamen
Investigating Partisanship in a Nonpartisan Election: The Michigan Supreme Court, 2008, Thomas B. Kent
Analysis of the Delivery and Circulation of a Newspaper, Trent Kenworthy, Ella Lambrix, Matt Pridgeon, and Jason Saksewski
Literacy and Language Variation in Elementary Classrooms, Maggie Konett
A Micro Study of Israel, Allison Kronzek
The Saxophonist of New York: How a City and an Instrument Changed American Music, Katy LaFleur
Nasser and Qutb: The Lives and Legacies of Two Controversial Egyptians, Rachel Leonard
Establishing a Summer Day Camp for Disadvantaged Children in Kalamazoo, Laurie L. Lijewski
Sexual Assault, Simone Lindsay
A Manifesto for Generation Y, Adrienne Mesnard
The Acquisition of Spanish Possessive Adjectives by Beginning Adult Learners of Spanish, Ryan J. Minier
A Review of Literature: Men's Experience of Fear During Their Partner's Labor, Tynan K. Mohney
Establishing a Housing Cooperative in Kalamazoo, Christopher Moore
Closed Loop Cooling Systems for Fermentation Tanks, Dustin Moseley and Nathan Tate