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 2006
The Hands of Caring, Leah A. Panici
President Bush Faces a Fork in the Road: Tax Reform 2006, Katherine Paris
Assessing Mild Cognitive Impairments: Detecting Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease, Joel W. Parraghi
Database Creation and Implementation Using Open Source Software, Shelby Patru
Physiological Effects of Acute Exhaustive Exercise and the Pathophysiology of Overtraining Syndrome, Katie Perz
Richmond Center for Visual Arts, Andrea Pike, April Bollenbach, Adam Harvey, and Brad Kallenbach
The Relationship of Speech-Sound Disorders, Phonological Awareness, and Literacy Skills, Andrea L. Quast
Guys and Dolls: LHC Thesis Performance, Kate Rasmussen
Direct Connect Trade (DCT), Brandon B. Reinkensmeyer
A Senior Recital, Jessica L. Relitz
The Role of CD82 Expression on the Proteolytic Activity of a Prostate Cancer Cell Line, Nicole Renae Repair
An Alternative model for the Growth and Evolution of Paleozoic Algal Mounds with Significance to Reservoir Distribution, Audrey Ritter
National Comparisons of Present Day Juvenile Boot Camps, Michelle A. Roberts
Sarbanes-Oxley: The Aftermath, Chapter One, Emilie Robyn
A Guide to Finding the Resources that Caregivers Need, Amanda Ryan
College to Work According to a Che: Argentine Students' Evaluation of their University Experience, Tony Amante Schepers
Wisdom Bridge Arts Camp Radio Documentary, Andrew Schrock
The Platinum Rule: A Theory of Logical Morality, Cullen W. Schwarz
Sélections de La Vie De Saint Gilles par Wauchier De Denain, Walter D. Scott
Benefits of Outsourcing: A 3-Nation Study, Rahul Shah
Ignition System Learning Aid, Patrick Shea
Misalliance Scenic Design, Joseph W. Shoup
The Democratization of Spain: The Role of Consensus and Moderation, Meghan Sifuentes
Airline Management Style and Its Affects on Profitability: A Study of Southwest Airlines and AMR Corporation, Tim Stapleton
Discovering Art through Reading: An Honors Thesis Project, Cassandra Stein
Social Security Solvency and Privatization Proposals, Jeremy St. John
Air Transport Pilot Knowledge Exam, Andrew Tavelli
The Character of Medea Through Time, Chapel Taylor
Thermal Dilution Optimization of a Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer, Shelby A. Tomczak
Nicety of Strangers, Rebecca E. Tregerman
Resistance to Neo-liberalism in Latin America: The Framing of Organic Agriculture in Mexico, Cuba, and Brazil, Andrea Vogler
Incorporating Technology in the Classroom: Practical Pedagogy, Sara Wachtmann
A Life in Eight Genres: A Screenplay, Katherine C. Webb
Off Campus Furniture Retail Development, Dan E. White, Richard D. McCarthy, and Christopher T. Cowgill
A Comparison Study of the Challenges and Benefits of Elementary Spanish Programs in the Kalamazoo Area, Pamela R. Wiersma
An Assessment of Family and Medical Leave Policy, Stefanie Wilde
Someday You'll Really Dig Me: Tour Writings of an Indie Musician, Hailey Wojcik
Theses from 2005
Research & Study for Completion of the FAA Airline Transport Pilot Written Examination, Ian Edward Alexander
Get in the Game! Creating a Winning Environment through 'Other-Oriented' Communication, Amanda R. Bellino
A Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory of Western Michigan University, Gloria K. Benson
A Copywriting Portfolio, Christine Blankemeier
Changing Friends, Karie Blum
Interference Press Fit Analysis, Jerry Boza, Amy Conine, and Jason Schutter
Property, Plant, and Equipment: The Next Frontier for Fair Value, Ryan A. Breisach
Results and Recommendations of Water and Wastewater Affordability Study, Ryan A. Breisach
Observational Study of Atrium Use at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Suzanne Brentin
Everything Happens to Me, Timothy Buchholz
Inertial Navigation System, Michael Calabrese Jr., David Engblom, and Aaron Fleckenstein
The Redesign of an Emergency Medical Chair Manufacturing System, Maria Candela, Abdullah Al-Abbas, Deanna Cunningham, and Daniel Grupp
Let's Explore the Earth, Sun and Moon: A Third Grade Science Unit and MCOATT Portfolio, Christine Carlson
Change Bell Ringing and Mathematics: A High School Student Excursion into Graph Theory and Group Theory, Kristi Carlson
Exploring the Impact of Sarbanes-Oxley and Information Compliance on Organizational Business Processes: An IT Perspective, Jason Carrigan
Japanese and American Approaches to Environmental Policy, Alison Case
Inertial Navigation System (INS) for a 2-Dimensional Field, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Li Hsien Chen, and Voon Ping Teng
"Welcome to London:" A Children's Book about London, Marie Chick
Dollar Cost Averaging Investment Strategy, Phalgun Chidanand
Alternative Explanation of Organophosphate Induced Delayed Neuropathy, Michael Clift
The Cycle of Passages, Tyler Cloud
Investigating the "Friday the Thirteenth" Effect, Brandon Cook
A Personal Journey with Literacy Work Stations, Jessica Crane
Besanҫon: A Study Abroad Experience, Adrienne Danov
A Historical Exhibit: The Historical Significance and Preservation of North Burdick Street, Tegan D'Arcangelis
The Portrayal of Witches in Young Adult Literature, Leslie DeBacker
Synthesis and Characterization Studies of Doped and Un-doped Semiconductor Nanoparticles, Curtis Deer
IPO Valuation and Long-Term Company Results, Krisha Deering
Teaching Methods in the Prevention of Dance Injury, Erin Dudley
Hollywood to Paris: Comparing In-Store Marketing Strategies in Grocery Stores Across the Globe, Whitney L. Edwards
Sensor-Based Telerobotic Controller, Aziza Fadadi and Luvlesh Bhajoo
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory of Western Michigan University, Rachel Farabaugh
Adding a Foreign Language Component to Standard Curricular Lessons, Erin Farmer
L'usage et l'enseignement de voucoiement et de tutoiement, Caren Fiorani
Participatory Roles of Parents in Special Education in a Rural School in Mexico, Katie Fritz
Trombone Recital and Oral Presentation, Julie Gilbert
Art is Dead?: A Criticial Analysis of Arthur Danto's End of Art Theory, Laura M. Ginn
Saginaw Bay Symphony Orchestra: Crisis Management Plan, Allison A. Gnotek
Stories for Judas, Lana Goodrich
The Role of Nonprofit Organizations in the Public Policymaking Process in the United States: Advocacy and Implementation in the Social Service Sector, Hannah J. Gryska
Students with Limited English Proficiency in the Mainstream Classroom: A Guide for Teachers, Megan Haas
Eclipse, Jennifer Hall
Original Works Inspired by Biblical Texts, Aaron J. Heinen
Copywriting Portfolio, Jessica Hendren
Student Writer: On Writing What One Knows When One Knows Very Little (A Meta-Thesis), Kevin P. Hill
Aerodynamics in Baseball, Joseph R. Hopkins
Harvey's Hideaway: Patron Profile, Jessica Hummel
Be Everything We Say You Are: Teenzines, School Culture, and Readers' Perceptions of the Texts, Korin Isotalo
Here Comes the Groom: The Influence of Gender on the Planning & Purchasing of Wedding Cakes, Carrie L. Johnson
Investigating the Antipunishing Effects of Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in Pigeons, Lisa Jorgensen
Kalamazoo: The Performance, the Power, the Product, the Place, Lindsay Karthen
Celebrity Politics: Representations of Politicians in Newsweek 1980 and 2004, Jenna Marie Keedy
Radio Telescope Data Storage System, Daniel Kelbel, Zoheb Qureshi, and Matthew Starr
Developmental Systems Theory: A Search for Human Nature, Erin Kenzie
Music, Religion, and Athanasius of Alexandria, Jason A. King
Computer-Based Training for Manufacturing Measurement Tools, Jeana L. Koerber and Jennifer J. Parsons
Breastfeeding Policies and Employer Attitudes in the Hospitals of Southwest Michigan, Kayla Kryszak
The Taliban: The Factors that Led to their Rise and the Role Religion Played in Regards to Women, Kathleen Lamie
The Redesign of the Swimming Pool Bulkhead Moving Process, Megan Lamont, Alejandro Rodriguez, and Justin Vriezema
Effect of Addition of Ground Flaxseed to Orange-Bran Muffins on Nutritional Quality and Overall Acceptability, Tara Lassila
Mini Spanish Class, Stacey D. Marker
Design and Simulation of a Test Fixture for Pneumatic Valves, Ryan Mills and Nicholas Murphy-DuBay