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 2005
La Cultura en la Música: Exploring Evidence and Implications of Latin American Culture in Piano Music, Maureen L. Osborne
Improving Mediation Training for University Resident Assistants, Nicole J. Postma
Running Out of Options: An Investigation of Stock-Based Compensation, Mark A. Powell
On the Irregular Colorings of Graphs, Mary Lynn Radcliffe
A Cross-Gender Comparison of Perceived Mathematical Ability and Appropriateness, Kathryn M. Rich
Changes in Nursing Student Attitudes Toward Mental Illness, Jared Rogge
A Study of the Teaching Methods of High School History Teachers, Ashley Sanders
The Bonn Identity, Katherine Schmidt
Past, Present, and Future Projection of Due Process Interpretation, Stephanie Scipione
Proofs by Mathematical Induction in Mathematics and Computer Science, Vinit Shah
Fahrenheit 451: A Teacher's Guide, Jaclyn Shurmack
How to Get to Madison Avenue from the South Bronx, Michael Shutkas
From Theory to Practice: Incorporating Philosophies of Teaching English into a Comprehensive Unit Plan, Nicole Smith
Eating Disorders: A Review of the History, Incidence, Causation and Treatment Models, Laura Spenceley
Women's Work: A Recital of Women Composers, Alexis Stark
Young Singles: A Look at the Grocery Shopping Preferences of a Unique and Underestimated Market, Survey & Analysis, Kelley Steinhofer
Shades of Rage, Judy Sykora
Les Différences Culturelles entre les Franҫais et les Américains, Shannon Takacs
Special Event Planning: A Fundraiser for the Miss America Organization, Kristina L. Talicksa
Special Event Planning: A Fundraiser, Kristina Talicska
Effectively Leading a Student Organization: Society for Excellence in Human Resources, Keri L. Tate
A Study of the Social Security System and Potential Reforms, Jessica Tecca
Media Relations: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Public Relations Professionals and Journalists, Lisa Tellish
Accounting Requirements in Corporate Finance, Norma Tomaszewski
The Morning is Better for Them: A Chapbook, Andrew N. Tyner
The Kalamazoo County Child Abuse & Neglect Council: Challenges and Opportunities, Wendy Vander Meulen
Multicultural Schools: A Place for Bilingual Education, Thanh Vo
Solo Violin Recital, Erica M. Wade
Teaching Pronunciation in High School Spanish Classes: A Focus on Vowels, Ellen Waisanen
Finding the Spark: Upton Sinclair's Attempt to Effect Social Change in The Jungle and The Goose-Step, Melissa A. Walker
Image Restoration and the "Black Sox" Scandal of 1919: Corrective Action as an Ideal Image Restoration Model for Professional Baseball, Zachary J. Walsh
A Collection of Poems, Thomas Justin Watkins
Marketing Research for Western's Panhellenic Council, Julia Renee Williams
It Happened at the Fair, Denise Wolber
The Well Worn Path of Using Religion to Get to the White House & How the Religious Vote Affected the 2004 Presidential Election, Jamie Zaniewski
Recycling in the Business College: A Study of Recycling Habits of Western Michigan University Students, Tanya Zarzecki
Theses from 2004
Introduction to Mechanical Engineering, Lorik Abdullai and Joseph R. Dunn
Potential Components of Time Personality: A Literature Review, Jane Ackerson
Face the Future, Katherine Anderson
Strategies for Developing Self-Determination Skills in Elementary Students, Keri E. Anderson
The Laureate: Exploring the Publication of a Literary Journal through the Editorial Process, Lydia Anderson
Aiding At-Risk Students, Jeremy Baldwin
Children Soldiers in Africa, Sabina Balos
How to Effectively Teach a Diverse Classroom: Success for All Students, Kristin Barterian
The S.M.E.D. System and How it Benefits Manufacturing Processes, Gary Berquist
Technology in the Middle School Mathematics Classroom, Amy Bessen
Electric Power Distribution Protective Equipment Enhancer, Kyle Brayton, Matt Hanley, and Julie D. Houck
Thirsty? A Study on Equitable Water Provision in Latin America, Lisa Bungert
Optimization of a Commercial Vehicle Brake Rotor, Brian Cavanaugh
The Potential Effects of the Trans-Atlantic Common Aviation Area on Shannon Airport, Ireland, Daniel James Centilli
An Evaluation of the Utility of Choice Assessments in Increasing Activity Engagement and Positive Affect in Elders with Dementia, Stacey M. Cherup
HIV/AIDS: Women's Knowledge, Their Perceived Risk and Willingness to Engage in Risky Sexual Behavior, Kimberly A. Cleary
Development of a Nurse Scheduling System, Dana L. Cochrane, Michelle Smith, and Tonya Zaborski
Through Irish Eyes, Sean D. Collins
¡¡Grita!! A Cultural and Critical Unit of Study for Advanced Level Spanish Students, Dianne Conn
Alternate and Hyper-Realities in Science-Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Jennifer Connors
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Effects on the Accounting Industry, Laura J. Courtade
Increasing the Use of Injury Reduction Techniques in a Hospital Operating Room, Thomas R. Cunningham
State and Civil Society Responses to HIV/AIDS in South Africa: An Anthropological Investigation, Sonya Datta-Sandhu
Identification of Chemical Compounds that Inhibit YopE Lethality, Greg M. Delgoffe
The Effects of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) on Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the Developing Frog, Xenopus Laevis, Cari DeLong
"The H.R. Role in a Corporation" - A Reflection of an Internship at Domino's Pizza LLC, Karl R.H. De Nazareth
Environmental Education in Michigan's Secondary Curriculum, Diane DuBois
Globalization in Education: Striving for Peace through Artistic Expression in the Classroom, Kara N. Engel
Poetry Works in Progress, Adam Fairbanks
Military Vehicle Seat Energy Absorption System, Brandon Ferriman and Troy Flodin
Telerobotic Controller, Michael Fewless, George Slater, and Steve Waldron
Design and Construction of a Radio Telescope, Sean Fischer, Marie Maddix, and Ben Stegink
The Fundamentals of Growth and Value Investing, Justin C. Gayheart
Multicultural Education and Global Competency at the Elementary Level, Kathryn N. Giebel and Michelle K. Rimpel
Current Vs. Ideal Body Image Perceptions of Undergraduate Students, Abby Giffin
The English Major's Job Search: Exploring Careers in Writing, Publishing, and Communications, Karolyn G. Glowe
CIE L*a*b* the New Measure of Quality, Trista Lee Goike
Scaffolding to a Higher Education, Darrick Gregory
Surveillance of the Balto-Finnic Speakers: A Geolinguistic Inquiry, Lindsay E. Gwyther
Linkage Analysis of Familial Renal Cell Carcinoma, Aaron Hampton
Chinese Medicine: Integration into Western Culture, Anna Hehl
On Ɣ-Labeling of Oriented Graphs, Scott Herlein
Life á l' école: Pedagogical Elements of French and American Classrooms, Sara Hinshaw
Airline Yield Management in Transition, Olgierd Hinz
Electrical Conductivity and Band Structure of Lithium-Ammonia Solutions, David P. Hoogerheide
The Thirteenth Summer, Katie M. Huey
An Exploration in Publication, Lindsey Ikegami
The Honors Portfolio Project: Communicating Value in Honors, Aimee J. Jachym
Avant: A Collection by Koriel Jock, Koriel Jock
The Curious and Ancient Mythology of the Bandicoot People, Emily Joslin-Jeske
Brothers and Sisters in Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom!, Stephanie M. Kellogg
Fragments of Innocence, Kristin Kenning
Euphonium vs. Baritone: The History of Confusion, Laura Ketchum
Waiting on Alice: Explorations in Entertainment-Education to Promote Depression Awareness Among Young Adults, Laura Kirklin and Jared D. Vineyard
Environmental Studies Across the Curriculum, Eda Koning
Girls Reading About Girls: An Exploration of Girls' Views on Young Adult Literature, Kristin Koski
Evolution of a Hero: The Nature vs. Nurture Debate in Harry Potter and His Dark Materials, Elizabeth Krolik
Suspend Your Disbelief, Graham Kurtz
The ISMM Baccalaureate Business Program: A Gap Analysis Based on Work Experience, Amber Linley
Common Injuries of Musicians, Lynette Lukomski