Barrett student presenting their thesis to other students

Topic exploration and examples

Finding a thesis topic

Most things a student does while they are at ASU and Barrett can be something that piques their curiosity and forms the basis for their honors thesis. We encourage students to think early on in their college career about exploring these options with intention and focus. One of the first things a student might want to do is to think about what type of honors thesis they would like to do. Barrett has five honors thesis pillars that highlight the types of projects people complete.

Honors thesis pillars

Barrett encourages students to respond to the challenges of the world through independent and collaborative scholarly activities which culminates in the honors thesis. Students complete projects that are grounded in our mission, vision, and values, centering on research; creative activities; community enrichment and service; transformative travel and global experiences; and personal and professional development. These five pillars represent the variety of outcomes students achieve with their honors thesis. In many cases, students combine several of these outcomes.

Research

Outcome focuses on original research

Creative Project

Outcome is original creative work

Community Enrichment and Service

Outcome benefits the community through service

Global Engagement

Outcome develops global awareness and engagement

Personal and Professional Development

Outcome focuses on skills for career preparation

Search the Honors Thesis Collection

Barrett proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing a collection of past projects exclusively with the ASU community in the thesis repository. You can search for particular types of projects using the Barrett Thesis Pillar key terms: research; creative project; community service; community engagement; travel; global engagement; personal and professional development.

View these projects online

Take a thesis topic exploration class

Courses, programs, and hands-on learning opportunities such as research projects and internships that provide students with a foundational sense of a topic and its possibilities for a future thesis development.

CourseNumberTermLocationInstructor
HON 394: Bollywood Nation35536Spring 2025TempeBhattacharjya
HON 394: Between the Shadows: Gothic Literature and Art35541Spring 2025TempeFette
HON 394: Lost of Disappeared35542Spring 2025TempeSoto
HON 394: Novels Across Nations35543Spring 2025TempeMeloy
HON 394: Contemporary Environmental Thought35546Spring 2025TempeSuk
HON 394: Global Resolve26574Spring 2025TempeBriggs
HON 394: Global Leader Practicum29918Spring 2025TempeBriggs
HON 394: Success, Purpose and Happiness29937Spring 2025West ValleySturgess
HON 394: Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise35974Spring 2025TempeMartin
HON 394: Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise35975Spring 2025ASU SyncMartin
HON 394: Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise35976Spring 2025ASU OnlineMartin
HON 394: Preparing for the Barrett Thesis35979Spring 2025ASU SyncNiebuhr
HON 394: Preparing for the Barrett Thesis35980Spring 2025ASU OnlineNiebuhr
HON 394: Power and Politics35981Spring 2025ASU SyncNiebuhr
HON 394: Power and Politics35982Spring 2025ASU OnlineNiebuhr
HON 394: Self-Awareness, Leadership and Career Management36014Spring 2025TempeKappes
HON 394: Success, Purpose, and Happiness36015Spring 2025TempeKappes
HON 394: Food & Culture: The Mediterranean Lifestyle in Italy16816Spring 2025TempeTabusso-Marcyan
HON 394: Myth and Mysteries of the Tarot21262Spring 2025TempeGiner
HON 394: Myth and Movies: American Multicultural Film21287Spring 2025TempeGiner
HON 394: Natural Disasters: Environmental & Cultural Resilience26815Spring 2025 (B)OnlineDel Martello
HON 394: Natural Disasters: Environmental & Cultural Resilience26816Spring 2025 (B)iCourseDel Martello
HON 394: Hermeneutics, Shakespeare, Today30022Spring 2025West ValleyRamsey
HON 394: Food System Technology Innovations30512Spring 2025PolyManfredo
HON 394: The History of (Radical) Zines36437Spring 2025TempeDombrowski
HON 394: The History of (Radical) Zines36438Spring 2025ASU OnlineDombrowski
EXW 450: Social Determinants of Health and Health Behavior12484Spring 2025ASU OnlineHogan
EXW 450: Social Determinants of Health and Health Behavior16347Spring 2025iCourseHogan
HON 494: Science Tech and Public Affairs11509Spring 2025TempeAnderson, Crow
HON 494: City of Water/Uncover Milan's Aquatic Geographies26374Spring 2025TempeFerrando
HON 494: Introduction to American Law26623Spring 2025TempeAnderson
HON 494: Food, Environment, Justice: Research In-Context35948Spring 2025ASU OnlineTabusso-Marcyan
HON 494: Hate Speech, Manifestos, and Radical Writings36308Spring 2025West ValleyFahs
HON 494: Social Science Research36319Spring 2025TempeLarson
HON 494: Introduction to Contracts36322Spring 2025TempeAnderson
HON 494: Posthumanism and the Ends of Man37006Spring 2025TempeLozinski-Veach

 

This list is not exhaustive! If you like the work you did in any class, ask the instructor what it would take to expand that work into an honors thesis. Perhaps an honors contract can turn into a more sustained thesis project with the instructor’s approval. You could also do a thesis pathway.

Additional opportunities

Other unique thesis topic exploration opportunities

Attend a thesis defense

Honors thesis defenses are open to the ASU community. Attending a defense is an excellent opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of fellow Barrett students and to observe the process firsthand. Visit the Barrett Defense Calendar to view upcoming defenses.  

Visit the Celebrating Honors Thesis Symposium

The Celebrating Honors Thesis Symposium is a Barrett signature event that highlights the many exceptional presentations designed by students to exhibit their honors theses. The displays include posters, video projects, built objects, art work, and presentations.