Honours Thesis designation

The Honours Thesis designation may be a good choice for you if you:

• are considering graduate studies in business
• have an interest in research
• are looking for a scholastic challenge
• want to explore a specific topic in depth and develop your own ideas
• want to "stand out from the crowd" academically

You are eligible to receive the Honours Thesis designation on your official transcript and degree parchment if you maintain the minimum academic standards, and successfully complete the enrichment experience, two honours components, and the thesis as outlined below.  For more detailed information, please refer to the current academic calendar.

A. Enrichment experience

One of the following enrichment activities should be completed as early as possible in your studies:

• MGT 3002 - Co-op Work Experience I
• MGT 3093 & MGT 3094 - Integrated Management Experience
• A full-semester International Exchange
• Any TWO of the following:
  • MGT 3980 - Applied Studies
  • MGT 3990 - Independent Study
  • MGT 4640 - Hungary Work Study OR Malaysia Work Study
  • MGT 4980 - Applied Studies
  • MGT 4990 - Independent Study

B. Honours components I and II

Each honours component, Management 4895 - Honours Component I (0.0 credits; Pass/Fail; $0 tuition) and Management 4896 - Honours Component II, (0.0 credits; Pass/Fail; $0 tuition), involves at least 20 hours of extra academic or research work in two Dhillon School of Business honours-approved courses under the supervision of a faculty member. These courses must be non-core and non-introductory 3000/4000 level courses offered by the Dhillon School of Business. One honours-approved course must be in your major. The other can be any honours-approved Dhillon School of Business course.  Each prospective candidate for the honours-component course is responsible for obtaining support from a faculty supervisor.

C. Undergraduate thesis

Management 4995 - Undergraduate Thesis (6.0 credits) is a course where you will explore an area of interest and do supervised research linked to your declared major under the supervision of a faculty member.  Each prospective candidate for the Undergraduate Thesis course is responsible for obtaining support from a faculty supervisor. 

The prospective student must present a thesis proposal to be approved by the supervisor and the Dhillon School of Business Honours Committee prior to registration in the course.  Although it may be possible to complete the undergraduate thesis in one semester, it is recommended that it be extended over two semesters.

There are two criteria that are the basis for the final assessment for your thesis:

1. Written Component - the undergraduate thesis must be a sustained piece of approved research demonstrating a superior level of academic ability on the specified topic. 

2. Oral Component - a formal oral presentation is required demonstrating the ability to articulate clearly the nature of the thesis undertaken, the research methodology, and the results of the thesis.  This component is a demonstration of the student’s competence in oral communication and not necessarily an oral defence of the thesis, unless so designated by the School.

Your faculty supervisor will establish at the outset the weighting of the written and oral components of the thesis, as well as the procedure for determining the final grade.  A minimum grade of ‘B’ is required on the thesis.  The grade includes satisfactory completion of the required oral component. 

In order to receive the 'Honours Thesis' designation, students must maintain a term GPA of at least 3.30.  Students will be given one semester "grace" if the term GPA falls below 3.30, to accomodate extenuating circumstances.

Carefully read through the Honours Thesis designation section of the academic calendar and this page.

1. Honours information meeting

• Ensure your calendar year is 14/15 or later.  Meet with an advisor to  review your eligibilty, plan honours requirements, and obtain the Honours Thesis forms referred to in italics below.

2. Enrichment activity

• Complete the enrichment activity as early as possible in your studies.

3. Honours Component I (MGT 4895) registration

• Ensure you have completed 60 or more credit hours.
• Find a faculty supervisor to oversee your research in an honours-approved course.
• Complete the Honours Component I Registration Form and bring your completed form to meet with an advisor well before the add/drop deadline.

4. Honours Component II (MGT 4896) registration

• Find a faculty supervisor to oversee your research in an honours-approved course.
• Complete the Honours Component II Registration Form and bring your completed form to meet with an advisor well before the add/drop deadline.

5. Undergraduate Thesis (MGT 4995) proposal approval and registration

• Ensure your GPA is 3.30 or higher on the last 10 uLethbridge courses, and you have completed 90 or more credit hours.
• Find a faculty supervisor to oversee your research in the Undergraduate Thesis course.
• Obtain signatures from your enrichment experience and honours components supervisors on the Honours Thesis Registration form.
• In conjunction with the faculty supervisor, prepare a thesis proposal to be approved by the Dhillon School of Business Honours Committee.
• Bring the following documents to meet with an advisor before Oct. 31 (spring enrollment), Feb. 28 (summer enrollment), or June 15 (fall enrollment):
  • your resume
  • your thesis proposal
  • the completed Honours Thesis Registration Form
  • the completed Approval and Registration for Undergraduate Thesis Course form

Approval will be based on academic transcripts, any record of academic and non-academic misconduct, background experiences (volunteer, extra-curricular, work), approval of Honours requirement supervisors, and the thesis proposal. You will be notified by email on the results of your submission. The Dhillon School of Business Honours Committee decision is final and cannot be appealed.

6. Successful completion of the Thesis

Refer to C. Undergraduate Thesis  in the Requirements section above.