The Senior Thesis is the culminating work of students majoring in Religion, Philosophy, or Theology. It will normally be done in the final year of study. The work can be done in one semester (411) for one full credit, or extended over two (410, 412) for 1/2 credit each semester.
The purpose of the thesis is to utilize the perspective, understanding, research skills, and writing abilities students have developed in their studies to investigate a substantial topic. The goal is for students to produce a paper of high quality and distinction.
Examples:
SENIOR THESES FOR 2013
Steve Chovanec (Philosophy)
DeLanda and Spinoza, Or, How I Learned to Stop Fearing and Love Materialism
Dr. Adkins
Katy Cline (Christian Studies)
A Hermeneutical Exploration into Biblical Equality
Dr. Peterson
Ethan Guebert (Religious Studies)
The Potlatch Ceremony of the Northwest and Its Changes in Legal Status
Dr. Larson-Harris
Edward Hrinya (Philosophy)
The Death of Determinism? (And Why That Would Be Okay)
Dr. Zorn
Ryan Hughes (Christian Studies)
What is Distinctively Lutheran? An Analysis of Piepkorn's Ecumenical Theology
Dr. McDermott
Adam Jump (Philosophy)
Determinism and Free Will: An Examination of Modern and Contemporary Perspectives
Dr. Adkins
Brian McKee (Philosophy)
Beyond the Individual: Hegel, Marx, and Private Property
Dr. Adkins
Robert Miller (Religious Studies)
House Churches in the Middle Kingdom: A Look at Protestants in China
Dr. Larson-Harris
Ben Morgan (Philosophy)
Stoicism, Ethics, and Emotion
Dr. Zorn
Tim Smith (Religious Studies)
Filioque as Key to East-West Division and its Reconciliation
Dr. Hinlicky
Jonathan Thumas (Religious Studies)
Nature in the Shugendo Amalgam: An Example of Contemporary Japanese Folk Religion
Dr. Larson-Harris
Scott Tringali (Philosophy)
Alan Moore's Transformation in Politics with Ethics: Watchmen
Dr. Adkins