Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies

Thesis Schedule

Action	Deadline
Find and meet with prospective advisor. FOR HONORS ESSAY: 1. You will need a main advisor from the WGS Core Faculty. 2. You will need a second reader from the WGS Core or Affiliated Faculty. FOR HONORS THESIS: 1. You will need a main advisor from the WGS Core Faculty. 2. You will need a second reader from the WGS Core or Affiliated Faculty and a third reader who may be any member of the Brandeis faculty.	Recommended by end of sophomore year, no later than junior year. Second and Third (if required) Reader: First semester of Senior Year.
Register for WGS 99a	Spring pre-registration period of junior year.
Preliminary research, topic selection, discuss ideas with advisor.	Second Semester of junior year.
Discuss your topic with one or more potential faculty advisors until you have a definite and explicit commitment from a faculty member who agrees to advise you.	Second Semester of Junior year and by no later than three weeks into Fall Semester of your Senior year.
Submit proposal for financial research support through the Dean’s Office (Optional; contingent on topic.)	October 15
Register for WGS 99b	Fall preregistration period of senior year.
Honors Proposal due to Advisor and Readers (1-2 depending on essay or thesis). The final draft of your essay or thesis should be: Essay: 30-50 pages, Thesis: 60-90 pages. The length should be considered when drafting and finalizing your honors proposal.	November 15
Complete Research	Preferably later than the start of spring classes in January.
First draft of thesis to primary advisor	April 1
Set defense/deadline date	Defense/deadline date should be set prior final exams. If this is not possible, it should be completed as close to the end of final exams as possible but no later than the Monday before Commencement.