SENIOR THESIS

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.

Guidelines for Senior Theses

Examples:

SENIOR THESES FOR 2008

Joseph Grasso (Philosophy)
Chapters in the Mind-Body Problem: A Deweyian Perspective
Dr. Hinlicky

Laurie Hayes (Religion)
The Garden of Eden in Early Jewish and Christian Exegesis
Dr. Berenson

Barret Lang (Religion)
Christianity and Mithraism
Dr. Berenson

Haley Poynter (Theology)
The Power of Love: Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Beloved Community
Dr. Hinlicky

William Stanley (Theology)
The Christian Doctrine of Marriage: A Contemporary Interpretation
Dr. Hinlicky

Trent Thompson (Theology)
How Do the Sufferings of Christ Speak to Our Suffering Today?
Dr. McDermott

Sandy Troyan (Theology)
Transformation of Youth Ministry to Youth and Family Ministry
Rev. Gunsten

SENIOR THESES FOR 2007

Lindsay Ballowe (Religion)
The Lutheran Church's Culpability in the Holocaust
Dr. Hinlicky

Steven Cody (Philosophy)
Nietzsche's Philosophy and the Concept of Aesthetic Phenomenon
Dr. Adkins

Cynthia Hamblen (Theology)
Women in Early Judaism
Dr. Maclean

Bethany Hundley (Philosophy)
Plato's Republic: An Examination of Ancient Beliefs and Current Thought
Dr. Zorn

Matthew Malara (Philosophy)
Deleuze and Guattari's A Thousand Plateaus and Chuck Palahniuk's Choke: A Reading
Dr. Adkins

David MacArthur (Philosophy)
A Reading of Spinoza's Ethics
Dr. Adkins

Daniel Mullen (Philosophy)
Nietzsche and the Eternal Return
Dr. Adkins

Alicia Pryor (Religion)
A Contemporary Comparison of Islam and Christianity on the Topic of Other World Religions
Dr. McDermott

Matthew Ridout (Religion)
The Gospel of John: Orthodox Understandings and Gnostic Influence
Dr. Maclean

Adam Rosset (Theology)
A Theology of Martyrdom
Dr. Hinlicky

Rachel Zimmerman (Religion)
The Origins of Satan
Dr. McDermott