Coordinator: Kyle Jay, NS W036, x70293, [email protected]
Administrator:Lauran Soto, NS E181, X18489, [email protected]

Registration

• 1-Semester Fall Thesis (“1f”): Registered for 191L in Fall 2026
• 2-Semester Fall Thesis (“2f”): Registered for 188L in Spring 2026 then 190L in Fall 2026
• 2-Semester Spring Thesis (“2s”): Registered for 188L in Fall 2026 then 190L in Spring 2027
• 2-Semester Summer Research Thesis: Completing the “First Semester” during Summer 2026, then completing the “Second Semester” during the 2026-2027 Academic Year:

  – “2fR”: Second Semester in Fall 2026: Registered for both 189L and 190L in Fall 2026

  – “2sR”: Second Semester in Spring 2026: Registered for 189L Fall 2026, then 190L Spring 2027

Grading

Participation

Six Seminar Summaries:
For each semester you are enrolled in Thesis, you are required to attend at least six (6) seminars in science and complete a one-page write-up for each seminar that you attend. There are many science seminars offered across the Claremont Colleges, including a variety of seminar programs in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, physics, etc. You are encouraged to attend a variety of seminars, and not just seminars in your discipline.

Your Six Seminar Summaries are due to your First Reader (or DNS reader if your first reader is off-campus) by the deadline on the thesis calendar each term.

Seminar Notes for Two-Semester Students:

Students completing a Two-Semester Thesis (2s and 2f) must complete six seminar summaries during each semester they are enrolled in thesis courses.
Students completing the second semester of a Two-semester Summer Research Thesis (2fR and 2sR) are required to submit six seminar summaries while enrolled in 190L.

191 Students:
All 1-Semester DNS Thesis Students (191 Enrollment) are expected to attend the weekly 191 course section as part of their course work.

Progress/Effort:

For 188L (2s) students:
There will be a brief oral presentation early in the first semester. See Thesis Calendar for Deadlines.

For 190L (2f, 2fR) and 191L (1f) students:
There will be a mandatory poster session at the end of the semester. Your presentation will be evaluated by a panel of faculty. See Thesis Calendar for Deadlines. See Thesis Calendar for Deadlines.

For 188L (2s) students:
A substantial progress report is due to your first and second readers late in the first semester of your thesis. This should consist of at least seven pages of literature survey and proposal as well as three pages of materials, methods and a description of progress to date. It should also include a bibliography. This is a minimum, as your first reader may want additional pages or materials.

Meetings with Thesis Readers:

Your readers are responsible for submitting your grade, so it is your responsibility to meet regularly with them and keep them informed about your progress.

Thesis Program Communications:

It is your responsibility to regularly meet and talk with your readers/research advisor to review your progress and stay on track.
DNS Thesis Program communication is sent via the DNS thesis database, so it is critical that you enter your thesis details and contact information via the DNS Thesis Form: https://forms.gle/6Bxc1JGN1kuTmsce7

Satisfactory Work and an Admonition

Thesis is usually one-fourth of your academic load, and you should expect to devote 10-15 hours per week to the effort. Successful field or laboratory work often requires a significant amount of continuous effort – schedule your work week accordingly.

Students doing two-semester theses will be graded on their first semester work. A thesis project may be terminated and/or converted to a one semester thesis if, in the judgment of the thesis readers, an inadequate effort has been made, and successful completion is unlikely.

Animals:

All theses involving experimental work with animals (including fieldwork) require formal approval from the DNS Animal Care and Use Committee, which in turn is bound by complex legal regulations. The faculty member you are working with (Your First Reader) will be the one to submit the application form for animal use. Applications are due to Professor Jenna Monroy no later than September 12th.

There are no exceptions – miss the deadline and you cannot use animals in your research..

Experimentation Involving Humans:

Experimentation involving humans requires the approval of the appropriate “Institutional Review Board” as each college has its own. See your First Reader as soon as possible.

Pitzer College Institutional Review Board
Scripps College Institutional Review Board
Claremont McKenna College Institutional Review Board

Penalties for Late Theses:

1. One grade point reduction (i.e., A to A-) for theses turned in up to 24 hours late.
2. Two grade point reductions (i.e., A to B+) for theses turned in from 24 to 72 hours late.
3. Three grade points (i.e., from A to B) for theses turned in from 3 days to one week (5 days) late.
4. Additional full letter grade (three grade points) for each subsequent week (5 days) of lateness (or part thereof).