Senior Thesis
Writing a thesis is a unique, one-on-one learning experience with a faculty member that often becomes the highlight of students’ undergraduate studies. This extensive research project opens doors to diverse career paths, including law school, Ph.D. programs, and private sector roles like analytics and investment banking. Beyond academia, the thesis is a tangible achievement, enhancing job and graduate school interviews by showcasing deep research and analytical skills.
Thesis requirements
Economics majors and international economics majors writing a senior thesis must take two three-credit classes during their senior year. The thesis process involves one-on-one mentorship with a faculty advisor. Specifc course requirements and their impact on major electives depend on the student's major, concentration and honors track status.
Please see the section entitled "What are the elective requirements for economics majors who write a non-honors senior thesis" on FAQ page for detailed information about how writing a senior thesis affects elective requirements for each major and concentration.
Senior thesis awards
Each year, the department honors the best senior thesis of either major with the John Harold Sheehan Award and the best international economics thesis with the BonAnno Award.
Recent awards
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2026 Sheehan Award Winner: Molly Griffith, "Despair & Displacement: The Effects of Mass Layoffs on Drug, Alcohol, and Suicide Mortality," advised by William Evans
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2026 Sheehan Award Second Prize: Andrew Brooks, "Can ChatGPT Improve Natural Gas Price Forecasting?," advised by Christiane Baumeister
- 2026 Sheehan Award Honorable Mentions:
- Mason Gallo, "Monetary Policy Uncertainty and Macroeconomic Dynamics," advised by Jeffrey Campbell
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Finn Meffe, "Fragmentation and Firm Choice: The Effects of Municipal Decentralization on Firm-Level Agglomeration Economies," advised by Jeffrey Biddle
- 2026 BonAnno Award Winner: Sonia Zhang, "The Effect of Foreign Aid Project Presence on Local Labor Market Outcomes: Empirical Evidence from Nigeria, " advised by Taryn Dinkelman
Recent senior thesis participants
Learn more about recent senior theses below.