Senior Thesis Deadlines
ESSAY TUTORIAL DEADLINES
PROGRAM OF LIBERAL STUDIES
2025-26
Most of the following deadlines are advisory. Students should consult their individual thesis advisors for expectations regarding the amount of writing to be completed and when it should be turned in on the way to the final draft. The only firm deadlines that hold for the entire department are the midterm deficiency and drop deadlines and the dates for the complete draft in the fall and the final draft in the spring. Students who are registered for a PLS thesis tutorial that is being taught by a non-PLS faculty person are responsible for sharing these deadlines with that faculty person. Students who are writing their thesis in another department and are, therefore, not registered for a PLS thesis tutorial should follow the guidelines for the thesis process in that department. All students should make sure that PLS receives a copy of their thesis by graduation, regardless of the department in which it was written, so that it can be included in the PLS senior thesis archive.
Monday, August 25 First day of classes.
Friday, September 19 Detailed outline of project, with a bibliography.
Friday, October 17 5 pp. of the essay due.
October 18-26 Fall break
Monday, October 20 Advisors will submit deficient midterm grades for any advisee who is at risk of failing the fall thesis tutorial.[Due at 3:45 pm]
Friday, October 31 Last Day to Drop a Class. In the week prior to this date, all advisors will notify their advisees of their standing in the thesis tutorial and discuss expectations for completion of the fall tutorial.
Friday, November 7 15 pp. of the essay due, either completing one part of the eventual essay or covering the entire argument and topic in a form to be later expanded in consultation with the advisor.
Friday, November 21 25 pp. due, fleshing out the main argument and structure.
Wednesday, December 10 Draft due—per the "writing intensive" requirements, a complete draft will consist of a minimum of 20 pages, a portion of which has been revised in response to feedback from the advisor. By agreement of the department, there will be penalties for missing this deadline. If you miss the deadline, you can receive no higher than a “B” for the non-essay portion of your grade.
December 12, 15-18 Final Exams
Monday, December 15 If the full draft is not in, you can receive no higher than a “D” for the final course grade.
Monday, March 9 Deficient midterm grades will be reported for any students who have not submitted their theses by this date.
Monday, March 2, 4:00 pm Three copies of the final essay due in PLS office. The final version for binding and two copies will not be accepted without the director’s signature. One copy, with markings of the second reader, will be returned along with a letter from the second reader. Senior theses are generally between 9,000 and 15,000 words (the equivalent of 35-60 double-spaced pages of 12-point font), with 40-45 pp. of double spaced text being the norm. Thesis that are longer than 15,000 words will not be eligible for the Otto Bird Award.
Essays submitted after the deadline but by Friday, March 6 can receive no higher grade than a “B.” Essays submitted by Friday, March 20, can receive no higher grade than a “C.” Essays submitted after Friday, March 27, can receive no higher grade than a “D.”
March 9-13 Spring Break
Friday, March 20 Last Day to Drop a Course. Any student who has not turned in their thesis by this date will be advised to drop the thesis tutorial.
**Please direct all questions about deadlines and procedures to this year's Senior Thesis Coordinator, Professor Emma Planinc: eplaninc@nd.edu **