Senior Seminar - Intro
message from a former Env.
Sci. BC major
I guess, I just wanted to see what you are up to, and also to thank
you because as I look back to Barnard, one of the memories
that come up in my mind most often is all the classes that I took
for the Environmental Science major, and even writing my
thesis...(which I must admit, back then, I could not understand
the purpose of writing one, but now as I look back... I realize that
a lot of the projects that I am working on now resemble small
theses... the research, the timing, the developing of the ideas...
the editing and the collection of all thoughts into one small
project...)." January, 1999.
This student graduated in 1997 and is now working as a Sr.
Statistical Analyst for an Investors Service.
Elements of Senior Research
Projects in Environmental
Sciences/Biology/Policy:
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An environmental issue is identified.
Other people's work on the topic is collected and
evaluated.
Data necessary to solving the problem are either collected
by the student, or obtained from other sources.
Data are analyzed using techniques appropriate to the
data set.
Results of the analysis are interpreted in light of the initial
environmental issue and communicated to others.
Three groups of students
 2nd
semester senior seminar, research
mostly completed, focus on writing the
thesis
 1st semester students
 Thesis
proposal extending research
performed over the summer
 Thesis proposal based on ideas developed
at the beginning of this semester
Goals of Senior Seminar
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1st semester senior
seminar
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identify project/mentor
formulate hypothesis
understand background
develop/refine
appropriate methods
begin/complete data
collection & analysis
summarize state of
project as thesis proposal
progress as far as
possible with the
elements listed
 both
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2nd semester senior
seminar
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complete data collection
and data analysis
write results, discussion
and conclusion sections
complete senior thesis
information & data collection, data analysis
communication (oral, written) skills
independence/professionalism
Structure of a thesis (proposal)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Title page
Abstract
Table of contents
Introduction
Thesis statement
Approach/methods
(Preliminary) Results
Discussion
(Work plan including time table)
Implications of research
List of references
Appendix
Website tour
http://cool.barnard.edu/envsci/
Purpose of writing a thesis
proposal

is to demonstrate that the thesis topic addresses
a significant environmental problem;
 an organized plan is in place for data collection
and analysis to help solve the problem;
 is to ensure (as much as possible) that the
project can be concluded on time.
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To be able to write good proposals is a very
useful skill in general!