More Complicated Than Necessary

Most upper-division coursework is time-consuming. It' s not all hard, challenging, difficult, etc. But it's time consuming. Working on a thesis is an added time-eater. But working on two theses is even worse.

It's been a joy to do a thesis in the UA German studies department. It's very relaxed, deadlines are flexible, and I have a lot of freedom in the topic I can use and type of research I can do. Even though it's a lot of work, it doesn't feel stressful.

The Honors College was pretty mellow about theses. When I spoke to an adviser there, she said I could write a poem for my senior thesis as long as it was relevant, and that would be fantastic. She did say some departments have their own requirements you have to adhere to, though.

The journalism department is one of those with it's own requirements. And let me tell you, it sucks.

It makes the most sense to me that, on a two-semester project, you spend one semester doing research and one writing, editing and turning in the thesis. Not so in the UA journalism department.

Instead, you spend one semester writing a proposal. A proposal about the thesis you're going to do. You can't do research until you've finished the proposal, which takes the whole semester.

Then, you're expected to start your research over winter break. You know, during the time you spend with family and friends you haven't really spent time with since the summer. Time you should be spending unwinding, especially after a semester of 22 credits. But no, the journalism department doesn't allow rest.

So coming into the spring semester, I hadn't done much research for the journalism thesis. Honestly, it just wasn't feasible during my busy (and partially sickly) winter break. And I don't think it should have been required.

I met with my adviser this week, three weeks into the semester. I basically got in trouble because my research isn't done yet. She asked how much my grade and the thesis really meant to me, and suggested I take another semester to do it. Why? Because she doesn't think I have the time to produce anything remotely good.

Gee, it's not my fault I have less than one semester to do a shit-ton of research AND write a 50-page thesis.

I mean, who comes up with these rules? Why do you have to write a stupid proposal for something when you're supposed to be working on that something? Today, I feel writing a proposal was a complete and utter waste of my time when I could have been doing research that was meaningful to my work.

If the department wants students to write a proposal so badly, they should make it a pre-requirement for the thesis--something you do the spring of your junior year. That would make so much more sense and would be a far better use of time. That way you really know you want to work on your project before you get started, and you have plenty of time to do the necessary research. But I don't make the rules.

So for all those honors students out there considering a thesis in journalism, write it for your minor or your other major, but NOT for journalism!