An Honors thesis is the capstone project for all students who plan to graduate from the Honors Program at USD. The thesis can take many forms – from a scientific experiment or literary analysis to an original novel, play, or music composition – and allows students to explore a topic they are passionate about. Honors students have a thesis advisor, a faculty member that works closely with them throughout their thesis process, and a thesis committee made up of a small number of faculty members and other stakeholders who do work related to the thesis topic. This support network helps guide students through their thesis process to a successful defense and completion of the project.
Honors Theses from 2022
A Document Analysis of Political Rhetoric in 2021-22 South Dakota Higher Education, Carson M. Sehr
Testing for Transferred Immunity of a Universal Influenza Vaccine in Pigs, Rachel Marie Sestak
Testing for Transferred Immunity of a Universal Influenza Vaccine in Pigs, Rachel Marie Sestak
BUY-ONLINE-PICKUP-IN-STORE (BOPIS) BUSINESS STRATEGY: A MULTIVARITE STUDY OF BOPIS INFLUENCING FACTORS ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, Addison G. Smith
Reno-protective and Immune Effects of Growth Differentiation Factor 15 in Obesity-related Kidney Disease, Jessie T. Sullivan
Perception of the COVID-19 Vaccine Compared to Previous Historic Vaccine Programs Amongst the Influence of Modern Society, Kianna Thelen
Representation of Women & BBIA Composers in the Teaching Music through Performance in Band Series, Alicia M. Turnquist
Paleopathological Analyses of Maya Skeletal Samples to Reconstruct Childhood Health and Frailty, Kira J. Wilde
The Well-being Outcomes of Sexual Assault Survivors After Sexual Assault Kit Examinations, Brianna N. Zimmer
Honors Theses from 2021
The Emergence of Neurology During the American Civil War: The Delafield Commission's Impact on Military Medicine, Michaela Ahrenholtz
DECREASED ACTIVITY OF PHOSPHOFRUCTOKINASE-1 IN FLIGHT MUSCLE CELLS OF HAWK MOTH MANDUCA SEXTA WITH AGE, Owen G. Alvine
Breaking the Cognitive Spell: Cognitive Fusion Mediates the Relation of Cognitive Anxiety Sensitivity and Rumination in Undergraduate College Students, Jacey L. Anderberg
Let's Talk About (Cred)it, Taylor J. Anderson
Catabolism of BCAAs and Application, Skylar Arellano-Myers
In Loving Memory: Beginning the Conversation on Grief and Loss, Sydney Anne Bitz
Empathy Training to Combat Provider Burnout in Geriatric Healthcare, Heather N. Block
Accounting Implications Derived from Consumer Big Data, Benjamin E. Boehrns
PVN ACTIVITY IN CARDIAC SYMPATHETIC AFFERENT REFLEX (CSAR) CONTROL AND CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION, Shane H. Boomer
A Criminological Analysis of Notorious Serial Killers in the United States, Hannah E. Booth
Rhythm of the Night: Brain Activity and Performance on a Sustained Attention Task is Modulated by Circadian Typology and Time of Day, Carly R. Cooper
Overgrown: A Collection of Supernatural Narratives, Emily Dawn Cote
MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS OF HUMAN CELL PROTEINS WITH SARS-COV-2 VERSUS INFLUENZA VIRUSES, Linze Cowman
An Analysis of Dyslexia Legisation and Implementation Guidelines in Midwestern States, Josephine A. Denning
Indigenous Peoples' Trust in Police: Multi-Jurisdictional Issues and the Effect on Reporting, Anna R. Doering
Students Perceptions of Alcohol Use on University Campuses, Phil J. Dohn
Disparities in Access to Assisted Reproductive Technology Among Hispanic Women in the United States, Madison Gallagher
Selenium Burdens in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta), Holly A. Gerberding
An Annual Training Plan for Collegiate Dance, Ashley R. German
Influence of Social Rejection and Borderline Personality Features on Emotion Perception, Ashmita Ghosh
Nitro Group Reduction for Use in Organic, Cathodic Materials, Brock G. Goeden
EFFECTS OF A SLOW-DEEP BREATHING PROTOCOL ON LOWERING BLOOD PRESSURE: A RAPID REVIEW, Amanda Gravholt
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS OF URANYL-PEROXIDE SPECIES, Ethan T. Hare
COMPARISON OF DYNAMIC AND STATIC STRETCHING PROTOCOLS ON HOPPING PERFORMANCE IN FEMALE COLLEGIATE SOCCER PLAYERS, Emma Harkleroad
Incidence of Blackleg in Beef Cattle and Implications of Regional Differences, Callie L. Henrich
SUGAR GLIDER (PETAURUS BREVICEPS) BEHAVIOR IN RED VS BLUE LIGHTING, Elisa Hillman
Improved Psychological Services for American Indian Communities, Grace Anna Hofer
CHIMERIC IDEALs, Carter Hoffer
Operation Overload: Career Planning Education in South Dakota, Amber R. Hulse
Optimizing the Delivery of a GFP Gene via a Biocompatible Nanocarrier in Daphnia and a Chironomid, Alexandra R. Job
Candidates for l’Ecriture Feminine: Analyses of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Woolf’s Night and Day, and Morrison’s Sula, Brooklyn J. Jongeling
Detection of Neonicotinoids in Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Brains, Peyton G. Keller
Evaluation of Course Modality and Student Performance in a College Anatomy and Physiology Course, Madeline M. Kjera
EXPERIENCING TRAUMA AND BURNOUT: THE COPING MECHANISMS OF POLICE OFFICERS, Kathryn M. Larson
EXPLORING PROVIDER PERSPECTIVES TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BEST INFORM PATIENTS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, Isabelle M. Lehman
Manduca sexta as an Animal Model of Muscle Aging, David Melanson
Tax Reform Throughout U.S. History and The Economic Impact, Jacob Christopher Michel
Determining Master Regulatory Genes of Muscle Senescence in the Hawk Moth, Manduca sexta, Leah J. Naasz
Barriers to Relational Continuity of Care for Undergraduate College Students in Southeastern South Dakota, Laura E. Nelson
MECHANISMS OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS ON CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH, Madeleine A. Nelson
Developing Program Infrastructure for Relationship-Building Between Native Communities and Premedical Students in South Dakota, Andrew J. Nerland
Effectiveness of Pathogen-Specific Passive Antibodies to Mitigate Infectious Diseases in Apis Mellifera, Tanner Nordseth
Majority-Party Status and Gender: Understanding Productivity in the U.S. House of Representatives, Carissa M. Occhipinto
Toxic Effect of Crotalus adamanteus Acidic Phospholipase A2 on MCF-7 Cell Line, Daniel J. Petra
Nietzsche, Foucault, Power: A Study of Paradox and Ontology in Nietzsche, Nicholas R. Ray
IMPACTFUL INTERACTIONS WITH MEDICAL INTERPRETATION, Alyssa L. Reinschmidt
Stage of Estrous Cycle Influences Behavior After Social Stress, Alexander Jonah Rodriguez
Standardized Tests: Effects on Science Education and Diversity in Science, Rachel A. Rucker
Suzuki Coupling Catalyzed by (8-(dimesitylboryl)quinoline)palladium(0) Species: A Theoretical Analysis, Haley S. Rust
The Art of Breaking Up: Ending Romantic Relationships, Emma Salzwedel
Edge of a Dream, Lauren Schild
From Sisterhood to the Senate: The Sorority Experience and Preparing Women for Political Leadership, Kelli L. Susemihl
Future Healthcare Professionals’ Attitudes About the Sexuality of Women with Intellectual Disabilities, Noel N. Tolvanen
Honors Theses from 2020
Consequences of In Utero Exposure to Alcohol with a Focus on Behavioral Outcomes, Brittany N. Bamberg
Utilization of Mobile Technology Applications to Promote Early Literacy in Children with Complex Communication Needs, Hanna Nicole Browder
How Does Arch Height Factor Into Running-Related Injuries?, Taylor M. Brown
"A place for us", Dillon M. Bryant
Enhancing Upconversion nanoparticle performance of NaYF4: Yb,Tm with doping optimization and shell addition and of NaYF4: Yb,Er with Yb,Nd shell addition, Ashleigh M. Chov
Food In Prison: An Eighth Amendment Violation or Permissible Punishment?, Natasha M. Clark
The Victimization of Native American Women in the United States: The Impact and Potential Underlying Factors, Kaci A. Clement
Dead Zones: An Analysis of South Dakota’s Rural EMS System, Jenna A. Corrin
Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering of Gold Nanostars for Encoding Molecular Information, Samantha E. Curry
The Kinetics Of Influenza A (A/CALIFORNIA/4/2009-H1N1) And B (B/PHUKET/3073/2013 (BYAM), B/BRISBANE/60/2008 (BVIC)) Virus Infection In Ferrets, Demi L. Erickson
Albert Camus's Absurd in 20th Century American Fiction, Alec V. Faiman
Evolution of United States Navy Amphibious Landing Doctrine During World War II, Jaedon A. Foreman
Service-Learning and Its Association with Self-Efficacy, Cultural Humility, and Social Justice, Josie M. Galles
Groups of Divisibility, Seth J. Gerberding
Plato's Ban: Why the Poets are Exiled, Seth J. Gerberding
Identifying Determinants of Target Specificity in Two Related Bacterial Peptide Toxins, Andrew D. Holmes
Assisting Children with Velocardiofacial Syndrome Who Have Developmental Disabilities and Delays Associated with Speech, Communication, and Education, McKenzie K. Holty
Current and Future Applications of 3D Printing Using Custom-Made Materials, Bridger T. Irons
Health Care and Plains Native Americans: Striving Towards a Culturally Competent Medical School Curriculum, Benjamin M. Jacobs
Testing Kalanchoe laxiflora U6 Promoters for Optimal sgRNA Expression in Tobacco, Marlee E. Jones
History of the South Dakota Human Services Center 1879-2019: Trials, Trends, and Tragedies to Transformation, Kate L. Katterhagen
The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Gender Wage Inequality of South Korea's Labor Market, Shinyoung Kim
Determining the Kinetic Isotope Effect of Ruthenium Compound Ru(bpy)₂(bpyNO)(PF₆)₂ Using Artificial Photosynthesis, Alexandra I. Kirkvold
Mechanistic Study of Cooperative Ligand-Centered Reactivity in Triaminoborane-Bridged Diphosphine Complexes, Clara Kirkvold
Betting the Farm: An Application of Modern Portfolio Theory to South Dakota Agriculture, Lucas M. Ladenburger
OPTIMIZATION OF METHODS FOR CROSS-SPECIES INFECTION OF CELL CULTURES WITH WOLBACHIA, Sarah J. Lane
Effect of the Establishment of a 2-week Brief Mindfulness Practice on Positive Nutritional Choices and Perceived Stress in College Undergraduates, Emily M. Larson
The History of Sex Education in the United States: With Application to South Dakota, Lauren A. Lavin
Running on Fumes: The Long and Short-Run Effects of British Columbia's Carbon Tax on Gasoline Consumption, Martin A. Long
CIVIC EDUCATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA K-12 SCHOOLS: THE EFFECT ON STUDENTS FROM K-12 TO ADULTHOOD, Katrina Marie Callahan
Bilingualism/Multilingualism to Protect Against Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Forms of Dementia: A Systematic Review, Kirsten L. May
Reacting to the Past: A High Impact Practice as a Tool for Retaining Honors Students, Hannah B. McClelland
Guiding Principle 28: The Unfulfilled Promise to End Protracted Displacement in Azerbaijan, Kaleigh Rose McLaughlin
Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Literature Review and Comprehensive Treatment Analysis, Charlton Mechling
Social Aggression and Stress-Related Phenotype Formation in the Stress Alternatives Model, Tayler L. Modlin
Time for a Change? Brain Activity and Behavioral Performance Reveal Different Dynamics at Short, Intermediate, and Long Delay Intervals During a Delay Discounting Task, Conrad A. Mohr-Eymer
Biological and Social Links Between Eating Behavior and Stress Among College Students, Kailyn M. Mutsch
The Art of Saying Goodbye, Emily L. Origer