Economics courses taken at other colleges' abroad programs cannot be used to fulfill major requirements in economics, although the credits earned from any accredited program can be transferred to Hollins as general elective credit. Students who have made good progress in their major before going abroad will have no difficulty finishing their major when they return. However, students who have only completed one or two courses in their major should not elect to go abroad for more than one semester. Students researching and writing a senior thesis will work independently under two faculty members, one of whom serves as the student's first, or primary, reader, the other as the second reader. Thesis students are expected to meet weekly with their first reader, less frequently with their second reader.
Honors theses represent two semesters' work.
Regular senior theses are completed in one semester. Although faculty members will be happy to help thesis students arrive at a topic, the primary responsibility is theirs. The faculty will not approve a topic unless the student has had the appropriate background courses. Senior thesis students are required to present their theses orally to the members of the economics department and to the other seniors in the department. Appendices, tables, and graphs are not counted in this limitation.