Rising numbers
The number of Boston College economics majors completing honors theses has nearly doubled in the last two years, following the redesign of the Economics Department’s Senior Honors Thesis course by Associate Professor Michael D. Grubb in collaboration with Chair Robert Murphy.
Given that economics is perennially among the University’s most popular undergraduate majors—with 1,278 students in 2023-2024—“this enhancement of the program is a significant achievement,” said Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Dean Gregory Kalscheur, S.J.
Michael Grubb (Lee Pellegrini)
According to Fr. Kalscheur, in 2022, Grubb and Murphy assumed administration of the course—a yearlong independent research project focused on answering each student’s own question—converting it from primarily an internal endeavor to a seminar with regular meetings featuring presenters from within and outside the department, including from the BC Libraries staff, all designed to enhance the development of research skills.
The course, which always included regular meetings with a faculty advisor for guidance, is now offered in two sections to accommodate a larger enrollment and to offer more flexibility for students’ schedules. Successful course completion earns six credits and fulfills major requirements for two upper-level electives.
Approximately 35 students enrolled in the revamped course in each of its first two years.
In previous years, class meetings primarily served as an opportunity for end-of-the semester presentations; now the students meet throughout the fall semester to provide greater support as they conduct their research. Grubb and Murphy said the additional class time builds community among the participants; introduces them to research resources across campus; and provides opportunities to share research methods and tools that will aid them in their thesis research and throughout their career.
“Through this restructuring, one key element is unchanged: the yearlong, one-on-one mentorship with a faculty advisor,” said Grubb. “What we have altered is the in-class experience.”
"The most beautiful thing about writing a thesis is that it is the one body of work that you can say is absolutely yours. There are often challenges and roadblocks along the way, and overcoming these obstacles is half the value of the experience."
Robert Murphy (Lee Pellegrini)
During the first half of the fall semester, enrollees provide updates on their respective projects and invite peer comment as they face challenges or barriers, a feature that Grubb noted is an invaluable complement to the advice from faculty advisors. Later in the semester, class time is devoted to writing sessions during which participants trade their respective thesis prospectus drafts with classmates for constructive feedback.
“Most students find these opportunities to interact with their classmates as one of the most engaging aspects of the course,” Grubb added.
Murphy said that even if a student isn’t considering attending a graduate program or a professional school, completing a senior thesis represents a singular accomplishment that showcases research skills and demonstrates perseverance to potential employers.
“The senior thesis will probably be the longest, hardest, and yet most rewarding single academic project in a student’s undergraduate career,” he said, emphasizing that one of the profound benefits is the guidance and encouragement from a faculty mentor as they learn the skills to achieve it. “It’s the kind of task that a student will likely repeatedly face in the future as they work to change the world in whatever realm they choose.”
Natalie Almonacid ’22, who wrote her senior thesis on “The Great Unequalizer: The Impact of COVID-19 Policies on Racial and Ethnic Groups’ Employment Outcomes,” characterized her experience as having “fulfilled my curiosities and helped me learn more about the research process.
“After taking numerous economics courses, one thing I knew I wanted to accomplish before graduating was to write a senior thesis,” said Almonacid, a McNair Scholar and now an analyst in the antitrust and competition practice at Boston’s Charles River Associates. “The impact of COVID-19 and its multidimensional nature inspired me to further examine the pandemic’s effect on different populations, leading my thesis to investigate how it impacted different racial and ethnic groups, and whether it exacerbated inequality.
“Despite some obstacles, my thesis allowed me to pursue my interests, improve my data skills, and engage in a process where I completed my own independent research. Writing a senior thesis was one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences I had during my four years at BC.”
John Hayfron-Benjamin ’23, whose thesis was titled “Hidden Diversity: Measuring the Income Gap Between African Americans and Nigerian Americans,” described his treatise as the most demanding and satisfying academic pursuit of his undergraduate experience.
“While writing a thesis isn’t easy, your advisor helps make it feel possible,” said Hayfron-Benjamin, now an associate consultant at Boston Consulting Group. “Professor [Geoffrey] Sanzenbacher spent hours with me in his office and on Zoom, providing advice on the next steps. The most beautiful thing about writing a thesis is that it is the one body of work that you can say is absolutely yours. There are often challenges and roadblocks along the way, and overcoming these obstacles is half the value of the experience. The other half is that this project ends up being a culmination of all you have learned about economics during your time in BC.
“It really feels like you are circling back and bringing every previous class with you into one project, which is the most amazing feeling in your final year. I cannot recommend the thesis enough.”